Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-09-05
The Situation at the South.

L lit DlDudGl dJ Gu6 OUuIut
Every days report developes more and
more the fact that terrorism and violence
prevail all over the late rebel South
Never, since the surrender of Lee, has
the spirit OF bitterness and misrule been
so manifested. The Conservative or
Democratic papers and speeches de-
nounce and defy the National Govern
ment, and are proflIse i'll threats of ar
med resistance to the authority of Con
gress. -... e.H... .
When Lee and Johnston surrendered,
the rebels were cowed and silent They
were ashamed for the future. They knew
the penalties AMI the desert of rebellion
They knew that life and property were
Justly forfeited rs the penalty due for
their crimes They were submissive and
quiet There was no denonciations of
the Federal Government-its Congress
or the Union. They were willing to ac-
ccpt any terms that might be protfered
them, so that their justly forfeited lives
be spared, and that their property might
escape contiscatiOn.
But the action of President johnson
and the encouragement of the Northern
Democracy revived their courage and
their hopes, and the ex-rebels again essay
to rule the South. The lives and prop
erty of black and white Republicans are
growing daily more insecure. The OBJ
iect of the ex-rebels is to secure power,
and substantially restore the slavery OF
the blacks Even now, such is the terror
spread abroad that there are many plan
tations which the blacks dare not leave,
for fear Of outrage and murder, such as
have been perpetrated on many OF their
fellows. The election was carried against
Republicanism by fraud and violence in
Mississippi, and the same appliances are
to be resorted to by the late ruling, class
in every Southern State. 1t is believed
and feared by many of our coolest and
most sagacious observers, that the fall
elections will not pass in the late slave
States without witnessing scenes of rio-
lence and blood. The whites are al
ready arming, and many of the blacks,
clearly appreheIlding and understanding
the natnre and necessities of the situa-
ton, are also arming, determined, so far
as they can, to protect their persons and
rights. They cannot be re-enslaved with
out bloody and desolating conflict
Call it a war of races, or another civil
war, as the case may be, the Southern
Democracy will be as much responsible
for this new bloody outbreak as fer the
former rebellion. ........
The Ku Klux marauders and assassins
are Il terror to the South. This gang OF
desperadoes, composed of desperate and
reckless ex-rebel soldiers are spread all
over the South. Though not numerical
ly numerous, they are terror to the
whole Southern country. They go IN
gangs, disguised, and commit horrible
outrages and murder OIL defenceless cltl-
zens, white and black. Shielded by the
darkness of night, and by their masks
and disguises, they mostly escape detec-
ton. Northern men who would reside
at the South are driven away, and those
who remain, as we'll as the native he
publican population, live IN constant
fear. To this deplorable condition has
the Northern Democracy, syinpathlzlng
with the secesh Democracy, brought the
unhappy South. The election OF Seyi,
mour and Blair will but intensity and
inflame Southern bitterness against t
Northern men, and produce results and
mischievous consequences whieh no II man III
can measure or imagine. lt. e...;..
The only safeguard that the country
has for peace and security in all its parts
is the triumph of Republican principles
and measures, in the election OF Gran'
and Colfax. This every patriotic mani an
not blinded by partisanship, cannot laii
to see.-Portage County Dena0cra''