The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-07-24
THR sITUATION SOUTH.

A momcntuous struggle has been IN
augurated 10 the South. While VIC d
the North are discussing Currency, Tariff
and Suffrage, the people Of Tennessee
Virginia, Mississippi aud Texas are IN
volved in the question of cufrauchisemcn
Cor those who are disfranchiscd by the
late rebellion. The personnel of the con
tending parties is remarkable and indi,
Gates how wonderfully the times dc
change. In Virginia, where the election
has just transpired with an overwhelming
triumph Of the Conservatives, avery large
proportion of the negro vote and the Gu
tire Democratic vote were cast together
aresult no less astonishing than alarming
to the Republican party in the North.
Grant and Hunnicutt received aud gave
cougratulatory addresses over the event
with facility, for adapting themselves to
circumstances, rarely excelled and
wholly unaccountable.
In Tennessee, where the conflict is one
Il the fercest aud most acrimonious that
has taken place since elections were
resorted to, spectacle is presented that
taxes credulity and confounds philosophy
In the actors aud the scene this drama
in politics is equal to the drama of the
stage. Seuter, rebel soldier in '62, a
Radical Governor in '6S-Pearne, a rabid
pulpit pOlitician,--Ex President johnson
and Brownlow are, through some remark
able impulse or interest, making common
eause for the defeat of the extreme, or
Stokes wing of the Republican party.
The division is distinctly marked in all the
county and local contests in the State.
The Democrats support Scuter but will
likely run Legislative ticket with every
prospect of success. The election takes
place August 9th aud will be awaited vita
keen anxiety as matter OF tue great
est concern to the thousands OF distrau-
.chised citizens in the State, who, hereto
fore. have Gnd will again, control Its gov
,ment
The same issues are involved in the
Mississippi election, TO take place Nov.
lJun. auu the same division exists. Lewis
Dent. u earpet-bag brother-in law to the
President, is the Conservative candidate
for Governor.
The contests in these States have an
important bearing upon national politics
They will probably re-eniranchise those
-disfrauchised by the war; they have al
ready divided and neutralized the negro
vote. which has been uniformly consid-
cred compact. controlling and Radical
element in politics. And since men will
quarrel. however little cause they inay
fnd. it is more than probable that
schism which extends through the prin
cipal States of the South, destroying the
Republican party, where, through the acts
of Congress, it was supposed TO be strong
est. will penetrate and disiDtegrate the
same party in all of the States Of the
North. An angry quarrel is already i'm
mirent in the Administration, unless the
President is indeed as pusillanimous as
his enemies persuade themselves that he
is. Secretary Boutwell,, presumptuously
,sDeakiBr fer the Administration. declares
that the patronage Of government can not
be zsed in the interest Of the Mississippi
conservatives, but that his duty will be to
use it for the party opposite. The Sec
retary had an undigni6ed alteration with
Dent, in which he declared :he intention
above stated. On the contrary, the Pres
ident has expressed lively sympathy
With the conservatives, whose triumph in
Virginia he has affected to rejoice at,
and he b: sent the Virginia board Of reg
istrars to Mississippi, doubtless to manu-
facture in that State result similar to
that procured in Virginia.
However much we may underestimate
the Importance Of events in the South, yet
she is certainly working out hen destiny;
and, in the solution of her own difficult
problems, may topple over and build up
political organizations in way that men
little dream Of