The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-04-01
Reconstruction and Military Interference at
the South,

t;1e South,
We do not consider it necessary TO make
an apology to our readers for occupying their
attention this week with the subjoincd arti-
Gle from The N. Y. Herald, in lieu of any rc.
marks of our own upon the subject The
Herald has supported Gen. Grant from the
beginning, yet in view of the novel processes
employed by the powers at Washington to-
ward reconstructing the Southern States, it
does not seem to be in full accord with all
the measures sanctioned, at least, if not sug-
gcsted by, the present Chief Executive. We
are aware that there is nothing particularly
new or original in this article, YET it is the
calm uttcrance of powerful organ in the
North, and one that would rather find some
thing to extol than anything to condemn in
our Chief Magistrate 1t is the expression
opinions compelled by toleradly decent re-
gard for right and justice, and which was
ELECTED by the late complications and politi.
cal troubles occurring in Virginia, Georgia
and Tennessee. 1t is true that it does not
require the authority of the Hs,mN, or any
other paper, however influential its opinions
may be, to CONVINCE the majority OF the peo-
pie fthis country of the unrighteousncss of
reconstruction, as practiced upon the devoted
Southern States, and the armed interference
of the general government in their domes-
tic affairs, for we sincerely believe that even
those who are active agents in these things
are themselves aware to the full extent ofthe
Ubiquitous character of these proceedings; yet
the constituencies that quietly look on and
behold their representatives guilty of so great
political crimes need to be awakened to the
enormity of the offence by the opinions of the
press, or in any other practicable way 1t can-
not be said hereafter that the people of this
country were not apprised of the character of
the acts of our present rulers but it will be
said that they were far, very far, ostto the true
principles of civil government in view of the
acts, which gave rise to the comments given
below, being so easily exercised by our rulers
at Washington Because of the condensed
truth and forciblc reasons contained in this
article we commend it to our readers, as one
good thing that has come out of Nazareth
one expression of opinion from an influential
Northern Journal that betrays lingering re-
gard for the forms, at least, of right and JUS
tice
The chief difficulty is that there is too much
reconstruction and too much military in the
South. Five years, or whereabouts, the
agony of reconstruction has been kept up for
political purposes, when it might have been
and ought to have been ended in one year,
or two years at farthest. In the effort of the
dominant radical party to secure the negro
vote, and by that the balance of political
power, military authority was maintained
much longer than was necessary. The rul-
ing faction has looked to that, consequently,
for support. The negroes, under the infiu-
ence of ambitious and evl-minded CARPET
baggers, have been led to believe that the
political power ofthe South belonged to them
and was in their hands. This naturally
placed many of them in antagonism to the
conservative white population. AS the States
have become restored TO the Union, and the
white native population have shown theirpow-
er, the negroes and their carpet-bag leaders
feel disappointed They forget that the white
population was much the largest and that
throughout the greater part of the South this
population had a majority ofvotes. AS long
as the States were unreconstructed and un-
der military authority the radicals and their
negro allies had their own way, to great
extent but as soon as civil authority was
restored the white Southerners began to take
the control. This is the secret of the distur-
Dances in Richmond, of the clamor for recon-
struction over again in Georgia, and for the
demand of the radicals for military govern
ment over Tennessee.
The prolonged military rule over the South
has had the effect of making General Candy
and other commanders mistake their duty
Though these gentlemen may be governed
by the best motives, they are influenced by
their military training and ideas. They can.
not understand that when State has been
restored. the civil law should be supreme In
the trouble at Richmond, for example, Gen
eral Candy should have taken no action or
have assumed no authority but to suppress
Instruction when called upon by the
civil power. In any dispute about the for
mality Of an election or the right of parties
to hold Office he should not have interfered,
but have left that to the courts. An election
to office is to be taken as a bona .tle fact,
though carried by fraud, till examined and
acted upon by the proper civil authority
This is the way such things are managed in
the Northern States, and there is no other
safe way compatible with the laws and civil
libe rty. ...
The same principle applies to Georgia
and Tennessee, though Georgia. not being
yet fully reconstructed, is in rather an ex,
ceptional position. With regard to Tennes-
see q State in rs perfect relations with the
Union as New York or Pennsylvania it Is
and dangerous to talk of recon-
structing that State, orof placing it under mill
taryauthority unless in the case ofpositivc in
surrection If Tennessee can be reconstruc-
ted OF placed under military rule, why not
New York, Massachusetts, or any other
Northern State? All the States are on the |
same footing. If this infamous practice were |
to be admitted no State would be safe. ANY !
political party in power could destroy its |
political equality aud rights, and there would |
be an end to civil liberty. This government |
would be the most perfect centralized despo- |
tism. No, better let the factions in the South
fight it out among themselves better let the |
two races try their strength even by some
than establish u despotism eth. |
er under the military or political oigarchy.
The negroes of the South have acquired all
the political rights and privileges of the
whites. They ought to be contented. 1t is
absurd to suppose that eight or ten millions
of the superior white race are TO be the DO
litical slaves of or to be controlled by three
or four millions ofsemi- barbarians, who hard
ly know their right hands from their left
In any contest the negroes must 20 to the
wall. This is seen in the troubles at Rich