Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-04-01
From the New York Herald March q.
The Troubles in tl2e South

The troubles at Richmond, Virginia, il
Tennessee and Georgia., and at some other
parts of the South, are giving the Admin
istration some uneasinees. IT hardly knows
how to act.
The chief difficulty is that there is too
much reconstruction and too much militia
ry in the South. Five yeara, or therca-
bouts, she agony OF reconstruction has
been kept for political Apurposee, when it
might have been, and ought 70 have been,
ended in one year, or two years at farthest.
In the effort of the dominant Radical par
ty to secure the negro vote, and by that
the balance Of political power, military
authority was maintained much longer than
was necessary. The ruling faction has
looked to that, consequently for support.
The negroes, under the influence Of ambi-
tious and evil-minded carpet-basGer7, have
been led to believe that the political power
of the South belonged to them, ana was
In their hands.
This naturally placed many OF them IL
antagonism to the Conservative white pop
ulation. AS the States have become re-
stored to the Union, and the white native
population have shown their power, tho
negroes and their caTpet-bag leaders feel
disappointed. They forget that the white
population was much the largest, aud that
throughout the greater part Of the South
AS long as the States were Uurecon3tructed
and under military authority the Radicals
and their negro allies had thuiG own way
to q great extent; bat as soon IS civil al
thority was restored tho white SOuthcrners
began to take the control This is the Sc
cret of the Disturbances III Richmond, OF
the camor for reconstruction over again IL
Georgia, and for the demand of the Rad
icals for military government over Ten
nessee.
The prolonged military rule over the
South has had the effect Of making Gen
eral 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 cannot understand that when
State has been restored the civil I-w
should be supreme. Ia the trouble at
Richmond, for example, General Candy
should have taken no action or have ag-
sumed no authority but 10 euppre8,
instruction when called upon by the
evil mower. In any dispute 40 Ju5 the
formality Of an ciectiol ar the RIGHT OF
parties to hold office no should not have
interfered, but have left that to the courts.
An election to Office is to be taken IS .
bona .tjCle fact, though carried by fraud,
till examined and acted upon by the
proper civil authority. This is the way
such things are managed il the Northern
States, and there is 40 other safe way
compatible with the laws and civil
liberty.
The same principle applies TO Gcorgi
and Tennessee, though Georgia, nos
being yet fully reconstructed is in rather
an exceptional position. With regard 10
Tennessee, State in as perfect relations
with the Union as New York or Pennsy.-
vania, it is preposterous and dangerous 70
talk Of reconstructing that State 2r OF
placing it under military authority, unless
in the case of positive Instruction. II
Tennessee can be reconstructed or placed
under military rule, why not New York,
Massachusetts, or any other Northern
State? All the States arc 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 and rights, and there
would be an end to civil liberty. This
Government would be the most perfect
centralized despotism.
No, better let the factions IL the South
fight it out among themselves better lei
the two races try their strength, even By
some tbloodshed, than establish despO
tism Eeither tunder the military or q pc
liticaI oligarchy. The negroes Of thu
South have acquired all the political IlgL t.
and privileges of the whites. They ought
to be contented. 1t is absurd 30 suppose
that eight or ten millions Of the superior
white race are TO be the political slaves d
or to be controlled by three or four nil
lions of semi barbarians, who lardly know
their right hands from their left. In any
contest the negroes must go to the wall
This is seen in the troubles a5 Richmond
and elsewhere. It is positively cruel in
the heartless carpet-bag politicians to lead
these fpoor people to destruction. We
hope General Grant will exercise his good
common sense in these Southern troubles,
and, above all, will maintain the suprc-
macy of the civil laws.