The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1870-11-05


execute these Oppressive measures of Con
gress. The recent elections indicate
strong disapproval of the course pursued by
the Administration toward the Southern
States, and excite hope that this terrible
reign, of persecution is drawing to an end
When that day shall fully dawn upon the
people of the Southern States, and laws be
enacted that shall be equal and just in their
application to citizens of all sections of the
country, and not until then, will the enor-
mites and oppression of the white popula-
ton of the South be knows, as the cruel and
even the heartless means used to prejudice
and infame the people Of the North against
them; then the full measure of justice will
most certainly be melted out to these worse
than Grecian robbers, the carpet baggers,
| who have been mainly instrumental in in
augura:ing and perpetuating these infamous
prosecutions. The Chicago Tribune says
The people of the Northern States have
never participated in any scheme for the
persecution of the white popu latiOn Of the
South. Had Mr.. Lincoln lived, he would in
due time, have issued general proclama-
ton of amnesty to all those engaged in re
bellion, save, perhaps, the official head of
the instruction. No one can doubt that
such an act would, ere this, have met the
approval of the whole people. That the re
belGon was a crime punishable by law, was
beyond all question: but, except as against
Jeffers On Davis, and, perhaps few others,
the American people neither desired nor
expected that there should be any criminal
proceedings. In the Joy at the restoration
Of peace, all feelings of revenge were soon
abandoned. Five years have elapsed and
during that time no person has been prose,
cuted criminally for participation in the re.
bellion But, as time has removed all lin
gering asperties from the popular heart
the political persecution of these people has
increased. Reconstruction has been prac
tically accomplished, but the law makers
are daily finding new pretexts for legal per
secutioDs. There is no spirit of rebellion at
the South These people have been effect
ually cured of that delusion But there is
discomfort the result of practical evils, and
Congress is seeking to encourage that dis
content by doing all that is possible to per
petuate and aggIavate the evils.
In a recent speech by MIR. box, a member
of Congress from Alabama Northern man
by birth, and who was a lovalist all through
the rebellion, we find fair and candid
statement Of the present condition of things
at the South. The great body of the white
| people are leboring under political dis
! reimbursement, and those who are eligible to
any of the Offices essential to local govern
ment, are confined to a class not the best
| qualified, either intellectually or morally,
for such duties Mr.. Dox says
bad laws are being constantly enacted
by the strange dynastics which govern in
the South, while good laws are badly ad
ministered Men are elevated by the votes
of poor, ignorant. innocent negroes to the
highest Judicial positions, who would not
dare to aspire in any Northern States to the
Office Of Il crossroads Justice sheriffs
are chosen who are incompetent
to make an ineligible return of
the service of process, and Offices of all kinds,
through all the grades of responsibility, are
occupied by men utterly incompetent to the
proper discharge of the cOmmonest official
duty. Indeed, incapacity and the grossest
Ignorance are the rule Ito which there are
no exceptions but erceptiO probat reguIam)
among not only the inferior officers in nv
State, but with those of high judicial posi-
ton and thus is there generally violated
fundamental principle Of Magma Charta,
That no man should be an officer of Justice
without knowledge of the law And yet,
with such condition of things generally
iication branded and ostracised, it is ex-
pected that crime will not exist nor outrage
be perpetrated."
This picture is not' overdawn. However
useful these carpet baggers may have been
for a while, their day has gone by Yet
they are the men who seek to perpetuate
the present state Of things. All offices must
be filled with these adventures, or with
coiOred men wholly untitled for such places
and, as a general thing the negroes make
the better officers of the two, because
though ignorant, they are not dishonest
nor are they mere spectators in public
plumber. What is wanted is the removal of
these disabilities by which competent ad-
ministrative officers of tn e local government
may be obtained. 1t is not merely the men
who are disfranchised who complain, but
the thousands of their friends and kindreds
who sympathze with them Since the
breaking out of the war, large population,
the minors, have become of age a new
population Is growing up in these States.
and all the memories and traditions of the
rebellion are perpetuated because of these
worse than useless acknowledgements Let
Congress blot out all these political distinc-
tons, so far as the State governments are
, concerned, and there will be an enduring
peace in the Rebel States, as there Is in
Illinois. The whole country is interested in
good government in these States. No good
cause is subseryed by subjecting them tc
the misgovernment of political adventures
or ignorant and incompetent persons. The
freedom which permits a man to vote, but
withholds from him the right to vote for
whom he pleases, is a mockery which would
not be tolerated in any Nothern State. YET
that is the political freedom" which has
been granted to the South, and which Sena
tor Drake insists shall be enforced by the
strong arm of the military. 1t is made
felony tor any man not within the favored
class to accept any Office, no matter if cleo
ted thereto by the unanimous vote Of tbs
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