The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-04-20
APIEA
The Speech of Congressman DeLarge.
From the chicago Tribune

Among the members Of the present Congress
is one Robert C. DeLarge, a colofed man, re-
nresentfnr the Charleston District of South
Carolina In q speech delivered by him on
Thursday. on the Ku-Elux bill, he put the very
Jealous Northern champions of the colored
race to shame by the iearlessness and frank
nessiwIth which he discussed the subject BE
stated that he represented q disrletl IN Whloh
there had been no outrages since the passage
Of the reconstruction measures. He freely ad.
mirted that both parties were Responsible for
whatever disturbance there Is. now In South
Carolina, and thought that some Legislation
wac necessary: but mo legislation. tooud be
sudfcient unless political DISABILITIES lce1e re-
moued.a He Insisted that Republicans could
not expect that those now resting under pofft-
ical Acknowledgement would exert themselves
to preserve. the public peace os whe1 u rney nave
II was well and truthtllly said by more than
one Republican senator, during the recent de-
bate. that peace could be restored In every
VILLAGE and district at the South # the Demo-
cratic party would so order 1t. In other words,
If all the men engaged In acts OF political dis
order ct the South would abandon their prsc-
tees, give up.drinklng and swearing, Join the
church, and become exemplary members OF
AIR. DeEarge explains why the Democratic
leaders at the South cannot be expected to
take these rufians by the throat and
suDpress them. A minority In Congress
refuses TO give assent 10 the removal
of the political disabilities OF the very
class OF men upon whom ney. call to
preserve the peace. OF what interest Is 1t
how an election terminates to the mai de-
graded by law from any active share in 1t ?
Why should A interfere to protect BIS political
rir6ts. when the law brands A with inferlort-
tv. and excludes him from political promo
ton That there are men Of high personal
character, superior attachments and inf1uen-
tial social position in every part OF the South,
who could 40 control public sentiment as to
s1puress disorder, is. probably, true; but thar
very class of men, whose services OF this time
wosId be Invaluable In making reconstruction
final and acceptable, are the class who are
prohibited BY law from being candidates even
for constables, and who are punishable as
felons If they perform the duties OF O Justice of
the peace or county surveyor.
Mr.. DeLarpe tells the truth when he states
that to emancipate this class OF persons, per-
haps the most intelligent and competent OF the
whole population, and upon whom the greater
norton of taxation falls, would be 10 place the
control of the Democratic organization iR
those States in the hands of men deeply inter-
ested in preserving law and order. Twenty
FIVE Democratic leaders, owners Of property,
respected by all classes for their personal in
tegrity and their intellectual ability would do
more In one week to suppress the Rl-hluX
liar q regiment of soldiers would accomplish
in a year. If the people of the North Will ex-
anime this question they will ind that Mr..
DeLarre has not exaggerated the Importance
of enanclpaling the whites of the rebel States.