Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-03-04
Correspondence of The Register.

an instance-H is no fancy Picture
THE Remedy-We true Cause Of
the War Of Coercion-1hs Result.
The South has now reached point in
its affairs, when good men stand ,rem.
bling and gaze with fearful solicitude up
Oh The turning wheel Of fortune and see
the life or death OF whole people hang
ing by thread and close their eyes
sgains, the approaching disaster. The
best Of men seem panic stricken and, like
drowning men, no longer bflp each other.
but grasp at every passing object. Never
before have these men appeared so de-
spondent and helpless. Not even, when
they saw their cherished hopes go down
with Lee al Appomstlox, did they de.
spair as now, for then, they had not lost
all faith in mans promises and the sacred
! pledge of his honor, as they have since
seen every promise broken and the most
sacred pledges violated. They now
uuihlully cay owe have striven hard 10
comply with the terms of restoration, un-
der every hndrsnce, hardship and
difficulty, with an honest purpose and sin.
cere desire TO perform every duty requr-
ed OF US, but have been met on all sides
and at every advance with insult and in
Jury, until the stoulesi heart grew faint )"
and when they saw the promised boon
within their grasp, 10 like the apples of
Sodom, ait has turned 10 ashes upon their
lips - They have rebuilt their burnt
cities, restored tie highways Of trade and
travel they have raised millions of bales
OF cotton and Sc. the spindIes 10 going
tina, have so long been idle, have sup
piled the world with sugar and tobacco
and started commerce afresh upon the
seas. Yet, they are growing poorer and
poorer under mercIless oppression and
psrlizan legislation their lsnds are wear
ing out for want OF means 10 manure them
and going TO waste for want Of labor to
cultivate them they themselves are tax.
ed to death TO support the miserable car
pet.bsg government, forced upon them and
compelled to keep among them an IDLE
and lhrlfiless class Of freed lsboIers in or.
der that the present dominant party may
be kept in power against the wishes Of the
people.
Take the condition OF South Carolina
as an example of what is done in most Of
the Sou hern States and the reason that
some men, driven TO extremiies. have or
sanized a ku KiuT- Khan, 10 remedy an
evil which the government fosters, can be
easily found.
The sad condition Of this State csn
hardly be imagined. She is ready 10 cry
out ike Cain" MY punishment is great
er than | can bear ~ A "Niobe, voice
less and ch!ldIess," she stands, near the
isles OF the sea, great and noble even
amds, her desolstion Honest in her
declaration and purpose to return 10 the
| Union, she rises in the shadow Of her
mighty past and obeys every command
and endures every indigniiy rom The
"powers that be-" She has thrust upon
her an Ohio carpet Dagger for governor
a negro for 1t. Governor, and another for
Secretary of the Commonwealth, while
her Legislative balls ale filed with ieno-
rant negroes, carpet baggers and scala
| WdBe HGI StdLS w VIC ANdN'Udl NOH'
sress, once occupied by the Hamptons,
Legares. Pinkneys, CaIhouns, and other
giants Of the past. now filed with such
men. as Whitemore, the cadet peddlsr,
Bowen. The bigamis,, De Large, a negro,
and other pigmies Of the present. Shades
o. the mighty dead. where are ye ! She
sees former slaves enfrsnchIsed and plac-
ed into responsible Offices and ne
gro women and children permitted to
vote, while her own sons are dislrAnch,s.
ed and denied any participation IN the
government they are taxed so heavily 10
support. She sees an ignorant and ire
sponslble Legislature Young away mil
lions Of money to enrich favored ndivdu-
ais and snuILsss corporations. bUrdenlng
the people with enourmcus taxes, of which
they pay liile or none. Her labor class
is rendered utterly worthless. which the
whites are taxed 10 support in ideness
and vice. Her good men and citizens are
thrust into prison OF fined Of large sum,
upon the simple word Of a psriizsn JUS
tee, who pockets the fees and part Of 'he
fine. lier election law is most infs-
nous one and permits parilzan inspectors
10 hold the ballet boxes for weeks until
they can change The votes to suit their
own ideas Of right and fair elections.
This is no fancy picture or ovetwroueht
sketch, but this may, in truth be called,
GA land of tyrants and den of slaves
Bul change, for the better, must soon
take place.
Can ills have bounds plague, whirlwind, fire,
and food,
Even power can spill but bounded sums Of
blood
The remedy for these must come speed
liz or the whole land and body polite
will he involved in common ruin. The
people of the North must learn to have
confidence in he Southern whites ard
admit them 10 an equal share and pariici-
patton in the general government, while
the negro must occupy the position in go.
ceiy assigned him by God and Nature,
tTor just experience tells, in every soil,
That those who think must govern those who
toll
And all that Freedoms highest aim can reach,
Is bu. to lay proportional loads on each"
The Southern Slsles can never regain
their normal condition and complete har-
mony be restored to the government, On.
Ill the people Of The South are made
Dores ;u,er pUr,s and are nernitted IN