Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-03-17

q,
md solemnly consulted, should possess the
dread power of drawing the nanonal
sword from its scabbard.
The troubles IN the whole country-not
merely in the South-are we'll worthy the
attention of Congress. And II that oouy
remains in session on account OF
nroner appreciation of these troubles and
vonld cure them by wise and even handed
legislation, their present Deliberations
would dou btless be q source OF much beneht
to The entire Union. But. kept together
nv Executive dictation, and their legisla-
ton concocted in secret party cauousses
and conceived in partisan and sectlonal
bitterness, we fear, SO far as the Soutn Is
concerned, that our complications Will De
increased. It is natural that disorder and
violence would, to some extent, follow III
the wake of our terrible war, and the
soc;al and civil revolution which followed
But by far the greater part of our troubles
have arisen from the illegal and violent
LEGISLATION resorted TO and the miserable
governments forced upon the Southern
States for the purpose solely of adding to
the strength of the dominant party, anu
by this means, to secure further lease
upon power.
And all the legislation SO far proposed
ia of the same character, only more
glaringly illegal and violent, because OF
the greater necessities under which 1t IS TO
be enacted. President GRANT waning
strength at the North inspires him and
his lackeya to fail in no effort. however
outrageous, to secure the South. He
onens anew the wounds OF the war, ana
vouId have us placed under the surviel-
lance of his soldiery, and our lives be az
the mercy of the same "loyailsts VINO
have already brought ruin upon our ma
teriaI interests He asks for continuance
of the legislation-nay, an increase OF It's
ripors-which has turned South Carolina
over to the tender mercies OF armed ne
oroes and their infamous leaders. And all
to further political sohemes-to satisfy
selfish ambition.
We have said, and we repeat-the
TROUBLES in the South do require the at
ltention OF Congress. Elsewhere We publish
Ian account of the killing of a Judge in
Mississippi, while in the actual discharge
of his duties. by a negro ruthan. The dis
orders in South Carolina, of which we
have formerly given meagre accounts, are
beginning to assume alarming proportions
Negro bands, armed by the Governor,
nnder the pretence of calling out the
militia. are committing depre ations upon
the lives and property OF O. liens IN GER
tain portions of that State. The people
. are deferred from attention to their ordi
, nary ayocations, and go about in actua
} danger. and patrol their streets at night
and guard the lives of their sleeping fami'
, lies at the imminent risk Of their own. Ii
} Arkansas affairs are in almost as bad con
dition.
, Congress has brought about these
troubles. All are directly consequent
/ upon the reconstruction legislation, anC
, will continue just So long as these States
: are governed in the interests OF the dis
: reputable tools OF Congress who now have
} control of their affairs. Legislation which
looks only to giving more power to these
. men will but add to the disorders, we care
7 not how stringent may be the enactments'
There is point beyond the endurance o
3 humanity, and when it even ceases to be (
virtue.
8 Tho suregt evidence that these troubles
arise from the effects of bad government
and bad officials is that i'll Virginia, Nortl
8 Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama, the.
!" ceased with the restoration of good mel
!, to one or other of the departments of gov
y eminent, while in South Carolina, Mis-
Isissippi, Texas and Florida, they increas
y in frequency and violence the longer tn
IS men thrown into power by the reyolutlo
q remain in charge of the State Govern
If naents. When the people of those States
untrammeled by Federal power, are adj
" TO restore their substantial citizens to civ
l. authority, and the laws are executed IN tn
interests of order and for the security {
10 life and property, aud not for the benet
s. of plundering cliques and thievlnG pa
Dr. tisans, these troubles will cease, as th
a. causes which created them will be at a
ut end The problem Of Southern recon
p struction can thus be solved favorable
rs the peace and prosperity of the country
ut however fatal it may prove to Radicalisn
ut If Congress would rise above petty pa
re tisan feeling. aud comprehend the d.
sh mands of the country, We might expe'
Legislation equal to the present emergenc
to But the time to look for such statesman
m ship from that body has not o9me. An
ry still the change going on in both branch
rd ia tba most ausninious omen for the wi
adjustment of our troubles.
h, -- ----------
he NORTH CAROLINA.
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