Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-06-17
The Carpet-Baggers.

Horace Grcely, just returned from tour as
far South as Texas without having encounter
cd any of the dreaded Ku-Klux, thus discourses
upon the subject Of Carpet Baggers, whom he
styles the worst enemies Of the South. Hear
him:
q" The thieviug carpot-baggers are a mourn-
rul fact; they DO ex st there, and have seen
them. They are fellows who crawled down
South in the track Of cur armiCs, generally a
very safe distance in the rear; some OF them on
suffers wagons; some bearing cotton permits ;
sumo Of then. looking sharply to see what may
turn up; and they remain there. 1hey at
once insratiated themselves with the blacks,
simple credulouS, ignorant men, very glad to
welcome and to follow any whites who pro-
fessed 70 be the champions Of their rights
some If these got elected Senators, others
Representatives some SheriGs, some judges
and SO on And there they stand, hight in the
public eyes, stealing aud pluudering, many OF
them with both arms around negroes, and
their hands in their rear pockets, seeing II
they cannot pick paltry dollar out Of them,
These ltllows-mauy Of ;hCm long-iaced,
and with eyes rolled Up, ana greatly concerned
for the education Of the blacks and for the
salvation Of their souls. Let US pray they
say. But they spell pray with an "e,' and
thus spelled, they obey the apostolic injunction
pray without ceaSing.'
They got into the legislature; they went
to ESuiug State bonds they pretended to use
them in aid Of railroads and other improve
meuts. But the improvements were not
made. and the bonds struck in the issuers peck
90. That is the pity oft
"' Well, some say, you have just sUcl
thieves at the North Yes, We do-too man!
Of them But the South was already impoy
erishcd-was NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. money
without thrift, almost without food and theS,
fellows went there robLIug and swindlins
when there was very little TO steal and taking
the last ten-cent shiuplaster Of If the deaC
mems eyes
"' Wen, then, do you Justify the Ku-Klux
am asked, Justify them IN ielaif Ii the!
should choose to catch hundred or two o
! these thieves, place them teuderly across rails
and bear them quietly aud peaceably acros
| the Ohio, should Of course, condemn the act
as ] condemn all violence but the tears livt
\ In q very small onion that would water all N!
SORROW for them
Commenting upon these utterances Of TIL
venerable editor Of the TrjJume the Baltimor
Gazette very portinently says:
Here, then, by a strange contradiction, W,
I find the very man who is foremost in venting
maledictions against the Ku-kIux, actually en-
couragiug them to seize the carpet-baggers
aud, by force and violence, expel them from
| the South. lie condemns lawlessuess, yet JUS
/ tifes it, He would not hesitate to use dcspe
rate means to set rid Of the hordes Of NcrtherT
thieves, who went South, Cuder the protection
of the Radical leaders at Washington, anC
have had, until now, the Jealous support Of IT,,
Tribune What marvel is it that under Sucl
auspices, they have been guilty Of Robin:
and swindling when there was very little t,
" steal, and taking the last teu-cent shiuplas
" ter of Of the dead mems eyes 81
Cannot Mr. GREELEY see, from his owl
showing, that there would have been no Ku
Hlux but for the carpet-baggers, and that TO
the doings Of this predatory horde, the Radical:
themselyes-and be among them-are just
Is responsible %