Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-04-29
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING. APRIL, 20, 1871
Testimony of a Reliable Contra
band"
at our risk

DdIlU.
In the debate in Congress on the bill
introduced by Butler, ostensibly to sup
press outraGcs in the South, but really to
control the elections 10y military power, c.
E. Serge, colored, of S. Carolina, said he
represented district in which there had
been no outragcs since reconstruction. lie
was free to admit that both parties are re-
sponsible for the present disturbed condi-
ton of affairs in South Carolina. He was
thoroughly convinced thatsomc legislation
was necessary, but this would not be suffi-
cient unless his Republican friends re-
moved the political disabilities, for they
could not expect those now resting under
them to exert themselves to preserve the
public peace when they have nothing to
hope for in the future"
The testimony of this colored Repre-
sentative is beyond all question true; there
is no imaginable motive for misrepresenta-
ton in that particular. The conclusion at
which he arrives is apparent to the most
simple understanding. The political disa-
bilitics which deprive the most intelligent
and interested portion Of the people of all
control in the government, leaving its man
agement exclusively in the hands Of the
vagabond classes, adventures and recently
emancipated slaves, must inevitably result
in anarchy and outrage, for which no local
political party can be held exclusively re-
sponsible 1t may be good party policy,
but it is the worst possible craftsmanship,
to attempt to maintain popular government
by outlawing all that class of citizens who
are the most capable of governing and
have the largest interests to protect The
ruling party in Congress is not ignorant of
this principle, but deems party domination
Of far greater consequence to themselves
than the maintenance of the public peace.
But for this, the conditions of capitulation
agreed upon between Sherman and John
sou, at the suggestion of President Lincoln,
would have been carried out in good faith,
and there would have been no necessity for
reconstruction, and no call six years after
wards for the interference of the Federal
Government to maintain the public peace
in the restored States. No intelligent man
will dispute these facts, but party spirit is
SO strong in the land that any calamity to
the peace and prosperity of the country is
preferred to the loss ofparty power. Thus
under the pretext of preserving the public
peace, the President is clothed with pow
ers greater than the sovereign of Great
Britain could safely exercise, the writ
of right is suspended, and the boosted bal
lot of our free government can only be
used under the domination of the bayonet.
How strange it is that people accustomed
to the enjoyment of the privileges and
rights of freemen will consent to have
their most sacred institutions thus traves-
tied and made a mockery of by usurpers
and time servers? Many of the more sa.
gaeious members of the party think not.
While this bill was pending which has
now become law, the New York Post
said:
"The laws Of Draco, it will be seen,
never approached this in atrocity."
"The attempt to enforce such law as
this, would make Mexico of our country at
once"
"The bill would repeal the Coustitu
tion Of the United States and rcvolutionize
our whole system of Government"
Congress has no more right to do this
than it has to make different sets of Gus.
toms or tax laws for different States"
If such an act we're passed, tending to
interfere with civil order, to disturb the
authorities Of the peace, establishing com.
missioners in every county who wrest his
prisoners from the Sheriff and stop his bro.
cess, what would be tho duty of the State
officers? Plainly to resist such men at all
hazards. Were it attempted in New York
or Massachusetts,, the army and navy Of
the United States could not enforce such