Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-07-25
A Word in Reply.

We publish ia this issue, at the re-
quest of number of prominent citi-
zens in the west part Of the county,
the eloquent speech of Prof. w. B.
Clarke, delivered at Patch Grove on
the 4th of July. 1t was an excellent
and able effort of tho Professors
rather more of political speech than
is usually INDUCED in on such occa-
sions--but we'll worth perusal by
every citizen. The speaker makes q
few extraordinary statements which
we consider proper to briefly criticise.
He says:
'If not sign of danger, IS it not at least
most singular fact that an amendment TO
constitution resting upon the free choice of the
people-an amendment simply annunciating
the first principles of humanity aud Justice
after being by popular vote incorporated as an
integral part of the constitution, should re-
quire the interference of any legislation to en-
force its practical recognition"
Does the speaker wish us to under
stand that there is no necessity for
legislation to enforce and secure con-
stitutional rights? The I'd Sec. Art.
/. Of the Constitution Of Wisconsin
provides there shall be neither sla-
very nor Involuntary servitude in
the State This Constitution was
the "free choice" of the people Of
Wisconsin. Without legislation no
punishment could have been inflicted
for any violation of these "annunciat-
ed first principles of humanity"
Constitutional principles are enforced
through legislation. The legislature
of Wisconsin to secure citizens in this
first principle provided punishment
against any one who should infringe
this right by enslaying another.
Was that singular fact" ?
"That must be stern expediency indeed,
which imposes upon the states lately in re-
belion a tax 300 per cent. greater than before
| the war, when the valuation Of those states
was AGO per cent. greater than It is to-day"
Where are found the statistics to
Justify the assertion that the prop
erty Of the South is to-day only one.
fourth the value Of what it was be-
fore the war? Tho cotton crop Of
1870 was the largest except one ever
produced in the South. Does the
speaker mourn the loss of slave
property by the emancipation, or
wish the master paid their old time
value ? In South Carolina, where
there has been the greatest complaint
Of increased taxation, the tax is II
mills on the dollar-a less tax than
is required in any Northern State.
1t should be remembered that the
greater part of this II mill tax is to
establish and support common schools
for the education Of all, both black
and white. Before the war there
were no common schools in the
State, and it was penitentiary
| offence to teach the black man to
read or write. Statistics will show
an increase in the value of property
in most of the Southern States since
1860, not reckoning the value of
slaves.
ga more perilous piece Of legislation IN an
| the Ku-Klux Bill they could not h ave antici-
pated, and could they have had a voice in the
debate which secured the passage of that bill,
they would have counseled first the employ
ment Of peaceful, conciatory measures OF
amnesty, equal rights, and the more healing
medicine of patience, charity, confidence and
general education. | know the public mind
is divided on this great question, and | leave
II 10 every citizen to settle il as best he may
but most earnestly entreat him to oppose at
every hazard all encroachment upon the rights
OF the several states not warranted by the con-
stituton, remembering that when the indivd-
ualty OF state government is merged in the
government at Washington, this boosted re-
public is but another name for monarchy"
Why perlous? Under the Ku-
KIux law, where the States do their
duty to protect citizens against these
organized bands of midnight assas-
sins and incendiaries and punish the
guilty, the United States authorities
have no right to interfere. But
when the State authorities refuse or
neglect or are unable to prevent the
horrid butchering and crimes by the
Ku-Klux, or to punish the offenders,
then it is made the duty of the u.
;. officers to use the power Of the
general government to protect its
citizens and punish the banded see
cret enemies Of mankind. But the
orator asks for ''conciliatory meas.
ures" No nation ever acted sc len
iently towards its revolving subjects
as the United States. No one has
been punished. The government
has sought, from the overthrow oil
Lees army, to "oonciliate" the people
Of the South and soothe them into
obedience to its laws. But the PEG.
pie Of the South have repaid such
Cancellation and kindness by lawless.
ness and violence, increasing in pro-
portion to the growing leniency OF
the government, Amnesty has al
ready been granted to nearly oil the
people of the South, and many OF
them now use their restored political
power to Cypress those who were
true and loyal defenders Of the gov.
eminent during the war.
EF'Tad' Il ncoln is dead. Thorn.
as, youngest son of the late Abra
ham Lincoln, died in Chicago on the
morning of Saturday, July 10, aged
eighteen years. He was young
man Of great promise, and evidently
inherited much of the ability of hi,