The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-04-13
rho Problem ia the south.

I
.E.te Of aiFairs does exist in several States
it i, impossible to doubt. That the tr0u'
blss will cure themselves II let alone, or
IA they can or will be cured by the State
authorities If len to them, IN any reason
able time, without action Of Congress, IS
yerv doubtful. Yet 1t is also doubtful
whether severe legislation alone will effect
cure. Except in extreme emergency,
Congress should not set precedents oil
military interference with local govern
tnept that may in time return to plague
the inventor. The difficult thing Con-
gress has to do is to provide remedies
which will cure without leaving the pa
TENT subject to a temperance Of the dis
order when the remedy is Withdrawn
Except in state Of declared war, pure
" repressive system is doubtful expo
dent. The troubles only shoulder and
break out again whenever the pressure Is
taken of, whether It be sooner or later.
IF the causes Of these disorders could
be clearly ascertaincd, the remedy might
be applied. We believe Mr.. GREELEY is
right in holding that the continuance Of
political disabilities on certain classes at
the South is one OF them. It naturally
puts intelligent and influential men and
their friends in IN attitude Of hostility
toward the Government, when otherwise
they would give it at least negative
support. The exclusion Of these men
from all participation in local govern
ment, has aided in putting some OF the
Southern State governments into unfit,
irresponsible and corrupt hands, until
some Of the States, as South Carolina, Tor
example, have been SO misgoverned aud
their tax.paying ability and credit SO
abused, as 10 furnish reason for the great
est dissatisfaction. 1.-THE halt Is true that
is written to the Cincinnati Commercial!
from Columbia by Mr.. II. V. REDF1ELD,
sent thither by that journal 10 inquire
into the facts, then the misgovernment Of
that State by its Legislature is dreadful,
and it is not surprising TINT the State Is
filed with turmoil and irritation, and thai
this irritation finds expression in violence
towards those in authority or those who
support them.
1t wasonc ofthe misfortunes, and perhaps
one Of the necessary consequences, OF thu
social and political revolution the South
that the local governments should for
time fall into tho hands Of men largely
unfit for the exercise of their functions
So long as any considerable element Q
tile better class aro disabled, this mus
continue In some of the States, though
il an evil that will cure itself in all otther
after time If all arc allowed to pal
tlclpatc in the government While thi
exclusion continues, however, Irritation
violence, and crime ore its PHILOSOPHERS
concomitants, among the kind ola popul'
ton We have to deal with in tho South
We may by military power arrest an
punish the assassins; but that will be dea
ing only with the manifestations OF til
disease. The wiser and more ettectiv
treatment is TO attack the seat Of diseas
ifft can be discovered and reached.
Here is the difficulty. II the prlmNr
cause Of irritation and violence Is, us
appears to be in part, local maladmini
tration, what can Congress do to corre'
thatP The Southern States have bee
restored to their normal position ar
must manage their own affairs. Congre
cannot provide them with wise and hol
est legislatures or executives. All 1t ca
do in that direction is to give all the pc
ple OF the State an equal voice in the
local government and then let them VOL
ont their own salvation. THIS reuAil
vet to be done by u general amnesty; III
that VIC have come to believe is renee
that will go pretty nearly to the scat
the disease. If the President is II
already armed with sufficient powers
use the arm Of the Government where
may find the emergency to require its
terposition, Congress should grant thel
under judiciOus limitations, If ut 4
same time II general amnesty for I
offences Of the war were granted, v
should expect to find in short time Ii
the worst was over at the South, and til
real progress towards an enduring paci
cation had been made. We should
expect bloOdshed to stop ut once. /
tone Of Southern society will have to
much improved before all violence
wards the blacks there will cease; but
sweeping exercise Of the military rene
ought not to beinvokCd until Congress tr
what can be done by u general amnes
TO those who were in the rebellion.
matters do not mend after that, upon Il
trial, then let the general Government tn
the inIractNbles in hand and apply herr
remedies. Amnesty will not protect a
scoundrel from the consequences Of DEF
Of murder and Outrage done since thew
These ought to be punished with the
rieor OF law. But while providing b
force bill for the punishment Of til
crimes and the protection OF life and pr
erty in future, we believe it would be "
to tender the olive branch with the sw'
and give US TIales amnesty bill along "
r,h.NInA..--.-h- Z IL. In