The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-04-19

mR. BEEcHER ON THE tsRELLA.
BARGER1 Ku KLUx BILL.

! err sentiment In regard to the policy to
be pursued, toward the South, is found
in the recent remarkable utterauces Of
HENRY WARD BEEcHER, through the
medium Of his Christian onion, in con-
nection with the pending Congressional
| Legislation on the Ku Klux, OF "South-
cru outrages."
When we regard Mr.. BEEcHBR's ante
cedents-his "velcome to Kossuth, when
the orgau-of Plymouth played the Mar
seillaise, and the Puritan commandments
stampedand applauded"-his "war-c
leading the family chorus-the cOntral-
to to the shrill tenor of Uncle Tom" ,"
and anon his fierce Sharp's Rife decla-
nation, firing up the hosts of abolition,
against the South aud slavery, TO the
maddest frenzy Of fanaticisaa aud again
his exuItant eloquence, when what his
friend Mr.. Greely called "the Haunting
lie," vas rehabilitated among the ruins
| of Sumter. When all this, and what
r has seemed his great enthusiasm, aud
his unmistakable power in swaying the
Northern masses, by appeals to passion
and prejudice, are considered, his pres
eut utteranees fall upon our Cars pro-
duclng something akin to amazement.-
Can it be that Mr.. BEEcHER now writes
editorials, as the Washington Daily
Patriot Democratic orgau) styles them,
"full Of wisdom and toleration and gen.
erosity," in connexion with further
oppression Of the South ? But so it even
is; and we fud things so strangely and
feutirely turning around that we come
to commend the magnanimity Of a
BEEcHER
The leading article to which allusion
is made We fud sketchcd in the Wash
iagton Daily Patriot.
It is entitled. "Where Are We " and
sets out with the postu!ate that the six
years which have elapsed since the civil
war ended have been practically wasted,
and that the process Of what may be
termed alien and coerciye reconstruc-
ton has been an utter failure. Then
follows the concession, made in the
most manly way, THAT the local carpet
bag governments have been disastrous
and Corrupt" "This," says Mr..
Bsecher, "Only partially Indicates The
off cial knavery and incompetence, the
elevation Of demagogues and dupes to
the highest Offices, the gross debasement
Of politics, from which the South still
suffers. Before the war, it was charac-
teristic of this section that its best men
those of intelligence and character
aud high social stauding-engagcd in
politics far more generally than the like
class at the North. State aud local
officers were to great e. .ent filed from
| this class. Almost to man they we're
compromised BY the rebellion. As ;hcir
previous positions had very generally
involved taking an oath of allegiance to
the United States, the legislation Of
Congress has excluded them from
political rights and honors. In this
way the oldest aud most trusted lea
dcrs of the Southern communities have
been shut out from direct part in pub
lie affairs. Say, ifyou please, that these
men deserved punishment for aiding
the rebellion. But none the less is the
loss to the body polite of its most expe-
rienced counsellors grave misfortune.
None the less does the exclusion Ct their
trusted chiefs breed alienation and bit
terness throughout the old population.
So far Is their place has been taken BY
men from the North, these have not
generally shown themselves expert
either in the art of government or Of
concilia.ing the people,.
Not only is it conceded that the local
Radical governments have been failures,
but that Federal action has proved itself
incompetent, aud that now more than
ever Is It 90, Tor, says he: CHOW can
men be expected to give peace and
harmony to the South who are not able
to Keep their hanas from each, others
throsts?"
This promised, the actual measure Of
coercion now before Congress, is fear
lsssly considered. I. is pronounced
dsgrantlyj unconstitutional. It is not .
Democrat, but q Radical-nota Bayard'
bat Reeehsr, who says: eff one thing
is clear 10 the original organization of
onr political system, it is that crimes
agaipss person aud property are to be
dealt siih BY the States Hone thing
|is forbl6den by the Constitutions, It IS