The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-03-11
The poor down-trodden South!

ELAION, MARCH L, 1871
The poor down-trodden SOUTH
This has been the burthen Of the song OF
sigh, of certain class of politicians fol-
years, and while their real or affected lam
entations are cutting sarcasm upon theil
political course, and prescribed remedies
for the misfortune they bewail, there is
nevertheless Il very unpoetic truth in theil
complaints over southern misrule. That
ill-starred region, politically known as the
South, having one devil cast out, seems to
be tormented by seven others, which have
entered into it.
The Committee of Congress, appointed
to investigate the facts on account of the
constant complaints which come up from
that unhappy region, represent that the
whole country is well nigh in the control OF
u secret organization known as the ku
Klux, whose mid night assassinations have
established region of terror, and placed
that country as near on the verge of rebel
lion as in 1860.
L
necessary to discontinue the Mail route
between Louisville and Lexington, Ken
lucky, on account of the Mail Agents being
shot at, and otherwise interfered with.
At Meridian, Mississippi, on Monday
last, judge was shot dead in the midst
of an open court, while on the bench, when
a general shooting match took place, in
which s or ten persons were killed. AT
New Orleans a steamship agent was found
murdered in his bed on Tuesday morning.
In the same city Captain Long, Z. S. Dis
trict Attorney was found dead in his office
last October, the victim Of the mob which
walks in darkness, and some of whose
members he had offended in the course of
his official duties.
The Republican Congress propose to
enact some general lazy to suppress such
lawlessness, and protect the lives and pro-
perty of peaceful citizens, thing the State
Courts are incompetent or unwilling to do,
because majority of the outrages are per-
petrated against Republicans through polit-
cal hatreds, and the whole Democratic
party of the North, as well as South,
endorse the murders and riots which are
daily and weekly occurring, similar to the
instances above cited; and affect to believe
the Republicans in Congress desire to pass
laws solely for political purposes, that they
may carry the Southern states at future
elections.
1t is clearly the right of every man in
any part of this country to exercise his
political rights, and express freely his polit-
ical sentiments, let him belong to whatever
party or creed he may, without molestation
or bodily injury. 1t is notorious that this
privilege is seriously interfered with, in
many parts of the South, and in addition
to this class of outrages many other dep
rotations are constantly occurring, which
it is the duty of government to suppress.
Every peaceable citizen claims protec-
ton and should have it accorded him.
The old institution of slavery, fostered
a spirit of barbarism and blood thirst,
which has been let loose upon the whole
community by the rebellion giving death
blow to its parent. And what formerly
found an outlet for its vindictive propen-
sity on the plantation, where crime was
generally covered up from the public view,
now is brought to light by increased facli-
ties for gaining intelligence from all parts
of the country
Order and laws that would deal speedy
Justice to that element of barbarism which
affliets the South, and retards it's progress,
should be welcomed by every man who has
regard for civilization it is natural to
to suppose; but in the face of facts that
are proven by cloud of witnesses, we find
thousands of we'll disposed people, ready
to believe the baseless denials of Demo-
cratic politicians, whose only rebutting
testimony is audacious denial, and unsup-
ported denunciation of everything the
Republican party may propose; it matters
not what that may be.
The question arises, can the people as
mass be imposed upon by pasistant and
audacious reitel alton of groundless charges
against Republicans only, and denial of
facts supported by proofs clear as the noon
day, which is the policy and the only meas
ures adopted by the party which espoused
the cause of slavery, and now champion
its offspring of violence and murder, that
threatens to inaugurate new war of rebel
lion in the South?