The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-05-20
Butler I'm Boston.

Benjamin T. Butler has recently furnished
additional evidence, ii that were at all neces-
sary, that as a bold, reckless demagogue,
none but hitnself can be his parallel De-
spised and execrated in Congress as low
political trickster, be is now engaged in the
laudable effort Of pandering to the vanity and
prediudices of bis colored allies in hassachu
setts, ard attempting to prove. that for all
the weighty and responsible duties Of gov
ernment, tho negroes of South Carolina are
immeasurably superior to the white race
On the night of the 9Th instant he delivered
a speech before the negroes of Boston in
which be had the brezen impuderce to ask
the three following questions
q submit to the calm judgment Of the
country, upon fair and not strained COM
parisou of the two races as they stand to-
gether to DAY in South Carolina, which is
the litter to govern Ia whose hands life,
liberty and property are and will in the fu-
ture be more safe In community under
the government Of which class would any
prudent, well-behayed ceusiderate man rath
er east his lot 2''
It requires an iDfnite amount Of cheek to
propornd these inquiries even to negro
audience, ln view of the melancholy expert
eace Of the Southern States under the recon-
structicn acts. aud especially of South Caro-
lina, where the negroes have full and in
disputed sway. No other Uhite man, except
1t might be Wendell Phillips, would have
the hardihood to repeat Buffers ihterroga-
tories.
South Carolina to day; under negro ascend
ehty. is the foulest cesspool of ignorance and
rascality. the most hideous blot upon civili-
cation and political decency. that exists on
the face of tbs earth" So iLtoIerable are
the evils under which that State groans and
suffers under negro misrule aud corruption.
that only few days ago a con vention repre-
seuting the property and Intelligence of the
State assembled at Columbia 20 consult to-
gether and adopt some means Of escape frcE1
the oppressive load Of taxation which has
been imposed upon the people hy negro
Legislature. Scott, the carpet-bag Cover
nor, and Cham berlaip, the GeDtensnt Gov
error, occupied seats in the convsotion and
pledged their cooperation in the moTsDent.
We will let the New York Tribune answer
Botler's questions. That paper lately sent
a special correspondent to South Carolina to
investigate the condition of the State in all
its aspects, and especially the capacity OF
the negroes for legislation. Coming from
such a source, it is a foregone conclusion that
this correspondent tells the truth, and that
he "nsither eXteBuateS, Lor sets down aught
in malice" The following plain statements
from one Of his letters ought TO overwhelm
even Butler with shame and confusion, if be
was not insensible to both
South Carolina may be regarded as the
typical Southern State. Here the Southern
idea was most fully developed. and here the
change to the Northern system of govern
inent and society is most radical, aud is at
tended by tbs greatest resistance. The C7.iy
tConder IS that this change has been accompa
MED by so lille UiOleiIce, when it is consider
ed that no civilized community ever under
went so sudden and thorough a revolution in
all it, social. industrial and political reta-
tions. The slGres Of yesterday are the masters
Of today and the old naughty, RIDING class
as reduced TO condition Of political hr0t-
disturbed condition of the State, it is necee-
sary to consider the elements of its popula
tion and their changed relations 10 each other
In a total Of 729, ,00G Inhabitants there are
about 426 ,00e negroes, who, as a class, are
ignorant, saperstisious, semi barbarians, bat
little elevated in intelligence above their
kindred in Africa. Ispeak Of the great mass
Of the negroes. of the plantation field
hands" They are extremely indolent. and
aciH make no ereTtiOn beyond soAat as necessG
ry 70 0dtain food enough to satisfy heir
Upon these people not only political rights
have been conferred, but they hare absolute
political supremacy, They are the goceRing
class in South Carolina, and class more
totally UNIT to goreyn does not erist upon the
face of the earth
1t aootld be hard TO imagine state Of So
cisty more enhrelq an fitted for Republican
.torns Of government han this The infsHi
gent people Of the State has no roice ia public
affairs. aud no influence IN the government,
and are obliged 10 submit to the rule Of q class
jalst re'ieUed from s!aregy. and incompetent,
tcithOut grtidHncs, TO exercise The simplest du-
ties Of citizenship THIS condition Of affairs
IS so UnrhOlesOpee and unnaturdl aud 80
fruitful Of ecil that 1t is clear ha: il cannst
last.