Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-22

The terrorism and outrage from which the
colored people and white republicans in some
parts Of the south are suffering, are cause o.
grave concern to congress and the country. Il
Is useless 10 deny their existence; the account:
are too numerous, circumstantial, and well au
thenticated for that. 1t is idle also, to say that
they are of the same class with the violence and
rufianism which shows itself more or less fire.
quently in all communities, and especially in
large cities, and that it is no more the duty OF
congress TO consider the subject of preventing
crime in South Carolina, than in New York.
The murders, the whippings, the burnings, OF
which every day brings some new record, in the
Carolinas, in Mississippi, or in Kentucky, are
not prompted by the same motives which are
the ordinary stimulants to crime, nor commit
ted by the class of persons who occupy most OF
the time of the criminal courts and ill the peni-
tentiaries of the northern states. They are
prompted by political luminosity and determi
nation to restore by force and terror, since other
means will not avail, their former supremacy
10 the old ruling classes of the south. The
methods are the same that were used with effec
in the days of slavery, and their tendency and
purpose is TO break down republican institu-
tons, and subject the poor and laborous ma
jority 10 the domination of naughty and de-
spotic caste.
If congress can, in the exercise of its consti-
tutional powers, crush this system of terrorism
and secure to all the people of the south the free
enjoyment of all their political and civil rights,
1t ought to do so without delay or compromise.
This ought not to be treated as party question.
All good citizens should be profoundly interest
ed in devising means for the suppression of this
revolt against the fundamental principles of
government and civilization. For this purpose
new criminal laws arc not what is needed Muir
der, arson and assault have the same definitions,
and similar penalties are assigned to them in
the laws of Mississippi as in those of Massachu-
sets. The administration of the law is at fault,
because magistrates, sheriffs and jurors are
either in sympathy with the criminals, or are
overawed by them. Here is one of the great
difficulties of the situation. Granting to con-
gress the constitutional right to enact laws for
the punishment Of such offences, and to create
courts and magistrates to administer them, the
instruments of their enforcement must be found
1t may not be difficult to find Judges and officers
upright and fearless enough to be trusted, and
troops, if necessary, to protect them in the dis
charge Of their duties, but while society is in
the condition indicated by the reports that come
daily from the south, it will not be so easy 10
find jurors who will find yerdcts in accordance
with the evidence presented
IL is said that the people of the south if
relieved from the apprehension of interference in
their local affairs by the national government
will soon themselves put an cad to these disor.
ders; that they cannot be so blind or so careless
Of their own interests as not to see that lawless
ness drives away capital, unsettles labor, checks
production and trade, and is fatal to all prosper
ty. We can see these things plainly enough
but experience teaches that community which
Systematically encourages individuals to resort
to violent rather than lawful methods of re.
dressing their real or fancied grievances, does
not readily reform itself Education is recon-
mended also as the cure for all the evils from
which the south is suffering. The remedyis ex-
ceiient, though rather slow of operation, but
the patient rejects the medicine Education can
not have fair chance against the kuklux so
long as the members of that organization make
it their first care to burn school houses and mnr.
der teachers.
The situation is deplorable and the remedy
has not been found. 1t cannot be in Mr. But.
lers bill, with its machinery of commissioner,
and marshals, and its endless detail of penal en-
actments. 1t cannot be in doing nothing ant
trusting to the good sense and enlightened sci
interests of the southern whites. These consid
crations have not given order and stable gov
eminent to Mexico in fifty years, nor to San Do
mingo in seventy. Mr.. Hoars educational bill
promises much for the future, but il must hav
time and fair field for its teachers, which tn
kuklux will not permit, If they can help il. /
is possible THAT, by inquiry and -deliberatioi
during the recess, congress may be prepared a
~ next session to enact some salutary am
'aAi measure, but we see no probabilit.
a"s Suy oniug valuable Gao be done this spring
Co.. 'S 's' ls as yet nothing to intimate wba
'' S'ola'loh on this subject should take.
AZ bangor on the 10th, the Deyv c,,, ,,,,,,a.,,
inent was inauguTated. Mayor I W kosei ~
Afercd the usual address. o. n Doie oe