Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-07-31
CLEARFIELD, PA, WEDNESDAY, JULY 81, 1872

l
tion party, both in October and in
November, by larger majorities than
have ever heretofore been known in
her history.
There il another branch, however,;
Of the domestic policy of the present
administration which has perhaps
more strongly induced the present po-
litical MONUMENT against it, than any
other, for Il comprises within itself
the wrongsand villainies of all others.
The condition OF the South has at last
aroused universal attention, and al
most universal Indignation. That un-
happy section is at last recognized as
La portion of our common country, and
as such is entitled 10 an equality be-
fore the law with all other sections.
General Grant was elected to the
Presidency exchiming "Let us have
peace, "but the cry has been cheat
and dclusion. There has been no
peace for the helpless people of the
South. They have longed for it and
prayed for it, but it has not come. A
worse form of wal than marching
columns has preyed upon them. 1t
has been war Of robbers, spies and
jailors. / say, without fear Of intelli-
gent contradiction, that in all that
goes to destroy the prosperity Of n
country and crush the welfare of its
people, the administration Of public
affairs in the South fer tho last three
years has been tho worst, the most
truly internal, ever known in the his.
tory of civilized people. 1t is a
subject on which have bestowed an
earnest attention and with which |
have made myself familiar. During
the last session of Congress, ! demon
strated from official proof that sys
tenn of plumber had been pursued un-
der the protection and approval of the
present administration, by which the
entire eleven reconstructed States of
the South had beeh impoverished and
a majority of them made bankrupt.
Debts and outstanding obligations
amounting in the aggregate TO at least
five million dollars have been fastened
by official thieves on the ax.payers of
that blighted region, for the purpose
of aiding in this wholesale robbery by
reducing the Southern people TO
silence and submission. While it was
going on it has been falsely assumed
that they were in a lawless frame OF
mind, and must be placed under laws
as despotic and infamous as an Aus.
trian edict against Hungary in ls49,
or British act of Parliament against
Ireland in the last century. The true
policy of the bandit prevails from
Virginia to Texas. Wherever the
touch of this administration and its
followers has been felt, 1t has been the
money of tho people or their lives and
liberties, and in majority of the
States, both. They have not only had
their very substance eaten out by ad.
venturous scoundrels, but they have
been deprived in their own persons Of
every American right. Their prop.
erty is not only at the mercy Of mcr.
cenary vagabonds but under the legis.
lation of the past few years husband
or father, wifo or mother, son or
daughter, in the entire South, could
be consigned indefinitely to prison on
the mere suspicion Of any brutal or
depraved spy, whether white or black,
there to lay, without hope of speedy
trial or release on bail, until those
who had deprived them of the bene.
fits of the writ Of hdbedS corpus either
turned them out or packed a jury for
their conviction. When | recall and
dwell upon the appalling crimes
against liberty and against the COM
mon rights of humanity, / cannot
wonder ut the strong and bitter cry,
which comes up from the South for
any body to defeat the re. election OF
the man who has inspired them, and
regarded them with grim and heart.
less satisfaction and in many instances
committed them himself. The man
who is drowning, or who sees his wife
and children perishing in flames, must
not be censured for adopting any
method, not criminal in itself, by
which to save himself or all that is
dear to him, / have therefore listen.
cd with perfect patience to the voice
of the South in this crisis, knowing,
as | do, her extreme and immediate
necessities. Her urgent appeal for
the nomination Of Mr. Greeley has
been regarded by her friends in the
North almost as the last dcspairing
{ cry of bravo and noble people, rc-
duccd 10 hopeless extremity, behold
ing, as they think, one more chance
TO save themselves from a ruin infn.
itely worse than death. l iervently
pray God that their hopes may be
realized, and many Northern man
will suspend his differences with Mr.
Greeley on account Of the people OF
: tho South, who would not do 30 on his
own. They believe the election of Mr.
Greeley will afford them relief, and in
that belief they demand his nomina.
ton. 1t has been accorded moro in
reference 10 their condition and theiI
wishes than to any one cause. II Mr.
Greeley under these circumstances
:. should be elected, no will stand
pledged by the strongest obligations
that ever rested upon an honorable
, man to bestow upon the South the
) blessings OF just, kind and fraterna
policy Of the Government, If he did
not do so after the confidence reposeo
/ in him by that section, he would be
; accursed amongst men. Let us hope
/ however, with our brethren in the
/ South that the experiment may be
/ complete success, that his election
g may Danish misrulc and plunder from
a their midst, restore peace in reality al
well as in name bring back cheer
/. ful and contonted devotion to the laws
/. Of the country and pride in the flag
I which affords an equal protection tt
/. all citizens. Let us hope that thu
Q deadly paralysis so long affecting thu
South and destroying her vast produc
tive resources may speedily bo sue
n cceded by perfect health and vigor
= If our (nvorn ~, n NJ 10 IN lao restored