The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-12-26
From the New York Herald
The TREATMENT OF THE SOUTH.
Are the Southern People to Have Peace :?

pllgn, while predicting the success of
General Grant, we announced that we
"Nuld demand OF the next administration
whoever might be nj its head, a return to
constitutional government in the Southern
states anu the restoration to the Southern
people OF all the rights enjoyed by their
''iIoW cnIZehs in New York Massachu-
seltS or Illinois. We intend to redeem
inns pledge. and Notwithstanding the APP
pfehenslonS expressed by some Republ-
can journals that the Herald desires to eX-
cite u conflict between Congress and the
Executive, we shall continue to urge upon
The President the eNpediency and Justice
OF a reversal OF that policy which, after
1our Years trial, has LETT the South in a
state OF anarchy, at the mercy of the worst
class OF political adventurers and stripped
"f All selnbance OF selt-government. Gen
Grant has enough sagacitv to know that
the favorable verdict of November was
rendered on his own personal merits, and
not on the strength or popularity of the
Republican policy. There is sufficient
evidence to show that the reconstruction
policy of Congress is distasteful to the
people. During the canvass the republi-
ian organs did not attempt to Justify the
Enforcement act, but claimed that the
President was free from responsibility for
its passage. The plea was set up that the
provisions of the act would never be en-
forced except in extreme cases. and the
complaints of the oppression of the south
"rn whites We're met by either ridicule OF
bold denial President Grant will, there
tore, understand that in claiming tardy
lHStire Tor the southern States, at his
hands. we ask Of him nothing in contra
venti"n OF the popular verdict at the re-
cent election. We claim that the con-
tidence of the people in his own generous
impulses, as indicated in his parole of
Gen. Lee and his army. and in his famous
report on the condition of the South dur
ing President Johnson's administration.
induces the belief that in his second term
ol office Gen. Grant would exert himself
to restore the ex-rebel States to all their
constitutional rights and privileges, and
to undo the mischief done by the carpet
baggers and their friends in Congress.
We insist that this belief materially con-
tro!led the result of the Presidential con
Test
In the face Of the recent events in LOUIS
'ana and Alabama no one will DENY the
evils of the present political condition of
the South and the necessity OF speedy
reform. In one Of these States. through
what President Grant calls "miserable
Scramble for office" the city of New Or
leans has been brought to the verge of
civil war, Riot and bloodshed have only
been averted by a surrender of all the
nights OF the State. If Judge Durrell did
not strain the law and exceed his powers
IN handing over to the Executive office
and the State Legislature to the KELLOGG
party then the Enforcement act really
destroys the Republican institutions and
sulrcnderS the States to the arbitrary will
"t the federal governments. The act in |
question give large powers to the United
states Courts. If any colored citizens |
are denied the rights OF registration or
voting solely Ion account OF race color |
or previous condition of servitude," and |
~ reason OF such denial a candidate tor |
any office except for Presidential elector. |
member Of Congress on OF the State Legis-
laturc, shall be defeated, the United States
Circuit or District Court, ''cOncmrently |
with the State Courts" is given the pow /
~ to count the votes thus concluded. and /
II they are sufficient to elect the minority |
candidate, 70 award him the office. Act /
ing under this provision of the law, Judge |
Durlell granted mjunctions against tie |
state Board of Canvassers from discharr- |
ing lis functions, placed new Board N /
power, and thus declared Governor Kel- |
logg and the Republican State Legislature
elected. Neither Judge Durrell nor the
Kellogg Board of Canvassers has posses
son 90 a single election return; no co.
operation has been had with any State
Court no evidence has been taken or Of
tered 10 'ubstantiate the affidavits of thou |
sands OF negroes as to the rejection OF |
their votes, and there is not particle OF |
proof that any citizens were disiranchised |
on account Of race, color or previous con-
ditIon OF servitude. We repeat. il the
enforcement act has been properly inter
pfeted by Judge DurreI, the Southern
9lales are at the present moment stripped |
"t ail liner constitutional rights and hold |
me- their Liberties only at the mercy Of
itdrr4i baYonetS. AT any time, after any
election, the popular verdict may be set
aside 10y any political aspirant who can
command the services of a federal Judge |
tnd federal troops. The ballot is a mere |
iafet- The Constitution Of the United States |
rpthlng more than waste paper-while |
such an act stands upon the statute books.
Ia this disgracclul Louisiana fight the
participants are all of the same stripe II |
- battle for the spoils among the car
prt-baggers, who have fallen out among |
themselves. Governor Yarmouth was |
the creation of the carpet bag politicians, |
who gladly awaited themselves of his reck- |
leSsnesS and boldness to carry ont their
schemes. They placed him in office by |
authority Of the bayonet. and armed with |
'JIiltrarN N no mead in, bni, |
service. When his ambition clashed with |
the aspirations of other leaders there was
4 DIV lslon III the party. and while War |
mouth endeavored TO turn the weapons
with which he had heen armed. against |
ms former associates they invoked for his |
destruction the very power they had used |
lof ms advancement. This would be a |
proper retribution, but, unfortunately. the |
people OF Louisiana are the real sufferers |
by the dlsgraceful contest, in their busi- |
ness IN their prospects, in their civil rights. |
lhey nave no more sympathy with War.
mouth than with Kellogg or Casey; but |
they feel the sorrow and modification |
that all citizens of a free government |
must naturally experience when they find |
themselves powerless to resist outrageous
1ggresslons upon their rights The whole |
VI tLlNoI uiiIGl lulltit LOUISIANA proceed |
lngs, as well as the attempt of Senator
Spencer and his allies to seize upon the |
Legislature of Alabama in defiance of the |
Will OF the people as expressed at the bal |
lot box, and the bare federation of the |
FEDERAL government show at how low an |
estimate the liberties of the white citizens
OF the South are held by those who have
assumed the work Of reconstruction.
1t is unnecessary to comment on the
dangerous tendency OF special legislation
in a country like our own, where the
perfect equality of the States rs well as of
the citizens in all their civil rights lies at
the foundation of the government system |
1t might have been wise and humane to
protect the freedmen in their newly ac-
CURED privileges when the rebellion was
Just al the end and while the Southern
States were in process of rehabilitation.
But years have passed since the fall of the
Confederacy and of slavery, and it is now
lime that all the States of the Union.
North and South, East and West, should
enjoy the same freedom and the same