The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-09-12

that We have reached these conclusions, and
IN the next place they have discovered that
the principle Of local self-government can
not be denied rs TO part Of the States and
preserved as TO the other part. 1c was said
by Mr. Seward Just before the war that sla-
very was sheltered by that principle of the
Fedefal Constitution.>which left the States
free 70 control their own domestic govern
menfs and that there was this barrier to its
extinction. The abolitionists saw in that
prlnclpie an obstacle TO their views, and
were 1nel1ned to see It's dimensions lessened
ana It's force weakened. The slave States
saw IN not only protection against inter-
ference with slavery, but against interfe-
renee for any object. I'm then. domestic con-
Germs, and were inclined to give it greater
extens1On4 Many Of their statesmen came TO
regard the Constitution as creating a mere
voluntary union. dissoluble at will. This
eliminated IN attempted secession and civil
war. At the close or the war, therefore. the
principle OF State control over State affairs
seemed TO have lost much of it's value In the
NoFthern mind, and but little heed was Civ
en- 10 the murmurs from the South against
the wholesale interference by the central
government Ia the domestic concerns of the
states But with slavery forever extinct,
and the indissolubie union OF the States es-
tablisheds they have come TO reflect upon
the real value of the principle of local self
government in the constitution; they find
that 1t sheltered slavery and gave no war
rant for seeessiOn--and that It shelters much
It IS in South Carolina. They have come
to view it as Washington speaks OF it in his
farewell address, and as every sound states
man must regard it, as the essential princi-
pie of the American system, without which
no union could have been formed. and with
out which the union car not be maintained.
Ii seemed to be no serious matter when the
central government was dealing with the
Southern States, but the Northern mind has
awakened to the tendencies of the National
Government Under the auspices of an arro-
giant and dOmineering party to carry this
interference into all the States. These ten
denotes have become conspicuous under the
present ad ninistration,
BAD INFLUENCE OF THE METHOD OF Gov
ERNING THE SOUTH ON THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATIONS.
Under any condition of things and under
the most discreet management, it would be
difficult for this constitutional and limited
national government to govern so large a
population and so many States of the Union
on the principle and after the manner in
which it has governed the States of the
South, without contracting faint from the
exercise OF unwOnted aud undefued powers,
brought into play and without affecting the
very frame of the constitution. Unfortu-
nately this dangerous kind OF governanc e
fell into the hands of President who,
whether from Indifference or incapacity for
civil affairs, impaired to every branch Ofthe
public administration a feebleness which,
in the body polite as in the natural body.
invites contamination and disease. just as
certainly as a weak President will catch the
infirmities of the worst elements of his
party, will weak administration of the
government take COM lexion and tone from
the vices which exist in the machinery
which it controls.
GRANT LEARNS HIS LESSONS IN BAD
SCHOOL, AND MAKES GOVERNMENT AT
WASHINGTON AFTER THE SOUTH
ERN PATTERN.
1t may seem strange, but 1t is neverthe-
less true, that in the description some of
the most eminent Republican statesmen of
the North have given of the National adj
minstration, there is the clearest proof
that it is being modelled latter the pattern
of things" seen in the South. An unin-
structed and inexperienced President has
learned the art of government in the worst
school in which its principles were ever
taught. His ideas of political science have
been drawn from the examples of absolute
ism in the Southern establishments, and
from seeing Federal power exercise unde-
fined sway over the affairs OF the States.
The machinery by which band of Office
holders can WELD half million of voters
without the trouble of convincing them, and
the unquestioning obedience to party, con-
spicuonsly exhibited here have surely sug-
gested the possibility of a discipline so
perfect and so powerful as to insure perma-
nent power to party.
ORIGIN OF RING GOVERNMENT, GRANT LEARNS
1T IN THE SOUTH.
I am convinced that the idea of Ring
government on a large scale, if it had not
its origin, got its development, in the South.
1t is ''of dubious and varied ancestry"
doubtless. Tweed may have planted" and
another disciple may have ''watered," but
it was reserved for the vampire governments
of the South to give it''the increase"
1t was in the South that the discovery
was made that the whole public administra-
ton could be converted into a system of
AiobS," and that government could be re-
duceu down to a simple taxing machine.
1t was in the South that General Grant
was taught the secret of carpet-bag govern
ment, which is Ring government, pure and
simple. After his visit of inspection to the
Southern States, he reported that the colored
men did not know how to combine and vote
to protect their rights, and that the white
men here who were willing to undertake
their teaching, would hot remain If the
army should be withdrawn. The new es-
adjustments must have military protec-
ton. This is the germ. This military
trimming to the garment about to be lifted
on to us, like the trimming in modern mill
linery, became the distinguishing trait OF
the costume. The carpet dagger self-ap-
pointed tutor, voting the colored people
under military surveillance and, protection
in body for self and friends There is the
whole of it! 1t is said that military mind
is prone TO reduce all government to its
simplest elements. There is simplicity
about this machinery which charmed the
General. The instruction which has pro-
ceeded from these sel1RppOiLted tutors, has
never reached, so to speak, the higher
branches of political science. The W hole
scheme of political education is summed up
i'm few lessons-seperate from the white
men. vote all together, and vote as tell
you. beginning with me-sswhat Is more
than this eometh of evil" On the other
hand. mere political opposition was pro-
scribed as rebellion and dislOyalty.
SOUTHERN STATE GOVERNMENTS ON ExHIBI-
TON.
Let us put the thing on exhibition and
seeif we do not detect the vicious influences
which are changing the character OF the
nations government. Here is system OF
State government over which the states
have no contro lt rests on no constituen-
CIV. because the col0red people so entirely
without knowledge and experience could
not suggest measures of government and
are not consulted about them. The white
element is entirely ignored. NO puoilc
opinion could come up from the colored men
rs guide or adm0nish the men who handle
this machinery, and they feel themselves TO
be completely irresponsible except at
Washington, and that responsibility has its
beginning and its end in keeping the team
they drive well In hand. We have here. not
government in any sense in which govern
ment is deemed possiblein America. Alien
to the States in which they exist denant OF
public opinion. without q controlling con-
stitueney, they are but the mere party out
posts of the administration garFlsonea Dy
officeholders, and jobbers, with the privilege
of pavin1 themselves, and what that means
il the worldwide scandal of this age such
governments must appeal TO force against
mere political opposition, and 50 these have
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