The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1872-04-03
OPPRESSION OF THE SOUTHERN
w. STATES.

lFf % Al ED. sd
a GREAT SPEECH FROM HON. D. W yooR-
14 gs ao9 HE'S. eg ~
The Washington correspondent of the
Baltimore Gazette gives the following syn
opsis of the splendid speech delivered in
Congress. on Saturday. BY that able and
fearless champion Of popular rights, Hon.
D. w. Voorhees,. Of Indiana:
Mr.. Voorhees,. in opening referred to
the condition Of many Of the States in the
Union, which, be says, exeites the unmin-
gled pity and indignation Of the civilized
world. They are the theme Of sorrowful
and of bitter comment wherever the chan
nels ofhuman intelligence penetrate. They
engage the attention Of all the departments
Of the government. Executive proclama-
tions spread evil things about them. aud
hurl every principle oftheir liberties, .ey-
cry munimsnt oftheir safety to the ground.
Congress enacts laws against them
which utterly destroy every vestige Of free
dom, and forge and riyet on their helpless
limbs the fetters of despotism. 1t also
scpds forth its powerful missionaries of
mischief in tho form Of committees, backed
by the money and the power Of the gov
ernment, whose labors are to blacken the
character and the fame of their people un-
der the guise Of official Investigations and
official reports The head Of the Depart
lnent Of Justice, the late Attorney General,
who led his people into the war aud then
returned to plague and lay waste the
hearthstones of bis followers, superintend-
ed in person the inquisition and the tor
ture inflicted upon the descendants Of
those who fought in the battles Of the rey-
oluticn. Ek t8
The army Of the United States, in
time Of profound peace, has launched like
a bolt Of destruction into their midst. II
is engaged in seizing. without sworn charge
or warrant Of law. the youth. the middle
aged, and the grayhaired grand sires, in
the sanctuary Of American homes, and
driving them like herded beasts into crow
ded prisons. And the President himself,
IN bis recent message, prepared. as he says.
in haste. as il be had aifairsof greater i'm
portancc 10 engage his attention, jet found
time 70 give. his sanction to all this, and TO
i;a-pan NJ ,s.ifA n. si.a ssa.sa-..i
cusstion.
Andso Mr.. Voorhees, proceeded to or
raign the Republicans, charging that since
peace came. seven years ago. that party
has poured upon the unresisting and help
less South the foods Of disorder. corruption,
bankruptcy. crime, oppression. and ruin;
that By its conduct and policies every bles-
sing Of free government has been sconrged
from the free II country containing over
twelve millions 81 people. and larger mex
tent than many Of the foremost powers Of
Europe; by this party the constitution has
been trampled under foot. dwarfed into q
dead letter. or widcned and extended BY
fraudulent amendments, according az the
unscr upnlous purposes ofa powerful par
" would be best promoted; from turret to
foundation the Republican party have torn
down the governments Of eleven States !;
have rent all their local laws and machine
~ into fragments. and trampled upon their
ruins Mr.. Voorhees, described the Is
tracism and political punishments visited
upon the old citizens Of the South. Ey-
cry man who. during the conflict between
the sections, was clothed with the slightest
responsibility, has been marked by the
blight Of ineligibility. and, like the leaper
Of old, II was made crime for the people
To again reach forth 10 him the hand Of
friendship.
Even the sacred instincts Of human ua-
ture became disquali6catiOns for Office. The
ties Of kindred we're made criminal. and he
who gave q cup ofcold water and crust
of bread TO bis thirsty and famishcd son,
under arms for cause which be believed
TO be right, and for which be was willing
to die, was branded with dishonor and dri
ven out from the councils u his country.
men. Tho loving mother who sheltered
her weary aud wounded boy, laid him il
his own familiar bed at home onee more
kissed his lips. wiped away the gathering
dews of death. aud with broken hear
closed his dear eyes forever, was condemn
ed for those acts Of angelic ministering
and incurred the penalties Of con6scation
EIo who dismopnted and gave bis horse /,
a brother ia the moment Of danger ant
close pursuit; tse sister who wrought anS
sent clothing 70 him on the toilsome march
the maiden who prayed for her lover as b,
laying dying in the Wilderness OF NJ Ston,
riy or, all fell under common curse. Ever
the white haired grandmother of four scor'
years. whose youthful husband perhaps
was at the Cowpens, Eutaw Springs an,
!, Yorktown, or. mar be. fought under Jack
Ison at New Orleans in the war Of 1912
! was deprived Of bcr pension, that smal
mosel Of bounty from an ungenerous gov
ernment, II her heart yearued or her age
/ hand was extended in sympathy TO be
J children and her children's children on ID
plains Of the South. a more sweeping an