Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-09-13
HE Southern States which are i'm
White Hands.

B. Gratz Brown, in a speech at Spring
field, Illinois, contrasted the happy condi-
ton of the Southern States whose govern
ments are in the hands of their own people,
with the misery which has been entailed
by negro domination upon the States fur
ther South, and which arc controlled by
the negroes. He said
AS facts are what are wanted rather than
stories, it will be best to set forth in con-
trast the condition of those States which
were able TO throw Off the administration
interference and confide their affairs to
their own people. Take as illustI ations,
Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri. hey
had been more devastated by war, and
more charged with hatreds and rancors
bred of slavery and rebellion than any
communities at the South. Every neigh
bOrhoOd, every connection, nearly every
freside had been disccord. AT the out
set the same regimen was applied under
Federal auspices to each and with insults
precisely similar to those exhibited recently
at the South. Fortunately for them, they
were the first to turn to liberal policies for
relief. Perfect amnesty to all the white
population engaged in the war, and full
recognition of all the civil rights confirmed
to the colOred population by the war, were
the two great principles OH which their
new departure was based. And so soon
as applied, the effect was magical. Civil
order was at ouce restored everywhere.
The peace of neighborhoods became per-
manent, memories of former hostility were
forgotten, all lurking animosity of race dis
appeared, and the whole people turned
with one accord to repair by industry hat
had been lost in conflict. How fast this
is being accomplished is sufficiently
shown by the reports of the States
for the years 1868 and 1872 respectively.
Virginia paid off 81, 61O,32O Of her debt,
curtailed the expense of conducting her
State government $4,000, and reduced
the rate of taxation from fifty cents to ten
cents within year after the change. Ten
nessee sought at once to realize upon the
assests remaining unpillaged, and thereby
diminished her liabilities by $6,S73, 34O.-
Since then large additional reductions have
been effected in the State debt. Her pro-
.perty values, which i'll 1870 amounted to
$234, 673, 1872, have been enhanced to over
three hundred millions of dollars, and it is
estimated that the burden of taxation, es-
pecially for local purposes, has been de-
creased fully one-third. Missouri, prosper
Gus in her finances since 1868, has received
additional impulse i'll production and de-
velopment, while Georgia has signalized
her deliverance by impeaching the Cover
nor, reducing the expense of administra-
ton, and stopping the payment of {, 900, 900
of fradulently issued bonds. In no one of
these States is any complaint now head of
official dishonesty or arbitrary government;
for equal laws protect all, and justice is
meted out without fear or favor. In all of
them likewise the condition of the colored
race IS uncXceptionably favorable. The
freedmen are secure in their persons, enjoy
their franchise without hindrance, and are
treated with a kind consideration often de-
med them elsewhere. Perhaps Missouri,
which has had largest experience of liberal
policies, may best be taken to instance the
elect upon that class of our population
by the action Of her people in 1870 the
equal rights and franchises of all, without
respect to color or previous disability, were
quadrupled on the constitution by an over
Whelming vote of 117,51S to l6,4G6. And
the statute laws, since enacted, carry out
luily the intent of the constitution, so that
the freedmen sit on juries, have access to
all professions, enjoy schools In every vi
cinage, possess an admirable normal col
lege, supported by annual appropriation
from the State, and in all ways enter freely
and intelligently into political and indus
trial life as Independent citizens.