The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-16
GEN. BANKS on THE FUTURE OF
THE SOUTH.

Gen. N K baOkS delivered lecture before
a Boston audience, on the above subject, or
the Sth inst. From a report of this lecture
we take the following extract:
The financial and all the business embar-
easements under which we ut the North were
pressed were due to the condition Of affairs in
the South, for it was impossible that por-
ton Of the country should be in anarchy and
its 1900, 600 Of people suffering an invasion
Of their social and political rights, and the
other portions be unaffected. He then began
with the history Of the attempts at recon-
struetiOn, beginning first with President Lin
coin movements in Florida while the war
was in progress. Then he spoke of the
second attempt, the first having failed to
secure the allegiance OF the States on the
borders Of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
This was wise plan, for in these States
was the strength and power of the whole
country, and what authority held them held
the destinies of the Government. He gave
statistics showing that the fourteen States in
the Mississippi and Ohio valleys furnished
more farm and live stock products than all
the other States combined: but Congress was
at no time ready to act upon any measure for
reconstruction Its delay he characterized as
fatal, for no one could doubt that. if these
Valley States had been received one by one
into the Union, the entire reorganization and
reconstruction Of the South would speedily
have followed
Then came Mr.. Lincoln's death, and with
1t the whole train OF evil and disaster which
has befallen the South and the whole country.
The matter OF reconstruction was thrown
upoA Congress but that body unwilling to
adopt any policy. the question went over till
the close OF the war and it was not until 1866 |
that it began to take definite shape. Then
the Senators from Tennessee Were admitted |
to the councils of the nation In 1868 Arkan- |
sas, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, |
Georgia and Alabama followed, and in 1870 |
Mississippi and Texas, SO that, practically, all |
the Rebel States came into the Union at the |
same time.
After pausing to express his gratitude to
God that they did not accept the XIvth
and all come in in 1866, in which |
event the South would have obtained possess
sion of the Government, he spoke infinitely
Of the action OF Congress in regard to negro
suffrage. Universal suffrage having been
adopted, an immediate and important change
was produced at the South. The negroes
were soon leagued together. and the white
race. their former masters were arrayed
against them. Therefore. it was thought
wise to send among them as instructors and
oeacemakers officers of the Freedmens
lence the carpet-bag governments.
1t was suspected that these carpet-baggers
we're running the Government for their own
personal gain. and in fact there were grounds
or this suspicion, from the fact that the
ate of taxation was 80 cents to 81 60 on
500; the value of property was reduced from
50, 800, DOC, coo to S140,0OO,O 600; the area of
land was reduced from IS, 600, OOe
lcres to 3l,CO0.OOO. and their values frosa
Il 20N, 600, coo to s545, O0O 600; and the State
lebts had increased to an enorm Gus amount.
Could such condition Of things continue
ong? No. There must inevitably, unless some
emedy was applied be reputation in some
orm OF other, and he called attention to the
uinous eject such action would have upon
lpon the whole country. He spoke favorably
# that portion of the Presidents message re-
erring to reconstruction, but said that the
ime must come when it would be forced upon
he people and the President that the whole
# the difficulties ut the South were on &C :
cunt Of the United States officials holding
flee there, and it might come to pass that,
y a special vote Of Congress, these men
'ould be prohibited from taking part in local
fairs, [Appiause.]