The Van Buren press., 1874-06-23
Is There a Reaction

The election of straight democrat
like Mr. Eaton to the Senate from Con-
necticut, says the Shreveport Times,
seems to have opened the eyes ola good
many men who had made up their minds
that the United States Senate had ceased
to be a place tor men of talent, integrity
and patriotism The fact that man can
be sent to Congress from Connecticut
who is bent on seeing jnstice done to all
sections of the country, has fallen like a
bombshell into the radical camp. AL
ready some Of the most ultra radical or
gans are beginning to see the end Of
radicalism, and are anxious to d" unload .
the radical measures which have rendered
the name of the republican party infa-
nous Hear, for instance, the New York
Times, the leading radical organ in the
the North: f"T
When Mr. Eaton talks Of the necessity
Of maintaining State rights, and Of Civ.
ing the citizens Of South Carolina the
same freedom which the citizens of Con-
nectIcut enjoy, it is not enough to allege
that he is copperhcad, " and to fling
at him the missiles which darkened the
air between 1861 and 1865 Ii the cti-
zens of the South are living in state OF
oppression, Mr.. Eaton is right in calling
attention to their situation; if they are
suffering FROM injustice, the nation at
large will never tolerate its continuance,
and, therefore, the sooner the Injustice
is redressed the better.
The Southern States are not living un.
der fair or free governmgns--so Mr.
Eaton and many Others allcge Well, is
the assertion true? Look al South Caro-.
lima. The facts in reference to that State
seem to be about as well established as
any historical facts can be, and they
amount to this-the negroes, assisted by
rascally whites, have held sort of grand
org'e in the State for several years past,
have swallowed up among them pretty
nearly all the private property in the
State, have ruined what may be called
the native citizens even more thoroughly
than the war had done, have robbed and
harred like so many highwaymen. and
have reduced the State to condition
which must shock every man who sees it
or reads about it. The very Governor
Of the State is a thief. The Legislature
is gang Of thieves. Is this "republi
can government, such as the consttu
ton expressly guarantees to all the
StatesY We venture to say that it is not
that, on the contrary it is u govern
ment Of which the republic has every
reason to be ashamed.
The leaders of the present moment
may not pay any attention TO the sub
iect but if they do not other leaders
will arise who WiH see that justice is
done. Last week we all witnessed the
United States Senate engaged for about
twenty four hours at a stretch in passing
out Of a sentimental sort of Difference to
the wishes of deceased Senator. Re.
spect for the dead is incumbent on us all
but legislation should be based on a
careful and wise regard for the welfare
of the living, not upon mandates, real
or fictitious, of the dead The negro
has had very fair amount ofprotection
1t is important before going any further
to find out what use he has made of the
freedom given to him; in what way he
has exercised the vast political powers
with which he has been endowed what
sort of a government he has helped 10
set up in States where he is most power
full whether, in short, be at that this
moment stands in need Of protection
from the white man, or the white man
stands in need of protection from him.