South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-06-05

persons then living but il will not be the
governments designed by the founders Of
the constitution. Il may b a civil poli,y
based upon parliamentary rule, or it may
be monarchy or a despotisn bui it viii
no longer be constitutional republic such
as We have seen here for nearly hundred
years"
The Times goes on TO say ,hat if the citizens of
the South are living in a state Of oppression Mr.
Eaton is right 10 calling attention 10 their stu
alton, and if they axe suffering from injustice the
nation at la7ge will never tolerate it. "The peo-
pie will not consent says the Tunes, $50 see
either u Poland or an ireland created on this
soil.' Il asks il Mr. Eaton s assertion is true
that the Southern States are not living under
fair aad free government, and answers
"Look AZ South Carolina. The facts ia
reference to that State seen TO be about as
we'll established Us any historical facts can
be, and they amount to this the negroes,
assisted by rascally whites, have held sort
OF graod Crgio ID the State for several years
past; have swallowed up among them pref
ty nearly all the private property in the
State; have ruined what may be called the
native citizens even moro thoroughly than
the war had done; have robbed aud harliel
like 50 many highwaymen, and have reduc.
ed 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 a gaog Of thieves. l.
this 'r6pub lean government such as the
consti'u ion expressly guarantees to I'll the
States
"No doubt the system introduced as a
'wtr measure into the SJuth after the war
chiefly upon tho advice of Senator Sum
ner and Thadicus Stevens-was experi.
mental but can W. wonder that people ev-
erywhere begin to ask how long the exper-
iment Is to last? There should at least be
some signs of Improvement visible as tine
goes on. Nine years have passed since
the close Of the war, and is South Carolina
better governed than she was then She
clearly Is not so well governed as she was
under purely military rule The SEINE
must be said nlufutiS mutandis, of Louisi.
ana, Mississippi, Texas aud Arkansas. Now,
1t Is folly TO suppose that the republican
party, as an organization, will continue
much longer to look on with perfect salts.
iactiou at this great failure"
The Times proceeds as follows to pay its re-
spect 10 the civil rights bill
"Llst week we al witnessed The United
States Senate engaged for about twenty
four hours at stretch 10 passing a bill for
the benefit Of the negro, merely out of
sentimental sort Of Difference to the wishes
of deceased Senator. Respect fur the
dead is Incumbent on Us all-but legisla-
lion should DO based on a careful and wise
regard for tho welfare Of the living, not
upon mandates real or fictitious, of the
dead. The negro has had n very fair a.
/ mount OF protection. 1t is important be-
fore going any further to Gud out what use
ho has made of the freedom given to him
in what way he has exercised the vast DO.
! iticol powers with which be has been en-
lowed what sort Of a government be has
helped to set up in States where he is most
powerful whether, in short he at this
moment stands in need ot protection from
The white nan, or the white mau stands in
need OF protection from him. IF Sir. Eat
on Intends to raise these questions, depend
upon II he will obtain an audience, and
cannot be suppressed By howIs aud groans,
and We, for our part, shall not joiu in any
such attempt ut suPpression.'
The Times goes on to declare that it should
like to sec the questions taken up by republi-
cans; that Mr. Carpenter made a great BEGIN
ming in reference to Louisiana; and that 'guch
a work would he far more conducive to the pros
peFiiy Of the party, and to ne cause of good
government now and hereafter than the head
long passage Of sentimental bills in favor of the
negro"
Whether these admissions spring from a desir
TO warn its party Of the ruin to which il is hur-
rying itself or not they are frank and indepcn-
dent expressions Of truths which are RAPIDLY
dawning upon every sensible man in the land
il must have been very ignorant or very knayish
men who did not see from theT BEGINNING that
this was The inevitable result Of the radical re-
construction policy. Candid and unpreiudiced
men predicted it from the first, but were stigma
uzed as Bourbons and "rebeIs" President
Johnson was opposed in his policy because his
political enemies knew that 10y the adoption Of
any proper system Of policy the southern States
would stand forth StGte.rights Statcs-snpport-
cr5 indeed Of that great constitutional principle
which is the most vital one Of the Federal COM
pact The monetary and moral prostitution Of
Louisiana. South Carolina, Arkansas. &c affect
ing directly the trade and business Of the North
Tho wei being, indeed Of the whole country. is
beginning 10 produce a reaction, which is per-
cepu0ie in ihe manly and independent uttcran-
ccs we have quoted from The Times as a leading
republican organ. 81R SIM
-s 4----
IMPORTANT DECISION. judge BRAN
NON recently delivered an opinion in the
Circuit Court OF Barbour comfy. that de-