, 1874-12-22

Tho Southern Republican lnolnbers Of
Congress-, according 10 tho Washington
dispatches, hayo been holding n cau-
Gus in tho nature Of an indignation
meeting, at Which, grcat deal Of supcrlluous
complaint was nlado because Northcr1, Re-
pul,Gcans,, rs a party, nro disposed to hold
tho "carpet-bnggera responsible for tho dis
ordered condition Of things at tho South. It
does not become these gentlemen to coln-
plain Of or TO criticise, much less to threaten,
Tho Republican party or tho Administration
for it's atti.udo towards carpct-baggcrs. The
Government has been nlrcady too lenient
with this clement Of Southern Republican,
ism, It has borno with their official migcou-
duct and corruption until it is impossible to
boar it longer. Its warnings have been ,,n-
needed, and its 1onieney has been made
tho occasion for fresh outrage. Tho Rcpub-
lcan party owes no favor Or advantage to tho
speculative carpot-baggers. Were it not for
tho inamutablo character OF it's principles, and
tho necessity Of those principles to the well
faro aud progress Of the country, they would
havo ruined it long ago. As it is, they
have weakened it, in ono large fraction Of
tho country have placcd it in falso position,
and hayo loaded it down with a burden of
rcproach md calumny for which it is not
fairly responsible, but which 1t Inns had to
carry. They hayo repellcd from tho Ropub-
1icnn party thousands Of votes, havo hnm-
perod it in its work Of reconstruction, md
hayc brought odium upon honest Southern
Republicans.
Tho manner in which they have dono this
is almost too familiar ind shameful to reca~
pitnlate. They havo helped to keep alive
tho feeling Of hatred in the South against tho
North, and have embittored the white people
| against tho Government and the poor blacks,
who hare been nato tie tool of their cor
rupt purposes. They have ruined the finances
Of four or five States, and have entailcd upon
the South an enormous bonded indebtedness,
which has in great part gone into their own
pockets. They llavo brought dishonesty,
bribery, and corruption into the atlministra~
tion Of public Offices. They have contani-
mated tho Bench, sold and bought Justice,
and made moclkcry Of law. They hnyo
| manipulated elections to suit thoir self
ISL purposes, haro placed the white
and blac1s races in dangerous antag-
| onism with each other, md hRvo
constantly opposed and prevented the restora-
tion of peace and order. With such record
| as this, it does not become carpet~basgors in
Congress to dictate To Northern Republicans
how they shall be treated and what degree Of
respect shall be nccorded to them. 1t does
not become them to esls TINT carpet-baggeIs
6hull 10 sustained and encouraged wheth-
er right or wrong. Tho thief might
as we'll ask the officer to protect
Aim in tho stealing. # the carpot.heg
Republicans wnnt to bo treated with consid-
eratior let them mite their efforts to breals
| up tho corrupt;ons Of carpct-bassgery. Lot
them remove tho burden they have imposed
npon tito Republican party Of the North.
Let them labor to restore pesco to
these distracted States. When they have tono
this, and givon some guarantee as to their
future behavior, thoy will DO in position to
ask for consideration from those who are con-
tending for principles, not pelf. Until such
time, they have no claim Of my sort upon
thu Republican party, which they have DAM
aged SO griovously. Carpot-bag Republicans
might rs well understand Mt tho outset Of
their cauousing, and before they proceed any
further, TINT Northern Republicans hayo no
consideration to extond to tho frauds, corrup-
tions, trickery, thioyory, aud peryersion Of
law which hnye characterized Southern carpet
baggers, and thnt, if they wish equal rights,
they must rid Themselves Of this pcstlontial
r1rge