The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-10-23
SOUTHERN DISORDERS.
Address Of the Chattanooga Con-
vention to the People OF
the United States.


Republicans, at Chattanooga, Ienh.,
the following address to the people OF
the country was unanimously adopted:
A parallel to this convention finds no prec-
edent in the political history OF the country.
The supporters Of grand humanity, which
taxed to the utmost the blood anu treasure OF
the nation to establish, are compelled to
come together to vindicate themselves to
their fellow lsborers in that cause against the
persistent misrepresentation OF those who to
the death opposed the principles involved In
that sublime contest. We meet here TO repel
the assertion that We are any less patriots
than when many of us were found keeping
step to the music OF the Union, or less
conscientious than when others OF us
upheld the cause of the Confeder-
alton. We shall deal truthfully with
the Southern political situation, though
our presentation of it will be marred by the
necessity to condense the most prolific politi-
Cal theme of the day to the concise limits re-
quired to command attention.
The record of the crimes that have stained
Southern soil since reconstruction is testified
to in terms by the committee on facts and
statistics. presenting to the public summary
Of outrages which staggers belief. We would
endeavor to impress upon our political
brethren of the North the vast distinction OK
listing between the features OF political con-
test in their region aud OF the same event in
the reconstructed States. In the one case 1t
is rivalry in the other it is strife. In the
one it is confined TO brief period; in the
other it prevails at all times and on all oc-
casions, and the political situation seemingly
becomes the material interest. In one region,
the struggle is brief and peaceably conducted
in the other, it is prolonged and perpetual,
marked by bitterness, intolerance, persecu-
ton, murder and assassination. In one sec
ton of the Union, Republcanism ID badge
Of honorable patriotism in the other large
proportion OF the Democratic and Conserve
tive classes prefer to regard 1T as a
political leprosy, contact with which
is to be stunned, and those protesting
it's principles are assumed to be the
social, moral. and political enemies OF the
South and the experience OF numbers OF this
convention demonstrates the fact that within
the land OF their nativity and adoption, their
lives and those of the men of their party faith
are in constant peril through the maintenance
of political idea, and they find themselves
without adequate protection from either the
State or national government. All the ma
lignancy aud bitterness generated by crushed
pride of political and sectional opinion; by de-
feat upon the battlefield and the downfall OF
the lost cause by the overthrow of the dom
NANCY of the white race by Immediate pow
erty, pressing want, and the necessity to labor,
are aggravated by the presence of the direct
cause in the opinion of the old citizens of the
South-the coored man. The force of the
very circumstances under which the ,olored
man WAS emancipated and enfranchised made
him an sdherent to the party in power, and
put him in political antagonism with the dis
affected white classes. The circumstances of
reconstruction lnder which negro citizenship
became n part of the organized law Of the ma
ton, and AN element of Southern politics.
divided parties in many States OF the South
az fact. placing the whites in one body and
the colored in another, almost AZ exclusively
4 :. lin. ~ tha ID
narration were Intentionally drawn upon the
distinction of race, aud this incidental, yet
under the circumstances unavoidable, political
distribution Of the races into opposing party
combinations serves most potentially To aug
meIIt enmity and provoke strife. When the
now repentant unreconstructed old slave
holders see the long-despised race standing
clothed with the dignity and prerogatives Of
American citizens, the former slave now the
political equal before the law Of the master,
no longer a chattel, but voter, controlled by
his own preferences and convictions, and de-
termined in his political action and utilization
by his own will. not only the Wanted pride
| OF race, bat the arrogance engendered by q
| vicious and oppressive institution, contribute
| to embitter many of the white men of the
| South, and they not unnaturally feel, though
| unjustly, that the black mans privileges have
| been acq hired through the downfall and at the
expense of the proud and hitherto dominant
| Caucasian. In the presence Of these hostile
political and personal prejudices the colored
people feel that their rights are in jeopardy,
and every contest, to them at least, involves
not only the success or defeat of cherished
political convictions but the loss or safety OF
their political and civil rights, and this fear fol-
the safety and perpetuity Of interests 80 dear
and vital to them comes in to intensity tho
anxiety and passion attendant upon every
political campaign.
The newly enfranchised citizen is also OBJ.
noxious to the opposition masses, because OF
| the personal affiliations that the force of hi:
necessities has occasioned. Beginning hi,
new venture az voter, and making his in
| ital efforts as a citizen, not only embarrassed
| by the novelty Of his duties and his inexper
| ence in public affairs, but without the counse
aud sympathy of his more experienced anC
better informed white neghbors, and in many
| instances against their bitter opposition, Ii,
has been compelled to select the newcomer
among the whites as his adviser and leader
| Accessions to the number OF Republicans
from the native whites of the South have beer
retarded by the business, social, and family
prescription enforced against this less preju-
diced aud more liberal and advanced class o.
our citizens The field for tho selection o.
political guides by the col0red citizens hal
been intentionally narrowed by the opposition
through denunciation and oppression OF ever.
stranger and Southern born man who espouseC
their cause, nor have their selections Away
been hsppy or judicious. One class of thei
advisers, whether competent or not, is viewed
with harsh prejudices az strangers; th
| other is regarded worthless to the cause o
tho south, while the opposition Of the masse
of the resident white people Of both classe
has greatly contributed to embitter the oppo
sition against the colored men. There can b
no doubt but that the creation and iDtroduc
ton OF this new political class at the South
Republicans by necessity and preference
alike, acting in concert, as u race for protec
ton against political prescription aud tn
J personal prejudices of their former masters
seeking council and sympathy from stranger
, because both were in great degree dene.
/, them at home, may be considered the original
il no. the main, source OF tho violence and tur
bulence that manifest themselves in all pc
} ltical struggles in that section. Incidents o
common occurrence, and expressions OF NOR
, than casual nature, make Ms who are wit
nesses OF them skeptical of the professions @
sincerity with which the situation IL acceptc
bv the Democrats in the South. Our fear
4 NAV possibly be groundless, but we do believ
. | that il is the well matured and deliberate II
I tention OF the latent secession element to FOL
: | ever battle against the reconstruction meas
ures. the constitutional amendments, an
], against the political and civil rights of til
colored man. Disregard Of law, unless col
tributing to their object, and determine
i, hostility to all authority that does not cate
u 10 their views, are prevailing features
. and we fail to discover any love Il
d the government against which they rebelle
q and which continues to repress their hop,
and efforts to discard it. He that looks II