New-York tribune., 1874-10-16
" To JNFL UENCE LEGIsLATION."

ern outrages with which the delegates from
Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, and Georgia came
burdened to the Chattanooga Convention was
to affect the vote of the Northern States, it
certainly has not thus far been entirely sue
cessful. The North has listened with incredu-
lty, and has asked great many troublesome
questions to which there has been no answer.
1t has called upon the Hon. Charles Hays to
rise and explain, and Mr.. Hays is silent; and
when Gov. Davis referred to the frequency of
murders and assaults in Texas as proof of
the criminal ineffciency of the Democratic
administration in that State, the Northern
public turned to Mr.. Hays's parallel catalogue
and wondered whether that proved anything
against the Republican administration of Ala
bama. The North has not been shocked by
the vague and dismal declarations of Chatta-
noOga; neither has it refused to listen; but
it waits with judicial patience and calmness
for the authentic reports of the condition of
the South which are gradually reaching the
light through other than official sources.
Whatever the truth may be as to the rela
tions of the two races, the country has learned
too much from bitter experience to tolerate
any more of the violent measures which the
Convention seemed to prefer. Gov. Davis
wishes Congress to order new election in
Texas because the Democratic Legislature has
redistricted the State in the interest of the
Democratic party. Powell Clayton calls for
new election in Arkansas because the Demo-
Gratis have carried the new constitution. Ala
bama, being close State, wants more troops
and deputy marshals, and is getting ready to
have the election set aside if it should go the
wrong way. Georgia, being hOpelessly Demo-
cratic, would probably like territorial gov
erEment; and if Judge Green should be
elected in South Carolina it might be possible
for Chamberlain and Moses to repeat the
achievements of Mr.. Kellogg. In no case do
the Southern Republicans offer to do anything
for themselves; but, one and all, they call
upon the General Government to stretch out
its hand and help them, The Ku-Klux and
Enforcement acts have already put it into
the rover of the President to exercise full
police authority in the reconstructed States.
lis can pursue a masked murderer or chase a
chicken thief. He can protect an oppressed
race in the enjoyment of its political rights,
or capture registering ruffians who break
heads and windows on the public thorough
fares. Yet Mr.. Powell Clayton tells his
friends at Chattanooga that they must go to
Washington in December with outrages enough
to "infiuence legislation
What more Congress can do for the South
in the way of penal laws is not explained.
There is no lack of law, both State and Fed
eral, to cover every crime which has ever been
alleged against the White Leaguers, and no
legislation can assist the Southern Republi-
can party any further unless it undertakes to
sweep Democratic administrations out of ex-
istence and reverse the results of the elec-
tions. To order new vote in Texas and
Arkansas, after refusing it in Louisiana,
would be too gross an exhibition of partisan
recklessness even in these days of political
degeneracy and as for the new measures of
reconstruction which we hear suggested by O
few desperate patriots, it is useless to hope
that the North will even tolerate the discus
sion of them. Every sensible American un-
derstands that too much Federal interfe renee,
too much bargaining and scheming Lbetween
such men as Kellogg on the one side, and
their paid counsel at Washington and other
Government advocates on the other, lies at
the bottom of the present distress of the
South. The country does not purpose to have
any more of it.