The Van Buren press., 1874-08-11
Treatment of the South.
THE New York Sun. ]

since the close OF the war must necessa-
rily result in vast injury to the material
interests of the country at large. Ihe
prosperity and resources of twelve null
IONS Of people, accustomed to produce
the staples most in demand abroad. and
which furnished the basis of large par!
of the foreign exchanges. could not be
struck down without a very serious re
action
The effects Of that harsh policy have
been felt throughout the crisis OF the last
twelve months. and may be said to have
added greatly to its intensity. The
Southern States have not only been
crushed down by the weight OF some two
hundred millions Of debt, created by car.
pet. bag Governments, from which there
is no hope Of relief except through rcpu
diation, but they are kept impoverished
by the successors of these thieves, who
appropriate to their own use all the reve-
nues derived from the EXTREMIST forms
Of ruinous taxation.
Instead, therefore, Of contributing q
just proportion to the general burdens,
and of adding to the national wealth,
these rich States have become almost
bankrupt, and are wholly unable to fur
nish the markets they once did for
| Northern manufactures and Western pro
duce. A necessary consequence those
interests have greatly suffered from this
cause, and they in their turn have In
volved others, thus heightening greatly
the present arrangement of all business
IL was in the power of the President
and his Administration 10 have at once
reconcilcd the South to its true relations
to the Union, and at least partially re
stored the former condition OF prosperity,
without compromising any Of the great
results which had been achieved through
the stern arbitrament OF the sword. All
they asked was to be let alone, TO be al
lowed to repair the wastes OF war, and
to accommodate themselves to the
changed condition Of things brought
about by the amendments to the Consti
tuition. They had had enough of bloody
strife, political contention, and folly.
This was the sentiment OF the masses Of
the people, and it was natural after their
bitter experience.
Instead OF cancellation, perverse in
gcnuity was exercised to make odious
and oppressive laws, and to place their
execution in the hands OF adventurers,
rogucs, and robbers. who made them
doubly offensive by outrage and oppres-
sion II the President had turned his
face away from the carpet bagyers and
their conlederates, eyacted anything like
Justice, and required accountability, the
whole system would have fallen into dis.
grace and dissolution. 1t was maintained
solely by the support received at Wash
ington and by the confidence in an i'm
punity for any and every crime.
The plundered people appealed in vain
for relief They were answered with
Federal bayonets, to sustain charges
made by their oppressors, The party
wanted Senators and Representatives to
carry special legislation aud to offset the
opposition that might threaten its sue
cess, aud these States were therefore
converted into rotten boroughs for the
Caytons, Spcncers, Pattersons, Sawyers,
Pools, Kellogs, Caseys, and the like, who
have been the white slaves of the Presi-
dent Tor the last five years AID the pillars
of the Republican faith
Like the Bourbons, the Administration
and its supporters have forgotten none
of their maignlty, and learned nothing
by this long and costly experience. Look
at the situation of Louisiana to day, with
all her natural wealth, and ability TO be
among the foremost of the Southern
States. New Orleans, instead of being
the mart of commerce and the centre Of
vast trade that it was always until this
blight fell upon it, lies PROSTATE under
the heel OF vulgar usurper, with decay
visible every where.
Hardly voice Of remonstrance was
raised during the session Of seven months
against this Infamous usnrpation which,
without even the prctext Of doubtful
vote to excuse it, is maintained by the
connivance Of the President and the
patro age which he has corruptly dis
pensed Louisiana thus ensIayed, depop-
ulated, and ruined, the great West has
been deprived Of one of it's best Gus
toners.
The people of South Carolina, driven
to despair by anarchy, robbery, and per-
scoution, invoked Congress to investi-
gate its condition and to carry out the
guarantee Of the Constitution by giving
to them a republican foim Of govern
ment. in place Of the caricature and fraud
which is now forced upon them by Fed
eral power No heed was taken Of tha,
proper appeal, and Congress by its fail
ure tactly approved the enormities ol
Moses and his crew Of outlaws who are
now ravaging what may be left Of that
afflicted community.
But the very men who contemptuously
spurned the petition Of the intelligence,
virtue, public spirit. and worth of South
Carolina, rushed forward under the lead
Of Mr.. Poland to send special commit
toe of the House of Representatives to
Arkansas at the demand Of Clayton. Dor
scy, and the other carpet baggers who
were recently defeated in an iniquitous
scheme to issue more bonds and thus
cram their pockets with more plunder
The time has at last come when these
crimes must be atoned for. After nine
years Of so.caIed peace the country is in
worse situation, all things considered.
than when the last gun Of the rebellion
was fired. Reckless partisanship, cor
ruption in public life, official dishonesty,
and decentralization have brought 1t to
the verge OF ruin. Unless there is halt
cried and reform begun which shall
,,o., .var, ,,astiua nf Grnntisn fro