The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-07
THE DANGEROUS SIDE OF TIE
SOUTHERN QUESTION.

To the Editors of the Evening pcse
4 recent visit to the National Capital mas in
| Spl'ed me with apprehcns'Ons respecting the
end Of the agitation Of the Southern difficulties
winch have never before felt. After the en-
phatic expression Of the public sentiment pro.
nuunced at the polls last autumn against the
National policy OF the dominant party, moderate
and rational men everywhere looked for a
marked change Of policy by the Administration
party, and especially by tho President himself.
1t was very naturally expected that the de.
teated party would so sha pc its policy as to
| show that it needed the change that had aiken
place in the public mind respecting great qlIes-
tons, such as the settlement of the Southern and
financial diffitulties-these being the two most
prominent and exciting topics before the country
| Instead, however, OF a modified and statesman
like course on the part Of the Government and
| the present dominant party in Congress, the
President, spurred on by fanatical Attorney
| General and few defeated Senators like Chand-
| Ter and Morton, has become more uncomproms.
| ing than yer in his determination to coerce the
South While he and these same advisers have
| driven through Congress financial measure of
| the crudest and worst description.
The gravest question is now the Southern ques-
ton; and the Presidents message informing Con-
gress what he proposes to do with Arkansas If
Congress leaves 1t in his option to carry out his
own plans, must cause dismsy in many a thought
ful mind. The lntimatlon amounts to threat
to carry out revolutionary measures in that State
unless Congress shall do it for him. | met at
ledst one prominent iepuOucdn MEMBER OF con-
gress who dIsapproves Of this threatened ukase
against State independence and freedom. | re-
gret that am not permitted to state all that he
said to me- But may say this, that the President
is regarded by this gentleman and doubt not
by many others, rs having delegated the South
EN- question to Attorney Gene raj Williams as his
specla business, and that this latter gentleman
has become very obnoxious to the President
best friends in Congress.
Some influential senators and one or two mem |
q he
policy Of Mr.. VII Jams as utterly ruinous to the |
present and future interests Of the Republican |
party and the country itself, and it Is further |
said that the name Of a New York LAWYER who |
has lately published his views on the Louisiana
question has been urged on the President as a |
fit and judiciaus successor to the Attorney Cen |
eralship. | asked the member in question what /
he thought Of such change as suggested. He /
replied: ut would lead to an easy way out of the
which at esent surround this veXcd /
question, but the President is obstinate as a
mule
Now, my own apprehensions, raised by inter
course with congressman and others at the Ma
tional Capital are that Congress VIII either sus-
tain the President in his wrong headed and evil
course, dictated BY lis present Attorney General,
or viii allow the session to run ont without doing
anything. In either case the result VIII be to
eua be def ated and di-credited adnnistratio ton
10 attempt To coerce the southern States into the
nc teptance of fraudulent and iutolerable Legis-
atures and State officers, with the view of carry
NIX lAtse states Ia INC interest OF the Republican
party in 1N1G.
Il il the opinion Of honest Republicans in both
houses Of Congress that Attorney General vii
Jams viii not he state to bring alb ut il poss !
PIE, collision between the Southern Conscrva-
ves and the United States troops with the idea
hat such an event will fire the Northern
lcirt and enable that party to regain it, lost
ground. such Republicans az accept this view ,
II the Presidents policy, it is hardly needful to
ay, take different view Of the probable result
Whether this view IL inspired by timiditv or !
leave for your readers to decide ,
they say that to carry the Southern States in the
interest Of their party by means 30 iniudcious-
t not wanting IN precedent aad legal sanction /
night lead to very serious, i not dangerous con
equences.
"a fIct, 70 PAT the matter plainly, if a respect J
Z lie majority il the Nofthern and Western I
tates should 90 Tor Democratic nominee Tor :
he Presidency next year. and such nominee :
'cre defeated by fraudulent proceedings in the :
outh, engineered by the Presidents henchmen
nd backed up by his Northern adherents, will II
lst great partg quietly submit That is Il
uestion too delicate and too momentous to be a!
answered lightly.
Less than one week is LIFT for the present
ard denoralized Congress in which 2
} do good or evil. It seems TO me that if that -
ody does not pass a Law requiring its success