The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-02-04
PRESIDENT GRANT AND TIE SOUTH.

In devoting the space we have heretofore to
matters growing out OF the Louisiana troubles.
we have been governed purely by desire to
present all the facts before ourrea.lers. to the
end that they may arrive at On Intelligent con-
cl;lsion on the points in controversy. A care
gul consideration Of all tile facts OF the case,
will justify the conclusion that the President
had no other course to pnlanc than that which
he adopted. It will not be denied that a con-
dtion Of virtual anarchy was threatenedin Lou
siana, nor will it be gai1lssid that the State
authorities were powericss to suppress the inn
pending Instruction, hgsl the utmost means
at the command of the Governor been en-
ployed, and bloodshed enstled.
This simple statement of the case. it is true,
is an admission of the weakness of the Kel-
logg government, but in legal point OF view,
it is none the less a. convincing reason to justify
the interposition of the authorities of the Uni
ted States, under the formal requisition OF the
constituted authorities Of that State, for assist
ance in maintaining the existence OF the reccg-
nized government. That the revolutionary
proceedings Of Witt and his coadjutoss, pre-
conceived and preconcerted, contemplated the
$50 clear propositfomtllat it is not necessary to
discuss it; and such being the case, it admits
of no doubt that 1t was the duty of the military
laeting under the instructions of the recognized
governor, to interfere to prevent the de-
structon OF the State organism, as well as the
effusion of Blood.
In arriving at this conclusion it is not neces-
sary for us to express sympathy with the KEEL
logg party, except i'll the legal aspect of the
lease, for this we do not feel. The miserable
partizan adventures who have afflicted that
people with their plundering administrations,
whether professedly Conservatives or Republic
leans, cannot but receive the condemnation of
all impartial minds nor IS the White League
organization less to be condemned for the des-
peration OF its remedies, and its reckless Gisre-
gard of all the forms Of law and restraints Of
authority.
1t did hot come within the province Of the
President to consider these contending factions
upon their intrinsic virtues. He could not
look behind the forms OF law involved
in the controversy, nor deal in alb
stract speculations as to the right or
I wrong of the original claims Of the
parties, as to who did really represent the pop
Mar verdict. The case had advanced from
that point-had passed under the scrutiny of
those whose business it was to determine that
question, and came before him in the shape OF
Y determined legal proposition. This he had
t to act upon, in conformity to fundamental and
t statutory law. He could not have shirked
a from his plain duty in the premises, nor could
n there have been any other line Of policy fol
him to pursue consistent with the obligations
e Of his Office. The constitution imposes upon
" him the duty Of securing to each State a Re
I. publican form OF government, and when the
II question came to him, stripped of the contro-
: VERSES and contentious that had preceded the
judicial determination OF the case, he had bu
g one course to pursue, after the formal and le
e gal requistion had been made upon him by
e the Governor Of Louisiana, and that he adopted
It When the passions of the hour shall have
It subsided-when the inflamatory appeals of the
d partizan press shall have left the popular judg
# ment to calm and impartial review of tht
n whole controversy, there will be but one opn
VI ion entertained by rejecting men, and that
:, that the President did but his duty. painful
0 though it was, throughout the entire progress
> OF this unhappy and regretful contention in ;
is sister State of the Republic.
d We have not the space this week to follow
+ to their logical conclusions the reflections tina
+ naturally suggest themselves at this point-th
anomaly of the condition of the South ate
" the close of the war-the necessity for the ad
II justment of the difficulties growing out CT TIN
destruction of the institution OF chatsel shaver.
l. the revolution in tie social, INDUSTRIAL eco
a nomic and political systems Of the South
n the enactment Of laws adapted to this nev
+ condition OF things, and the difficulties tha
5 confronted the statesmen Of the country, il
l. addressing themselves to the various interest
involved in the enactment Of statutes and TIN
a crystalization of a policy. There was no pre-
d cedent to guide-there wers traditional preju
e diees to consider of deep and ineradicable an
g tagonism-there were passions to hold il
h check, and anarchy to avert. When all thes
5 matters are fairly considered, sand that Presi
d dent Grant has been the ctantraI figure in tht
great transactions that have taken place, i'm
: partial history will award to him genius il
e statecraft no less renowned than that display
t ed in war, and comprehensive patriotsm tina
: has brayely and honoTably sought to devise the
, best methods to adjust the vast difficulties
that have been presented for solution, so that
equal and exact justice might be meted to all
the palties to this anomalous condition of af-
fairs, and the secarement of their legal and po-
), litical rights.
> One great, overshadowing mistake the peo-
pie Of the South have made since the war and
the consummation Of reconstruction, has been a
} disposition to look backward and not forward.
) From the very first there was an indispos;-
: ton to recognize the results Of the war. The
native white people Of all the cotton States, re-
!, fused to participate il the early elections
They sullenly remained at home and let the
elections go by default, and thus made way for
Adventures to seze the management of State
affairs. Instead Of entering coura geously into
: the spirit Of the amendments to the coostitn-
y ton educating themselves to the new condi-
ton of things, and making the most oft, they
: employeddhsir time in regrets fer the past,
| and INDUCING decisive dreams of some strang, e
Il mysterious revolution that might take place at
some indefinite time to rescue them from the
enyronnents their own folly had Invited
They only became aroused from this fatal stu
: por when power had passed from their hands
l,ti, U.s. o.,1.,