The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-16
Opinions Of Leading Senators
and Representatives.
The Political and Social Condition Of
Their States.
FEDERAL BAYONETS INTOLERABLE.
Peace and Prosperity Would Result from a
Cessation Of Interference.

failure. The violence and turbulence in the South
furnish convenient text for these shallow think
ers, and, impressed by the clamor Of maadvertant
tongues. even sensible people may entertain pre-
mature fears OF the future OF the nation That the
troubles in the reconstructed States result from
one OF two possible causes must be true. These
may be the nefficiency OF democratic govern.
ment or the evil effect OF military usurpation,
or, possibly, OF both together. Representatives
from pOpulous Southern districts have been asked
the III the troops OF the federal govern
ment were Withdrawn from the South and all In
terlerenCe from without with State affairs were
stopped, what would be the effect, socially and
poliically7 Answers to this inquiry from promi-
nent members OF Congress resident in the South
are herewith printed, and In their own way point
out the significance Of the recent events now so
much occupying the thoughts and exciting the So
licitude OF the American people.
SENATOR GORDON ON aEoRGIAs POLITICAL con-
DTTION.
SENATE CHAMBER WASHINGTON, Jan. o. 1875.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
have just received yours asking my opinion as
to ''what socially and politically would be the re.
suit in your State II the federal government should
at once and entirely cease to interfere in the
affairs Of your State and leave Georgia to govern
Itself and It's people TO manage their own local
AFFAIRS Just the people OF New York or Pennsyl-
vania manage their Own"
In the midst OF an excited debate have only
the time to say that such course by the general
government would be in the interest OF peace, Of
order, OF the domestic happiness OF both races, OF
a restored Union and the recognition OF every
right guaranteed by the constitution TO every
citizen.
am, sir. very respectfully,
'ohN b. GokDoN.
MENT.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 0, 1875
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
SIR-In reply to your request that shall state
to you "what, socially and politically, would be
the result IN your (my) State II the federal gov
eminent should at once ana entirely cease to
interfere in the affairs OF your State ana leave
Mississippi to govern itself and it's people to man.
age their own local affairs, just as the people of
New York or Pennsylvania manage their own,"I
answer
FFrSt-The rights OF personal security and of
property would be- under the changed circum-
stances referred to. as secure as they In any
community ON earth. The disturbances there now
are purely OF political nature. Public opinion in
that State regards any white man as lgnoble and
cOwardly who would cheat negro take ad-
vantage OF him in trade, or who would wantonIy
do him personal injury. jury, II 1t should
incline in its sympathies either way, would favor
the weaker man in an appeal to the laws.
Second-As to political rights. presume your
question points TO those rights which the Northern
people have recognized and insisted upon being
secured to the black race, to wlt:-The right OF
suffrage, OF service on jurIes and legal eligibility
to office. do not believe that any serious move.
ment would be made in my State to nure or
abridge any OF those rights. In the exercise OF
them there might be some slight occasional dis
turbances.
They would. however, be the more transient in
cidents Of the resumption by our people OF local
sell-government to which they have been unused
by ten years OF repression, and would entirely
cease in very short time.
As to the political complexion or the State II the
people are allowed to rule their own local affairs
as those OF Northern States are. 1t cannot be
doubted that with US, as with you, brains, intel
ligence and moral strength will ultimately rule:
and it is certain that as the negro population is
Tor the most part poor and ignorant, 1t will fall
under the influence, In great degree (as the
same element does everywhere, OF its employ.
'ers-an influence which 1t will be to the employ.
ers interest to increase by kind treatment and
protection. This cannot be helped. 1t is the
natural course in tree State, and it will have in
our case the great advantage OF obhterating the
color line and ranging men in parties without
regard to race which can never be done while the
present system OF federal interference continues.
Let me not be misunderstood. There is among
tue whites in my State no color line organization
in the sense usually attached to that term. The
history Of political combinations since the war in
Mississippi, shows a constant but lruitess effort
to break down a political barrier which federal
power has erected and which federal power can
alone maintain. The white man is made by the
direct action OF the federal government the poti-
the latter as the common enemy and as the
enemy OF both himself and the govern.
ment by constituting itself as the negros
sole protector in the State 1t drives him
to trust only its agents and partisans, often men
OF the vest character. and rarely men who have
any material relation to the State or to society
among us. The negro is thus isolated from the
white people among whom he lives, and the fede-
raj power thus makes him an alien in our so.
ciety, though invested with the highest political
prerogatves. thus forcing MIN into an attitude
which tends also to force the white race into
similar position toward him. Here is the true
cause OF the disturbances Of which you In the
North have greatly exaggerated accounts. l re.
peat. they are Invariably political. Withdraw the
disturbing force, leave our population to the
responsibility OF local selfgovernment and to the
natural operation OF social and Industrial 70 ces
and all that Is now deranged and disorderly
will certainly and permanently arrange It,
self-not, perhaps, at first. without friction. but
with, am confident, an immediate decrease OF
friction and q gradually but surely lesscning
amount OF disorder. At the very worst It will be
as nothing in comparison with the strife and in.
testne commotion with which our land Is now
cursed.
Is there not craftsmanship enough among our
rulers to perceive that such governments as we
now have in some OF the Southern States must be
constantly running down and that these appeals to
the United States Army and this use OF 1t which
is now startling the country must continue con.
stantly recurring evil or. rather. tend toward
becoming fixed and permanent element in our
system Qf government Very truly your obedlent
servanS L. q, Z. LAMAR.
coNdREssAAH BEoMBERas VIEWS ON ALA