The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-06-30
hOVERNMENT IN THE RECON-
STRUCTED STATES.
New Order of Things Accept
ed i'm the South.
rhe Color Line Dangerous.
lntained by Continual Federal
Interference


MONTGOMERY, May q, 1875.
have given you somewhat detailed
hnts Of the political and industrial
tion of the four States which some
blicans in the last Congress wished
bject to what was called the Force
Habeas Corpus bill, and before
hg further Investigations [ desire to
efore you summary of my obser-
ns, which will, hope, help you to
q Just idea of the actual condition of
States--Arkansas, Louisiana, Mis-
pi, and Alabama.
TIE NEW ORDER OF THINGS.
There was, in all these States, for
years after the war and up to the
1868, or in some cases 1870, much
der and condition of lawlessness
rds the blacks-a disposition, great
the more distant and obscure re-
to trample them under foot, to
their equal rights, and to injure
kill them ON slight or no provocations.
tremendous change in the social ar
ements of the Southern States re-
ed time as well as laws and force to
ecepted. The Southern whites had
red defeat which was sore to bear,
on top of this they saw their slaves
most valued and cherished property
ken away and made free and their
lea equals. One needs to go into the
South to know what this really
PIT, and what deep resentment and
Ation itinevitably bred.
81 the same time came the attempt of
dent johnson to re-arrange the
Rhern States in a manner which the
~ and best Democrats / have met
e South have declared to me was
se and productive of disorder. /
We MIR. johnson meant well and pa
cally, but my observations have
Rlneed me that he was in error, at
IN the time and manner of asserting
policy. He aroused the hopes and
les OF the worst class in the Southern
es, and disabled the large number of
craze and conservative citizens, who
Pt to have ruled during the reconstruc-
0f society here, and who unfortunate
we're pushed aside. The result was
once and disorder, not general, as
peen charged so often, but still very
Pus, and not to be endured and this
d until time and the punishment OF
pnals by federal power under the
Prcement acts brought people to their
Fs. L believe that there was, during
Il years, necessity for the interior.
OF the federal power to repress dis
Prs and crimes which would otherwise
spread and inflicted perhaps ire
Fable blows on society itself. But,
all, am persuaded time was the
u and real healer of disorders as vel
differences. We of the North do moi
Us remember that even in the far
South there were large property
rests, important industries, many
ems of civilization which canrot
long continued disorders and,
eoVer, that the men of the South are
FFleans, like ourselves, having by
re or long training, a love of ordel
permanence, and certain, therefore
Feconshtute society upon the new
~ prescribed to them, and to do it b,
own efforts, so soon as they were
10 feel that the new order of thing
inevitable. That there were, during
years after the war, shocking crime
ae states | have visited, no man cal
II out grave wrong is done wheI
Gays are now brought up and thos
reclted to describe the South to
The MTsRULR IN THE SOUTH.
There have been in all the four State
We seen, since 1868, great misgoyern
> mostly by men who called then
Z republicans, but who were for tn
Ter part adventures, camp followers
iefa OF fortune-some Northern men
also native Southerners. The mil
ern ment has been various. Its mos
Aed or prominent feature was th
~ pulous greed and pecuniary CO
aon OF the rulers and their subord
who, in a multitude of case
Oily In Arkansas and Louisiana, WEI
etter than common robbers. BI
e robbery was, after all, not the wor
2 Of the men who arose in the nan
q republican party to govern the
y 1rn States. The gravest offence
y Ate governments was their tot
ess OF the first duty Of rulers,