Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-02-25
Address Of Democratic congressman to the
People Of the South.

Address Of Democratic congressman to the
People Of the South.
WASHINGTON, February 1s-The
following address has just been pre-
pared by the Democratic: members OF
Congress from the South and South.
west:
70 the People of the Southern States:
You have confined to the undersign
ed in this conjuncture of affairs
the delicate and difficult task of guard
ing in the Federal Congress your pub
lie interests, your rights, and reputa-
ton. You will therefore pardon the
liberty we take OF addressing you at a
period SO critical upon matter affect
ing your destiny and that Of your pos
terity. You cannot have failed to OBJ
serve the persistent efforts Of some Of
the leaders Of the Republican party to
revive the animosties Of the late war,
which happily, are fast giving place to
spirit of concord and unlty in every
section of our common country. 1t is
impossible to predict certainly the effect
of these appeals to passion.
We believe that through the repres-
entation of a few upright and consoien
ttious Federal officers and agents, an
independent and able public press, and
of many citizens without regard to par
ty, the true condition of the southern
States and the real sentiment OF the
southern people are being gradually
made known to our fellow citizens OF
the North. We hope for their favora
bic decision when fully apprised Of all
the facts. The great ends Of good
people will be reached when the people
Of all sections forget that we have liz
yer been enemies, and come together
again as in the early days Of the Res
public, emulating each other only in
devotion to the best interests of the
whole country. With this exalted pur
pose in view there is nothing inconsis>
tent with the honor and manhood of a
brave people to suffer with heroic pa
tience, whatever be their proyocations
and wrongs. Looking through the
fearful present to hopeful future, and
repelling unjust epithets and gratui
tous insults with dignifed moderation
let every white man in every neighbor
hood in the whole South regard him
self as a commissioner of peace, main
tanning the kindliest relations towards
the black man, remembering that ttt
responsibility for the extreme poverty
to which we have been reduced, an(
the corrupt governments to which hi
vote has subjected us, rests not 81
much upon him as upon the bad mel
who, with the assurance of Fedora
support, have by appeals to his worst
passions sought to make him oar enc
my. While we labor by all homes
means to convince him of the trutl
that our interests and his are identical
and that both must be preserved b,
good government, and that those WIN
stir up strife between us are the enc
mics of both races, let us at the SAM
time see that he is fully protected il
his guaranteed rights to vote as he
pleases in all elections Let US contin
ue to deal with him honestly and fairly
and let us continue cordially to invit
to our midst those of any politica
party who either seek to know tn
truth or to find homes upon our soil.
we do not exaggerate when w
! admOnish you of the dishearting fac
that every street~disturbance, ever,
homicide, of whatever character, b,
whosoever committed, by black 0
white Republicans, OF Democrats, sucl
as are incident to every commnnit
upon earth, is perverted into a proc
of spirit OF lawlessness and violenc
on purpose to accomplish politica
ends.
We well know the gross injustice 0
such charges, which have weight onl
where ignorance of our true condition
prevails. Strenuous efforts are nov
being made by those who misrepres
ent you to induce the passage by Con
gress Of the most dangerous measure
in order to irritate our people, to driv
them to despair, and to provoke then
to violent outbreaks in order to furnish
an excuse for Supplying for military in
reference.
| We express the hope that majorit,
Of the present Congress will not b
found ready to sanction such legisla
ton. If it be accomplished it would
be against the protest not only Of Dem
ocrats, but of the moral North, an(
the craftsmanship here of the party il
power, and sot such Republicans a
Bryant, Evarls, Charles Francis Adams
and others, whose patriotism and sens
of Justice are known to the entire coun
try.
We may, however, mistake. TIL
most extreme oppression and unconsti
tutional measures may be imposed up
on you. In such event we would APP
peal to the wisdom and patience Of
long suffering people by every hop
of the future for continued forbearanc
and hopetal reliance upon the virtu
and sense of justice OF the American
people for the ultimate vindieation o
our rights, the protection Of our liber
ties, and the safety of our republican
form Of government