New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-07
Tho Southern Situation.

| Inc 10llOWlnS appears as editorial cor
respondence in 1he ALBANY evening Journal
under date of February Is:
To the facts Of recent Washington let.
ter in these columns some further and
equally suggestive statements should be
aided. AS in the first case, they are put in
the form Of letter as the most natural
and convenient way of presenting them.
and in order that they may be enforced
with the fullest sense of personal respon-
sibility and honor. Shrinking from any
obtrusiveness of self, the writer is at the
same time deeply impressed with the duty
and Importance of bringing the truth he
has learned from the most intelligent and
trustworthy sources in Washington to the
attention Of all within his reach.
And what is the truth! What are the tenn
per and condition of the South? What are
the aims Of the rebel element! That is the
most vital question of the times. Behind it
lies the ono transcendant issue before the
natiOn-nay, the very security OF the nation
itself. On this subject tue country has been
grievously misled and deceived. For a
long time there were conflicting reports and
statements. On the one side came the har-
rowing stories of murder and outrage; on
the other grateful assurances of loyal recon-
Citation aud good will. Between the two
what we're people to believer Amid these
! contradictory statements ever and anon
| there flashed the lurid glare of Coushatta
and Colfax, Of Vicksburg massacres and
| New Orleans revolutions. SO far as they
went these events were unmistakable-they
| were deliberate, brutal, cold blO0Ged politi
cal butche,ies. But did they signify a pre-
| vailing spirit, or we're they only exceptional
| and spasmOdic!
While the public mind was still bordering
| that question, came the report OF the sub
| committee on Louisiana. Iu this report the
country was at first very naturally inclined
! to repnse a large degree of confidence.
| "IIere,' we were told, lis the report of q
Republican committee; it shows fraud in
| the Returning Board; it paints the Whi1e
| League in very white hues; it denies intimi
dalton: it pictures good spirit; how can
| you refuse to accept it," Unquestionably
| this logic, following this report of an as
sumed Republican committee, did go great
way in determining the public judgment at
the time, with how much reason let us now
inquire.
That committee consisted of Mr. Clarkson
Potter, Mr. William Walter Phelps and Mr..
Charles Foster Mr.. Potter is Democrat
an able, accomplished and high toned gen
tleman, but still a Democrat-and it is the
politics of the committee we are seeking,
since the whole report lay in the fact that
it was said to be Republican committee.
Mr.. Phelps-well, he is Mr.. Villa m
Walter OVERWHELMINGLY gen
tlelDan of culture and talent, but still
William Walter. Before he left his seat in
the House to go to New Orleans he
indicated, as is well known in Washington, |
just what his report would be- On his way |
South he passed through Louisville, and |
from that city, as l personally know, came
back the intelligence, gathered from his
outspoken conversation there, that his re-
port would be just what it has proved to
he. These are positive indisputaDle facts
In other words, Mr.. Phelps pre.judged
the case, and, being appointed to make
an investigation, formed his concIu.
sions before be had investigated at
all. / do not say one word against
stale the naked facts, because l deem them
due to the public as showing how much
value should be attached to his report. Mr..
Potter and MIR. Phelps were the majority
and the master minds OF the committee. Mr..
Foster was putty in their hands. More sig
niticant statements might be added on this
point. but do not mean to violate any CON
fidences. Enough has been said to give
edgn tn the question, whether this report O..
the sub committee Is entitled TO the conf
dence which the country. relying upon the
good tai,h OF ubi1ssed Republican investi
gators. was Inclined to r"p"se in l.! 1t is
now stated that Msssr-. Phelps aud Foster
will lutte with the Republican member, of
the committee in their recommended lions. |
wrong OF their OWN misleading AMI decep-
live report, and II viii be a testimony to the
power Of truth if they make such acknOwl-
-dgment and partial atonement
The country will learn the real truth as
20 the situation in ,u,iana when Mess-s.
Hoar, Wheeier and Frye come TO present
heir report. Thee men have made a
thorough investigation. Thy have gone
% the bottom. They are able, searching
honest. Unbalanced men. Ii we can't
rust them, We can't trust anybody. II We
amt rely Oh their judgment and integrity,
We might as well give up representative
government. Their report will carry the I
violence OF it's candor and truthtuIness on
Is face. 1t will show its non -partsanship
" squarely condemning the action OF the {
returning Board; bit it will at the same
ine give Il true portraiture of the violent !,
ebel temper and purpose. These members
Examined all classes. They probei every |
where. They met the Republicans; they
ought the Conservatives: they conferred :,
With the business men publicly and pri-
ately. For the first few days the crafty
fort was made to capture them with
uch social Establishments as were
xtended to the sub COMMITTEE; but {
'hen it appeared that they could
ot be seduced in this way and vera bent
pom finding out the truth, the whole tone
hanged. The rebel mob from the mass I
ieotihg Wnl'n opposed tne compromise
houted, Bring out Wheeler, we'll wheel z
I'M bring out Frye, Wen fry him." The .
ebei element, animated by this spirit of d
npacable hate, seeks to overawe ail II
lasses. You can't begiu,' said Mr.. II
heeler, ''to understand the malignant II
urposa of this class and the terrible con,.i. II
on OF affairs Spoken by sonle men that {
tteraace would mean little. Spoken bv
lch man as Mr.. Wheeler. it cmbod;es a e
hole volume. Emerson somewhere saws u
ne weight and value of sentiment deDeud q
pom whether there is d man behind il. Be- d
md tins startling declaration of Southern u
anger there is man whose caudor. sin. u
Gritty and sound Judgment impress every A
Ddy who meets him, and whose high char. <
'ter anu ability are known thrOu gIout the
'untry. His whole talk OF two hours q
irrled absolute conviction.
All the true men who have been South ,
axe similar statements. The Miss;ssipr,i. D
10 Alabama and the Arkansas committees | pl
'nfirm the story. l told yon something II
ny ilJtie-ot what Mr.. Conger chairman G.
the Mississippi committee related. He u
lc "oVfrnor Ames was In quite "a much Id
ril us Governor Kellogg. He added that al
e life Of any member of the committee W
pnld not have been worth a picayune al
one after dark. The Alabama Committee
IS convincing evidence that, during 10
ort time included within the period OF III
investigation, a horrible and na,ueless en-
TRACE was Committed uDon large mum. ne
+ OF blacks. | see tina: Governor Garland. re
Arkansas, says there are now no assas. di
latlons N that State. 1t mag be 50: il ie
~ be- that the reign of terror is now com an
tie without It, But Mr.. Ward. of the siI
kansas committee, states that while he
Is there on the IL 'estigation, twenty as re-
'sinations were perpetrated, Of which &c
.hteen were political. The truth ia. the pr
dest and most rational men here are pro up