Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-02-26
The Democratic Members OfCOngresx of
the south and SOuthwesl-AddreSs to
TO the People of the Southern States

WASHINGTON, February lS-The following
address has just been prepared by Democra tic
Members of the South and Southwest:
10 the People Of the Southern States:
You have confded to the undersigned in this
conjunction Of affairs the delicate and difficult
task of guarding in the Federal Congress your
public interest your rights and your reputa-
ton. You will therefore pardon the liberty we
take OF addressing you at period so critical
upon matter affecting your destiny and that
of your posterity. You cannot have failed to
observe the persistent efforts of some of the
leaders of the Republican party to revive the
animositieS of the late war, which happily are
past, giving place to
SPIRIT OF CONCORD AND UNITY
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 honest representation of few upright and
conscientious Federal officers and agents, an
independent and able public press, and of many
citizens. without regard to party, 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 favorable decis-
ion when fully apprised Of all the facts. The
great ends of good government will be reached
when the people of all sections forget that we
have ever been enemies, and come together
again as in the early days of the Republic, EN-
ulating each other only in devotion to the best
interests of the whole country, With this ex-
allied purpose in view there is nothing incon-
sistent with the
HONOR AND MANHOOD
of brave people to resolve to suffer with he
roic patience whatever be their provocations
and wrongs, looking through the fearful present
to hopeful future and repelling unjust cpl
thets and gratuitous insults with digni6ed
moderation. Let every white man in every
neighborhood in the whole South regard him
self as commissioner of the peace. maintain
ing the kindest relations toward the black man,
remembering that the responsibility for the ex-
IRENE poverty to which we have been reduced
and the corrupt government to which his vote
has subjected us rests not so much upon him as
upon the bad men who, with the assurance of
Federal support, have by appeals to his worst
passions sought TO make him an enemy While
We labor, by all honest Means to convince him
of the truth that our interest and his are iden-
teal and that both must be preserved by good
government, and that those who stir up strife
between US are
THE ENEMIES OF BOTH RACES,
let us at the same time see that he is fully pro-
tected in his guaranteed rights to vote as he
pleases in all elections. Let US continue to
deal with him honestly and fairly, and let us
continue cordially TO invite to our midst those
of any political party who either seek to know
the truth or to find homes upon our SOIL We
do not exaggerate when we admonish You of
the disheartening fact that every disturbance,
every homicide of whatever character, by
whomsoever committed, by black or white Re-
publican or Democrat, such rs are incident to
every community upon earth, is perverted into
evidence of spirit of lawlessness and violence
and purpose TO accomplish political ends. We
well know the gross injustice of such charges,
which have weight only where ignorance of
our true condition prevails. Strenuous efforts
are now being made by those who misrepre-
sent you 10 induce the passage by Congress of
the
MOST DANGEROUS MEASURES
in order to irri.ate our people, to drive them to
despair, and TO provoke them to violent out
breakes in order TO furnish excuse for apply
ing for military interference. We express the
hope that ma jority of the present Congress
will not be found ready to sanction such legis-
lation. If it be accomplished, it would be a
gainst the protest not only of Democrats, but
of the moral worth and craftsmanship here of
the party in power and of such Republicans as
Bryant, Evaris, Charles Francis Adams and
others, whose patriotism and sense OF justice are
known TO the entire country. We may, how
ever, mistake. The most extreme, oppressive
and unconstitutional measures may be imposed
upon you. In such an event we would appeal
to the wisdom and patriotism of a long-sufer-
ing people, by every hope of the future, for
continued forbearance and hopeful reliance up
on the virtue and sense of justice of the Amer
lean people for the ultimate vindication of our
liberties, and the safety of our Republican form
of government.
The above address is signed by ten Senators
and forty-six Representatives from the South
"A nd Snnf hweStern States