The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-15
HON. WIN. E.DoDaE,oF NEW YORK
A Plea for Peace.


We should be glad to publish in full the
speeches of all the distinguished Repubh-
cans, VIM. Cullen Bryant, VIM. NJ. warts
and others, on the course of Grant and
Sheridan in Louisiana, but our space ad-
mits only of synopsis, already given.
But among the distinguished Republicans
who spoke at the great New York indIgna-
ton meeting. was Hon. VIM. Il. Dodge,
f,rmarlv n Republican congressman iron'
~. v.,r,, and as he is personally known
70 a large number of our citizens, especially
among the Presbyterians, We give his re,
marks, reported in the Tribune,as follows
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
am here to. night not as the representa-
tive of any party but as one of the oldest
merchants Of the city, to express what
honestly think is the feeling ol the tusi-
ness men of the country l do not COME
to dennunce the general policy Of the adj
ninlstration, nor the party with which for
many years have been identified. but to
frankly object to the further interference
by the general government with the legIs-
lation of the Southern states, or in any
way to attempt to influence the votes o.
InOSc states, Ut ueCluC dS W luC iCSuNS WI
their elections. Ten years have now pass
ed since the close of the war, and there is
very general feeling that the time has
come when we should all adopt the Ian
guage of the President, and say, Let us
have peace" 1t was not reasonable 10 eX
pect that such a radical change in the socia
system of the South, by which four mil
lions Of slaves were emancipated and then
enfrauchised, could have taken place with
out more or less friction in their local gov
ernments | submit that there has beer
less than might, under the circumstances
have been expected. and that the slaves
as general thing, haye disappointed the
people of the North and South by theil
quiet and peaceful behavior. Many pre-
dicted that they would not work and tina
the cotton fields would lie waste, and thi,
no longer be the principal country for pro
ducing that staple; but facts have decided
the question. The last two years have
been fully up to the average years before
the war.
What the South now needs is capital tc
develop her resources but this she cannot
obtain till confidence in her state govern.
ments can be restored, and this will never
be done by federal bayonets, They must
be left TO work out this problem among
themselves The freedmen must choose
for themselves, in view of all their inter
ests, to which party they will belong. II
would never do for them to suppose thai
they are always to be in opposition to the
whites as their only safety. and that the
general government will protect them
They must be made 20 understand that il
many things their interests are mutual
and it will be far better for them if they
cast in their lot with the different parties
so as to secure the influence and protection
of that to which they may belong, rattle
than keep up a constant political war o
races.
The great object of the war was to per
petuate the union Of the states under tn
constitution, aud even ii after all the COS
of blood aud treasure we are to fail in thi
and remain as we are, with our Southern
states still paralyzed, her cities crushed b.
taxation, property constantly declining
business conducted under great disadvan
tage and her merchants struggling to main
tain her credit-to this extent our effor
has failed,
How can we at the north expect to pros
per when such large part OF the Unio
is suffering? We are told in sacred scrip
ture that, if one member suffer all tn
members suffer with it. Nothing can b
huCi III tblo CdSC. uduy Vi uS lSCA lila
the general government has made mis-
take in trying to secure the peace an
quiet Of the south by appointing man
northern men to places oftrustin the south
who have in their turn been active in Sc
curing the votes Of the freedmen and max
ing them feel that the United States go,
eminent was their special friend rathe
than those with whom their lot was cast an
among whom they must live and for whol
they must work. We have tried this Ion
enough; now let the south alone: |,
them work their own problem, understand
ing that only in case of oppression or il
surrection which the state cannot contr
let the general government interfere. A
merchants we want to see the south gai
her normal position in the commerce
the country. nor can we hope for gener
revival OF business while things remain
they now are. Again say Let US ha,
peace"
Our old fr;and Sanakor Rurka ia non