The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-02-25
Address OF Democratic Southern Con.
gressmen.

WASHINGTON, Feb. IS, 1873.
The following address has just been
prepared by Democratic members from
the South and Southwest:
To the People of the Southern States:
You have confided to the undersigned, in
this conjunction of affairs, the delicate and
difficult task of guarding in the Federal Con-
gress your public interests, your rights and
your reputation. You will, therefore, par
don the liberty we take Of addressing you, at
a period SO critical, upon a matter affecting
your destiny and that of your posterity.
You cannot have failed 10 observe the per.
sistent efforts of some of the leaders of the
Republican party to revive The animosities OF
the late war, which, happily, are fast giving
place TO a spirit OF concord and unity III every
section Of our common country. 1t is impos-
sible TO predict certainly the effect of these
appeals to passion. We believe that, through
the honest representations of few upright
and conscientious Federal officers and agents,
and 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 most favora-
BILE decision, when fully apprised of all the
facts. The great end of good government
will be reached when the people of all sec
tions forget that we have ever been enemies,
and come together, as in the early days OF
the Republic, emulating each other in devo-
ton to the best interests of the country.
With this exalted purpose in view there is
nothing inconsistent with the honor and
manhood Of brave people to resolve to
suffer with heroic patience, whatever be
their proyocations and wrcngs, looking
through the fearful present to the hopeful fu-
ture, aud repelling unjust epithets and gratu-
itous insults with dignited moderation. Let
every white man in every neighborhood
in the whole South regard himself as a COM
missioner Of peace, maintaining the kindest
relstons toward the black man; remembering
that the responsibility for the extreme pow
erty to which we have been reduced and the
corrupt Government to which his vote has
subjected us rest not so much upon him as
upon the bad men vino, with assur-
appeals to his worst passions, sought
to make him our 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 coed
government, and that those who stir up strife
between us are enemies of both races, let
us at the same time see that he is fully pro-
tected in his guaranteed right 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 seek to know the
tTutu OF 10 Nnu upon our soi.
We do not eXaggerate when we admonish
you of the disheartening fact that every street
disturbance, every homicide, of whatever
character, by whomsoever committed, by
black or white, Republican or Democrat, such
as are incident to every community upon
earth, is perverted into evidence Of spirit Of
laWlessuees 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 con-
dition prevails. Strenuous efforts are now
being made by those who misrepresent you
to induce the passage by Congress Of most
dangerous measures, in order to irrtate our
people, to drive them to despair and to pro-
woke them to violent outbreaks, in order to
furnish an excuse for applying for military
Interference. We express the hope that ma
jority of the present Congress will not be
found ready to sanction such legislation. If
it be accomplished it would be against the pro-
test not only of the Democrats, but of the
moral worth and craftsmanship here OF the
party in power, and of such Republicans as
Bryant Evarts, Charles Francis Adams, and
others, whose patriotism and sense oil justice
are known to the entire country. We may,
however, mistake. The most extreme op-
preston and unconstitutional measures may
be imposed upon you. In such an event we
would appeal to the wisdom and patriotism
of long-suffering people, by every hope of
the future, for continued forbearance and
hopeful reliance upon the virtue and sense
of justice of the American people for the
ultimate vindication of our rights, the protec-
tion of our liberties, and the safety of our re-
publican form Of government.
The address is sigled by Senators Goldthwaite,
Stevenson. Norwood, Cooper, Gordon, Ransom
(of North Carolinal, McCrecry, Bogy, JohIaton
| and Merriam; and by the following members OF
the House of Representatives: Messrs. Cook,
Caldwell, Bell, Bromberg. Atkins, Waddell,
Giddings, Herndyn, Miles, Willie, Han
cock, Crittenden, John Young Brown,
Harris, Young (of Georgia.. Whitthorne, Bright
Grassland, Bowen, Beck, Bland, Adams, Clark,
Arthur, Comngo, Durham, Hunton, Hatcher,
Guntcr, Glover, Mclean, Leach, Vaner, Robbins,
Bount, Harris, Whitehead, Standeford, Stone,
Sloss Young lof Kentucky, Wells (of Missouri)
MilliKen. Read and Lamar.