The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-02-19

WAsu1SaFos, February ls.-The fol
lowing address has been prepared by thi
Democratic members Of Congress Of th'
South and Southwest:
TO he people Of tke Southern State''
You have conRded to the undersigned
in this conjunction Of affairs, the delicate
and difficult task OF guarding in the Fed
eral Congress your public interests, YOU
rights and your reputation, You viii
therefore pardon the liberty We take o
addressing you at a period 80 critica
upon q matter affecting your destiny ant
that Of your posteFity, You cannot have
failed to observe the persistent efforts o.
the leaders Of the Republican party tc
revive the animOsities Of the late war
which happily are fast giving place 70 q
spirit Of concord and unity In every sec
ton OF our common country. II Is i'm
possible to predict certainly tho effect ol
these appeals to passion. Va believe that
through the honest approximations Of q tGN
conscientious Federal officers and agents,
OF the independent public press, and Oi
many citizens without regard TO party,
the true condition Of tho Southern States
and tho real sentiments Of the Southern
people are being gradually made known
10 our fellow.citiEens OF the North. We
hope for their favorable discussion when
fully apprised Of all The facts. Tho great
end OF good government will be reached
when the people OF all sections shall for
get that we have ever been enemies, and
come together again "a In the early days
OF the republic, pmulating each other
only In devotion to the best interests Of
the whole country. With this exalted
purpose In view, there Is nothing incon-
sistent with the honor and manhood ot.a
brave people to resolve TO suffer with he
roic patience, whatever be their provOca-
tiOns and wrongs, looking through the
fearful present to q hopeful future, and
repelling unjust epithets and insults with
moderation. Let every white man
in every neighborhood In the whole
South regard himself a. commits
sioner Of the peace, maintaining the
kindlicst relations toward the black man,
remembering that the responsibility for
the extreme poverty 10 which wo have
been reduced, and tho corrupt govern
ments to which his vote has subjected lis,
rests not 80. much upon him as upon
the bad men who, with the assurance Of
Federal support, have by appeals to his
worst passions sought 10 make him our
enemy, while We labOr by 5Rll honest
means to convince him of the'trhth TINT
our interests and his are identical and
that both must be preserved by good
government, and that those who. stir up
striidi between us are the (Ghehies Of
both races. Let us at the same time sec
that he is fully protected In his guaran.
tced right to vote as ho pleuscS IN all
elections. Let us COntinne to deal with
him honestly and fairly. and let us con-
tinue cordially to invite TO our midst
those Of any political fpartyI who either
seek to know the truth or to find homes
upon our soil. We do not cxaggerate whom
we Ndmonish you Of the disheartening
fact that every street disturbance, every
homicide Of whatever character, by
whomsoevor committed, by black or
white, Republican or Democrat, such ps
are incident to every community upon
the.enrth is perverted ntO,eYidence Of a
spirit of lawleSsness and violence and a
purpose to accomplish Politician end.
We we'll know the groSH injustice Of such
charges which Wave weight only where
the ignorance ot our true condition pre-
walls. Strenuous efforts are now being
made, by those who lnisrepresent you, TO
induce 6tAe passage, by Congress, Of the
most DANGEROUS measures Ia order " In
timidateS our. people, to drive them 10
dispaiF and 10 provoke them to violent
Outbreaks In order to furnish an excuse
q applying for military interference. We
express affhbpe that majority
pf the present Congress will not
be found ready 10 sanction such
legislation. nitbe accomplished II will
be agaihst the protest not only Of the
Democrats, but Of the moral worth and
statesmanship here Of the party in power,
and OF Suck Republicans as Bryant,
Evarts, Charles Francis Adams and
Others, whole patriotism at,l sense Of Jus.
tiCe is known TO the entire country. We
may however, be mistaken. The most
extreme oppression and unconstitutional
measures may be imposed upon you. In
such an event i've would appeal to the
wisdom and patriotism OF The longBuiler.
ing people by every hope Of the future
for continued fOrbearanee and hopeful re-
lance upon the virtue and sense Of jus.
ticc Of the American people for the ulH-
mate vindication Of our rights, the pro.
lection Of our liberties, and the safety oi
our Republican form Of government.