Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-09-24
From the Chicago Tribun,
violence at the South.

The Letters of the President and of the
Attornev- General give promise that there
lii he an end put to the recurring acts
nF--ioIence and murder in the Southern
St.,ee II makes no difference who
bsains or who is in fault in these distur-
bances. the negroes are victims. Oc-
casionally white man is killed; but for
every white man there are a score of ne
groes. The President, in his letter to th
Atlorney-General, thus clearly expires
ses the judgment of the country:
The whole public are tired out with these
annual outbreaks in the South and great many
are ready now to condemn any interference on
the part Of the Government heartily wish peace
and good order may be restored without issuing
the proclamation: but If they are not, the Pro-
clAmation must be issued; but If it is, shall IN
childish play. If there is necessity for mllltarv
interference there is justice in such interference
as will deter the evil-dOers.
The Attorney General supplements
this instruction of the President by writ
inc 70 Gov, Ames as follow:
Tsnggest that you take all lawful means and all
needed measures TO preserve the peace by the force
IN vour own State, and let the country see that
The inhabitants of Mississippi, who are largely
Republican, are favorable TO good order, and have
rights, and to destroy the bloody ruffans who
murder the innocent and unofending freedmen.
Everything is in readiness. Be careful to bring
yourself strictly within the Constitution and the
laws and there is such resistance to your State
authorities as you cannot by any means at your
command suppress. the President viii swiftly
aid you in crushing lawless traitors to human
rights.
The people of the North are, as the
President says, becoming tired of this
business, and the Attorney-General
clearly expresses the universal sentimen
| of the country when he suggests that the
law abiding people of Mississippi, who
are in majority, and who have all the
authority and machinery of the Govern
ment in their hands, should have the
courage and the manhood" to fight fol-
their own rights and protect their OWL
persons and property. The Tufian who
wars upon the rights of others has 9
wholesome respect for the man who will
defend himself when attacked. In fact
courage and manliness are the only thing!
which an assassin and Ku-KluX either
| respects OF breads He stands in whole
some awe of the knife, the rifle, and thu
revolver, and they are the only law fol
which he has the least dread.
The people of the United States have
clothed these colored men with the right:
and liberties of white men, They have
all the political and personal privileges
which the white man has, especially the
right of selfdefense. Have the Ameri
can people in making the negroes citizens
and freemen enfranchised race of sheer
or Of men? Noman Is fit to be a freeman
who will not defend his freedom. Hi
ability and his readiness TO do this ar
the best assurances that he can give tina
his freedom was not unworthily bsto wed
| A I'D. e1tnnaead o.
!. be below the negro IN the scale of civilz a
ton; nevertheless, the American peopl
never seek voluntarily a collision will
the savages. Despite the rapidly deere as
ing number of the Indians, they hay
never lost their manhood, their courage
nor their readiness to defend themselves
How is it at the South? When have thes
newly-made citizens made any defense G
themselves, or of their families, or tbei
property, or their liberty2 Does any per
son imagine that the negroes could OF
ganize themselves, and make mIdnigh
wtr upon the whites, numbering, assas
sinating, burning. and piliaging? Wer
it attempted, would not every white ma
with his rife be on hand making com
mon cause for the common defense? Why
do not the black men of Mississippi arm
| luCAuoCAfOSJ ouui pAdCluS luSuSOANSS uu
der command of the Governor, not onl!
maintain the peace, but pursue thei
white assailants, bringing them to justice
The seeming cowardice of the colore
men invite outrages. 1t promotes tn
rufianly instincts. It invites assassina
ton. Non-resistance is the very deligh
of the marauder 1t encourages HIN
when knowledge that he would be me
with bullet, or dozen of them, woulC
cool his ardor When the scoundrel
who engage in these bloody trays becom
so strong that the State is overwhelmed
and when the Governor is ready to plea
that his people will not fight in defe ns
of their own persons and property, the
he may appeal to the National Govern
ment for aid. Let there be no more ap
peals for Governmental aid until thes
people whose rights and persons are Out
ragged, exhibit q willingness to defen,
themselves; show that they are men an
not sheep; and show that they are worth
the freedom which they would hav
protected.