The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-12-07
The Issue,

that the amendments to the
nsttcnal constitution and the laws for their
were TO he ainpleG under
foot. The ''Solid South for .'.riden, Hem
bricks and Reform" meant that-it meant
bloodsh he'd and murder, and the preparation
of crimes and cruelties such as had never
before blackcned the history of any people
outside the pale OF ancient heattendom. The
leaders of that party knew that they could
not expect to succeed in the States of Mis-
sissippi. South Carolina, Louisiana and Flor
Ia, without the comtnittal Of barbarities
that would astound humanity. They went
to work deliberately to accomplish, the result
agreed upon at an. hazard. They were
aware that there was nc possible chance for
the election Of rilden Gu a fair vote. They
knew that fraud and crime were the agents
with which to win, and that there was little
chance to put these in practice ia the States
North and West, except in certain localities.
In New York city, Indiana and CINCINNATI
frauds were resorted to of the most astound-
Ing character, and it was by such instrument
taities that New York and Indiana were Sc
cured for them. 1t was in the South that
fraud had to be supplemented bv crime.
Feeling secure in the States under demo-
cratic control, the necessity presented itself
of carrying the three States under Republ-
can administration. TO this end twenty
thousand guns and pistols were purchased
IN New York alone. and shipped 10 South
Carolina. Rifle clubs were organized and
equipped, and a system Of terrorism inaugu
rated that spread CONSERVATION among the
colored people. White Liners and bull doz-
ing organizations were effected in Louisiana,
and wi h even more cruel feroci.y than in
South Carolina, they proceeded with their
work. So confident were the friends Of
| s.Tilden and reform" that their plan would
succeed, that before it was possible for the
| result TO be known, they tele2raphed it all
over the county that a "Solid South" had.
heer placed in the 1llden column. The,
knew the instrilmentalities at work, aud as
success had attended their operations In MIS-.
sissippi and other Southern States, they
made no calculation for failure in the State
| in question. The vigilance OF the Repubi-
cans and the energetic and vel! directed
measures OF the President. however, checked
them in their reckless and wicked course.
While they terrorized whole districts in
| South Carolina aud Louisiana, and perpetra-
| ted innumerable murders and outrages, ye.
| their purposes were defeated and the ''Soiid
| South" will lack three States in making it q
verify.
THUS tiiwarted in their designs, aid real.
izing that their desperate game was lost
they instantly commenced the clamor Of
''fraud" against the Republicans, and re
sorting 10 legal bubbles and tricky dey
ces, to encompass their end. They have beer
met at every point and discomfittcd. Threats
Of revolution, forcible resistance TO the ill.,
auguration of Hayes, followed, in the hops
1T frightening the country, and compellin.
irqmiescence in their pretended success
The Republicans of the country have calmly
and quietly listened to this blta>ter and trca
son; and entrenclied behind the laws ant
the Constitution, and above all. Truth ant
Justice, await the issue.
In consonance with this policy of false
pretense and sham Justice, was the address
OF Gems. Gordon and Hampton recently spnl
to the country in consequence of thu actor
of Gen. Ruger at Columbia. They assume,
that authority lad BEEN usurped, and thu
spirit of the Constitution and laws violated
and gave expression to an assumed indigna
ton ii at lily COMFORTS with the whole pro-
yramme OF the Democratic leaders in thi.
fempestnous contest. It was not SO muci
their reverence for law and constituted All
thority, that Influenced their acIion, as II
was cliagrin at the interference Vith theil
revolu ionary plans. Had their respect io
he majesty OF the law been so sensitive, VIII,
lid they no: manifest a sense Of outraged
justice, when they knew that the amend
ments to the Constitution had been prac
tically nuiified? The end they sought coult
not be possibly contaminated without disre
gardng the laws and the Constitution. They
nere perfectly aware OF this. They knew
too, that not only had the fundamental Law
been outraged, but that peaceable citizens
claiming the rights that law guaranteed
had been cruelty murdered in the exercise
of those rights, and for no other reason thai
that they choose TO exercise them AS the,
thought best.
The truth is there is no warrant iii RICH
or justice, by which the friends Of rildtI
can lag claim to the vote OF either Of th'
States in dispute, and TO consummate hi
election by the vote of & single one of them
would be {: crime against humanity, an out
rage upon the cardinal principles of FREE
governmt Mt, and an intolerable usurpation
In dealing with this Southern question
the democrats seem to think that the ncgroe
have no rights unless they are such as ar
exercised In the interest of the democratic
party. They are courted and respected
whenever they show weakness for Demo
cratic candidates. Whenever they, .loweyer
declare their purpose TO act with the Repub
lican party, then it is that the dogs Of wa
are let loose upon them, and every species o
persecution and wrong directed sgains
them. In estimating the Southern vote, ti'
democrats did not regard the legal rights o
the colored race. They claim that they i,ay'
right to rule their own States, and direct
their votes in !, national contest. regardles:
Of the secured rights OF the negro, and any
device. any crime that it is deemed neces
sary 10 resort to for the purpose OF accom-
plishing this object, they regard as iustitia
BILE.
The question is presented to the American
people whether the Constitution and thu
laws Of the country are to govern In South
ern communities or n0t-Whether the rights
secured thereby are sacred aud binding ii
nne sectiou I the Union and mere nulitie,
in the other. The issue is sqnarely raised il
the contest In Louisiana, South Carolina
and Florida. II the democratic party is al
liberty to trample upon the Cor s:itution AM
defy the laws TO carry cut their desperate
party purposes, then there is an end to Con
stitutional COVER nment and the sarctity o.