National Republican., 1876-01-24
The Situation in Texas.
wlsHrSGroS. %, C.. Jan. %.

WLsHISGToN, ID. G., Jan. %, 1873
To the Editor of the National Republican:
SIR: The following editorial leader, taken
from the Austin (Texas) Daily Democratic
Statesmen of June 2j last past, just preceding
the convening of the constitutional COmyen-
tom in that State, expresses the true seIti-
mcnts of The Texas Democracy regarding their
estimation of the extension of any of the rights
of citizenship to the colored man, and cannot
fail inimpressing your readers with the lament
able truthfulness of the charges made by
Senator Morton in his yesterday and to-day's
noble speech before the Senate, especially
that part wherein he stated that the Demo-
cratic party is not, never has been, nor never
will be reconced to the civil and political
equality of the colored people. Much, as
am convinced, Senator Morton already knows
about Republicans, white and black, being
hunted throughout the rebel States "like wild
beasts" the writer hereof has letters in his
possession (the contents of which he personally
knows to be true) regarding the recent mur-
Ger of unoffending colored men and their fam
lilies in Texas, the destruction of their homes
by fire, the persecution, torture and driving
out from the State of white Republicans and
their families by 'sthe best citizens'-the
perusal of which would make him quake with
very horror. Senator Morton evidently does
not believe in gush, but has the nerve, the
patriotism and the ability to manfully expose
to the world the malevolent operations and
base insincerity of the late Confederates, and
char lcteristic of himself, most eloquently and
fearlessly has he performed his duty duri ng
the past two days. God only knows the awful,
eXcruciating suferings to which the Republi-
cans of the South have been subjected, and
under which they are now groaning-the re-
suit OF the policy of Reconstruction" so sue
cessfully foisted upon the Republican party by
the gushers, weakened frauds and blindly
charitable of its own ranks. The falsity of
the editorial in charging upon the colored peo-
pie the majority of the crimes perpetrated is in
keeping with the general false and treacherous
character of their Union hating. blooi-thirsty
accusers: though it is true that 'three-
fourths" of those now serving out long and
lifetime terms Of seryitude In the Texas peni-
tentiary are colored men, sent there convicted
of crimes, the trumped-up nature Of which was
we'll known to the ku-KluN juries that re-
turned the verdcts. This, however, is now a
well-identifea and prominent plank in the
Southern Democratic platform. The editorial
is as follows:
"About one fourth Of the whole population Of
Texas are black, and about three fourtss Of the
which Texas tsxpayers-negroes payin nothing
are subjected is evolved from the terrible jury
prosscutions arise from negro criminsiity, and
nsnt cf such costs. The busdsnso@s public
school System, costing about one third Of the
whole burden of taxation levied by the State, is
imposed largely in behalf OF blacks, who pay
nothing directly as taxpayers into the State
treasury. In view Of these facts, the black ele-
phant assumes mastodon.liks proportions, and
tie question arises how far We should burden
ourselves TO gain an impossible end, and one not
desired II Ittainablc-the equalization and homo
geneity of the two races. We did not import
Sambo, but bought him. and gave gold when he
was sold under prospective emancipation acts BY
the Northern people. They took the money and
We the blessed negro; but now, when day Of
divine ssttlement comes, We must lose the
money ed value Of the African, to which we do not
object since this trade Is Q good one, but would
It not be fair to relieve Texas Of this tax Imposed
to educate the sons Of Ham. We have not any
alarming degree Of faith in the perfsctbility Of
race whose story and position and degree Of in
telligeRce are the Same for Ave thousand years,
and ff facts, presented by the nsgros fortunes In
the South since emancipation, signify anything,
the race liberated will soon lose BY freedom all It
gained by slavery. But would &c not be proper
for our Northern fellow. countrymen, while We
maintain courts and Ward, Dewey Co., to 70.
lisye US Of burdens incident to Sambo's educa.
Gsne"