The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-12-21
The Bottom fruth.


would bring to punishment the red-haue :,
criminals who had MANNED, mutilateS 4eu
murdered negroes and white poop u ''''u
,ther offence than that they Is i0' ~
,ans, or perish in the att ere rep."i'-
ard said, Suppose 80" -empt' Mr. Day
-ho will of fla no. a were there against
oliea that az. yple:'' Mr.. Sherman re-
mot nnd~ lie Southern white me' could
mus rstand that the uM Of the negro
e be respected as aceU as their o'cn''
Here is the bottom truth OF the difficulties
and contentious in the Southern States. In
considering the will of the people the negro
is left out--he is not regarded as citizen,
clothed with as many rights as amy body
else, and that the Constitution ard laws OF
the country are pledged to the protection OF
those rights. 1t is not Il question whether
the negro should be citizen--it is not the
passing OF amendments to the Constitution
giving him freedom and citizenship ard the
enactmenG OF laws 10 carry INTO effect such
results. These things haze already been
done. The negro is free. is fnll-hedged
citizen, and has legal rights which it is q
crime under statute to deprive him OF. lie
has as clear Fight under the law 10 vote his
sentiments rs the white man, and il this
We're recognized and peaccably and quietly
acquiesced in. all The disturbances in the
South would cease.
1t is very clear, too that it was not the
purpose of the democrats in the Cotton
States to allow the negro the privileges the
law guarantees him. Had such been the
case, there would have been no rite-club or
CARNATIONS, no white line leagues, no bull
doing companies. These combinations
meant mischief. They were the machinery
by which Nr. riden was to carry 4 .'solid
South. and Il solid South meant that the
free exercise OF the elective franchise was
not to be allowed. And just here. al! the
trouble finds its source.
II became necessary 10 protect the rights
OF American citizens, that the military arm
of the government should be employed. The
President really had no other alternative ex-
cept TO violate his oath Of office. Tie is sworn
to execute the laws and enforce the Consti-
tuition. lie cannot, in discharging his high
duties, enter iuto the local preiudices. re-
sulting from the changed condition of South
ern society. He is not allowed to question
the qualifications OF classes for the exercise
OF rights which the laws confer. His bust
ness is to see that the laws are respect ed and
enforced-tat the rights they guarantee are
not abused Or violated, and if it is made
plain to him that there is danger of any OF
these guaranteed rights being denied, he is
compelled, by the sanctions OF his oath, to
interpose the power at his command to de.
fend them. That is his duty, and that i:
what American citizenship means.
The political condition Ct the South only
demonstrates that the democratic party is
organized to oppose the practical enforce
ment of the amendments to the Constitu.
ton. 1t is the organized effort Of Prejudice
to superscede the laws and the Constitution
The American people Garnet aad will moi
allow this. The President OF the United
States cannot become party to it, by 81.
lence OR inaction. lie must be trGc to his of.
| fetal oath, and lie cannot be, so long as the
rights of citizenship are ruthlessly trampled
upon, and violence employed to destroy
them. unless he employs the agencies at his
command to maintain the integrity of law
Had the people OF the South taken q prac.
| tical view of all the phases Of the questions
| involved in the amendments to the Constitu.
ton. there would be TO race issue in the
South. no desire for /. solid and sectional
South in national affairs. Simple acceptance
of the situation--co-operation with the ma.
| tional administration. would have been fol.
lowed by a full recognition Of the control.
ling minds in the Southern States, and con-
| sequent contcn.ment and peace. 1t could
not be expected whe IA the administration
was pledged to tie enforcement of the laws
and the democratic party was pledged tc
their practical qualification, as was clearly
the case III the recent contest, that political
preferences would be given to the opponents
of the government.
| Inc pialn duty ana policy OF the South is
to recognize the results to which the Ameri-
can people are pledged-to invite the free
and unembarrassed exc: else of every legal
right by the negro. and to nterpose no vio-
| lence to the enjoyment of every immunity
that the laws and the Constitution invest
him with. By this means the race issue
would be numbered as Of the past-the dis
Iurbing questions, which arouse so much bit
ter prejudice and lnstigate such extreme re-
sorts, would be forgotten, and the South IN
augurate an era Of uncxampled prosperity,
contributing alike to the benefit of white
and black citizens.