Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-10-21
Dragooning the South.


tie spectacle to day presented to the Amer
lean people by the action Of President Grant
in regard to South Carolina is one Of the most
humiliating of American history After elev-
en- years Of Peace between the sections ard Of
unqualified submission by the whole South to
the laws OF the United States aud after elev
en- years Of a rule by the Radical party 10 South
CAROLINA, the corruptions Of which have been
conceded by nearly all the great Republican
leaders to be a disgrace to our civilization !;
after for all this period the governing power
has been maintained in that State By the or
ganiz.iiou Of negro militia armed to suborii
nate the intelligent and the properly owning
class; wher the negro population is admitted
to be in the ascendancy-is admitted to be
armed and organized in pursuance Of Radical
legislation, it is found pending a Presidential
contest that division in the black ranks indi-
Gates the success of Hampton and the defeat
OF the Radical scallawags, and President Of the
United States, when his term Of public service
is about concluding forever, is used as an in
strument to suppress reaction among the col
orel class by military force, and marshalS the
whole machinery of the government against
the expression OF the popular will.
Tue American people without distinction CT
party, in the soberer moments, before they
were arrayed against each other in active po-
lj,icsl conflict, by their legislatures and their
conventions, throughout almost our whole ex-
tent, repudiated his past administration with a
unauimity that has no parallel in history In
| the last open and shameless violation of the
spirit Of the age he was not actuated by devc-
/ ton to friends for the reason that the action Of
/ the Country has demonstrated that he is pollt-
! ically friendlcss; no. for the protection Of the
rights OF tao black population for the reason
| that his party dare not deny that black and
white have been alike robbed by the internal
crew who have had control Of her; not to avert
any real dagger Of aggressive warfare by the
white population, for in every Instance the
process of the United States Courts have been
obeyel and every man demanded by The au-
thoritics has peacefully yielded to the man
date, but seems to have been inspired by the
desire only 10 show to the American people
who have spurneI him, his defiance Of forms
Of law and his contempt for free institutions
No other act Of his al uinistration is so repre-
heusible and reckless as this.
Headed by Wade Hampton, whose reputa-
ton for personal purity is untaruished, whose
sincerity is recognized wherever he is known
and his name is n national one the Demo-
cratic party of the State of South Carolina had
appealed with success 10 their colorei fellow
citizens of South Carolina, whom they by eve
ry act have recognized as political equals, 10
aid them in driving from power the common
enemy Of both races in that state, and as the only
mode left TO prevent an expression Of dissent
to their control the President of the United
States, in defiance Of express provisions of The
Constitution whose chief defender he should BE-
under his oath. deliberately commits an act
against the liberty of the citizen, that will be
condemned as unauthorized aud despotic by
every free people on earth. Although under
the Influence Of great political excitement the
Northern masses cannot fail to comprehend tho
dangerous Influence that such precedens may
exert on our future history, and our sincere
conviction is tina, his proclamation against
South Carolina will excite apprehension a.
mous and be condemned by all the good met
nf I'll nnliiirll nlriinS Nnrth