Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-16
CALLING A HALT,

Alabama, because the Slate had voted
Democratic by forty-thoussnd majority.
SO it seems the test OF loyalty is oppo-
sition to R2dicalism. When AlabAms
aud Mississippi gave large Republican
mel )rities, we heard none Of this clsmoT
for investigating committees. But as
the APPEAL has already predicted, these
propositions to reconstruct the southern
States will be worth thousands Of votes
10 the Democratic party, as it is vir-
tual confession that the reconstruction
acts have failed to give peace to the
county, and that the Radical party
either do not want reconciliation, or that
the policy ii has adopted for eleven years
is a failure. The more prudent and sa-
gacious Republicans are calling a halt.
They see the necessity Of unloading t.
prevent inevitable defeat. In comment
ing on the proposition TO commerce
anew the work of reconstrueting the
reconstructed States, the New York
Times says:
Mr.. Boutwell, must be very obtuse if
he has not already discovered his mis-
take. We have yet to see the first Re-
publican journal that has any claim to
character and influence which does not
repudiate the recon- mendatiOns as in
effect q condemnation of the work of
reconstruction and the assertion Of a
principle whose recognition would revo-
lutioDIzs the Federal government and
render the rights OF States nullity.
This is the all but universal opinion,
and it G es far toward explaining the
failure or the report to produce the i'm
preston which might have been antici-
pated had it been confined TO a simple
recital CT well authenticated facts,
While the determination to enforce the
constitutional amendments, and to pre-
vent the coercion and fraud on which
the Democrats rely for success in sew
eral of the southern States, is mani
fest everywhere in the north and west,
there is with it q wholesome aver
sion to the reopening Of eontrover-
sizes which reconstruction closed. One
of the Just boasts of the Republican par
ty is that, after suppressing rebellion
and establishing the authority of the
Union on an impTegnable bssis, it re-
stored to the south its forfeited rights,
and TO the whole people, white and
black, control of their affairs. To say
now, as Mr.. Boutwell, virtually says,
that the exercise of these rights, regard
less of race and color, cannot be pro-
tected by any process short OF despot-
ism, is not only 10 confess reconstruction
a failure-which it certainly is nOt-but
to invest partisanship with mischief
making power which the country would
not tolerate. The unfavorable reception
accorded to Mr.. Boutwelis plan is, then,
at once rebuke to the pretensiOns in
which it originated, and an assurance to
the south that the cenciliatorv tone Of
Mr.. Hayes's letter fairly reflects the
prevailing spirit Of the party.
Such Radicals as Boutwell, forget that
this is the Centennial year. While pa
triots are invoking peace and reconciIia-
ton, and honestly desire forgetfulness
Of sectional batreds and the union of a
people in common brotherhood for the
promotion of the best interests of the
country, Boutwell,, the leader Of the
Republicans in the senate, demands that
the south be demanded to territorial
condition" and reconstructed upon
new basis; in a word, upon q basis
which will force thu southern States to
vote the Radical ticket before they can
be considered "truly loyalW Surely
the American people are not SO lost to
patriotism as to join Boutwell, in his ig-
noble efforts TO keep alive the passions
and resentments Of the late civil war
simply to perpetuste the rule of
3 party which virtually con-
fesses that its reconstruction
policy has failed and therefore demands
the adoption Of new one. This propo.
sihon to renew arbitrary rule in conflict
with the constitution is a confession
that Radical rule is failure, and that
the Democratic policy of appealing to
the better instincts and latent patriot.
ism of the southern people by restoring
to them those rights, the enjoyment of
which is Indispensable to a successful
of their local affairs, is
the only way by which to secure peace.
This new war proposed upon the south
by Boutwell, will tell in the November |
election. The Republicans for eleven
years have had absolute power over the |
question Of demonstrating the southern |
States, and strained every effort to make
the south radical Republican. But they
1verreached themselves. They were too
liberal, vindictive and restrictive. A
and forgiving policy, looking
o the early restoration of the south, and
making political reconstruction subser.
vient to that would have secured the
upport of the negroes and a large part
" the white population. But the white
people, and many OF the negroes, have
become alienated from the Republican
'arty through the ilIiberal policy pur-
usd toward the south, and through the
llsgust which the knaves, the proteqes
( the Republican party, inspired. AS
consequence we sec most of the SOUTH
RI States have become Democratic, and
hat all will become SO. The Republi.
ans feel keenly this fact. The recon.
truction policy failed to accomplish its
attended purpose of Africanizing the
1uth, and now they propose recon.
-ructing the south over again. But the
atriotic people Of the north will Join
he New York Times in caIIing
halt, and in demanding that
he party omnibus be unloaded, The
sdicals, by their prosecutions and
have failed to make the
'uth vote the Republican ticket, and
icy must suffer the penalty of their
istsken policy. The atrocious propo-
ion Of Boutwell, will arouse popular
dignation at the north. II ANYTHING /,
ere wanting to secure Tnden's election,
1utwell has furnished it, and henee
aiding Republicans will repudiate this
oposition to reconstruct the south. ]
1t it has been fastened upon the Rs
and during the canvass ii I
IL be found "dsmped spotU which 6
II not out at the bidding of the New
,rk Times t
Ez=z.uz..zuzz q
GENERAL CAMPBELL, ia an able :
eech delivered at Jackson on Monday 8
last week, according to the Wing and