The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-08-03
The Southern Question.

The telegraph informs us that Gov.
Chamberlain, of South Carolina, had n
conference with the President, the Sec
rotary of War and the Attorney Gener-
al on Wednesday, concerning the Ham
burg massacre. The President IL is
said, denounced the affair MS the most
understandable and inhuman butchcry
since the close of the var and expressed
himself rs desiring to give the Govern
or on formal requisition all the troops
necessary to preserve the peace and
punish the perpetrators OF the outrage.
lie also. we are informed, announced
his determination to continue the troops
breaks occur.
1t is probable that the Presidential
campai /. n now upon us will reopen the
Southern question. The Democracy
a only hope for success through in
%timidation of colored voters in the
South. They must carry II solid South
or lose the fight. Senator Morton said
in the Senate on Tuesday, 1.-The sue
cess of the Democratic party depends
upon carrying Louisiana, Mississippi,
South Carolina, Florida and North Car
olina; States all largely Republican.
Their chances are in overcoming that
majority by bloodshed, and the cam
paign opened at Hamburg the other
day"
The truth is the Hamburg massacre
has opened the eyes of the country to
the necessity OF Federal protection in
| the doubtful Southern States. The hor-
rible nature of that butchery is admitted
by all. The facts. claimed by Repub-
licans are conceded by fa:r-minded
Democrats. If any were disposed to
defend the Hamburg assassins, they are
eflectually silenced by the concession of
Congressman Lamar, of Mississippi, In
debate on Tuesday he admitted, a. in
disputable, the fact that "a body of
white men had put to death. without
authority of law. a number of colored
citizens while prisoners, and not pris.
oners in the legal sense, inasmuch rs
these white men had no right to de-
prive them of their personal liberty"
There is a full, fair and square ad-
mission OF the case by competent Dem
ocratic authority Mr.. Lamar said fur.
Their that no excuse or palliation could
possibly be found for such barharism.
1t is a significant fact, however, that
the Democratic majority in the House
did not agree with Mr.. Lamar. Upon
the question of authorizing the Presi-
dent to send troops to the Rio Grande,
the proposition was amended so that
troops should not be removed from any
State where in the Judgment OF the
President they are needed to preserve
order. Only five Democrats voted with
Mr.. Lamar for this amendment. And
on Wednesday, when the bill 50 amend
ed came to be considered, it was voted
down by the Democrats, the Republic
cans voting solidly for it.
The position OF affairs seems there
fore to be rs follows: Fair-minded
Democrats admit that outrages are COM
mitted In certain Southern States for
which, In the language of Mr.. Lamar,
"there is no excuse or palliation." Yet
the Democratic party as represented in
Congress votes to remove all troops
from the South. The President has ex-
pressed himself rs determined to en-
force the law in the South, and the Re
publican party, rs represented in Con
, gress, votes to sustain him In his posi-
ItiOn. Under such circumstances 1t IL
fair to presume that the people of Ala
bama. Louisiana, Mississippi, Nortl
Carolina, South Carolina and Florid'
will be protected by United States troops
and 1t Is also fair to presume that the,
will carry their States against the Dem
ocracy In November.
As, however, the Democracy protes
, against the presence of troops. and tn
> bad men among them are quick to ava
themselves of every opportunity to In