New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
.ntOn. N. j., Dec. Is, 1875.
MIR. SEYMOUR,S SPEECH.
"a RELUCTANT sOUIH'-ITs POLICY IN THE TERRI
TORY OF KANsAs-PREsENT ELECTION MEASURES
IN SOUTHERN STATES.

"a RELUCTANT sOUTH'-ITs POLICY IN THE TERlh-
TORY OF KANsAs-PREsENT ELECTION MEASURES
IN SOUTHERN STATES.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: "The first false step forced a reluctant
South into rebellion" Thus speaks HoratiO Seymour TO
the Electoral College over which he was called 10 pre-
side on the 5th of December 1876 and these words give
the keynote to his whole address. To him the world
does not move and he has learned nothing in the past
sixteen years. 1t st the wicked Republicans VINO
have "forced the reluctant South into rebellion"
tits true that the Republicans only asked for fair
vote and that the majority should decide bu TINS ahes
it the duty of Southern patIiotsaccordng to Mr. sey
mourto provide that there shall be no majority except
such as shall agree with the u opinion. On some ques-
tuns the South can only pemit majority on one s'de'
one OF these questions that of free State III Kan
sas As soon as became evident that majority Oh the
voters OF then Territory OF Kansas desired th"' "
should he q free State then the duty was forced upon
the reluctant South" 10 bring over the ooruers
from Missouri enough armed men to control
the elections THESE armed men used but little un-
necessary force They did not murder men nor women
nor children they did burn houses nor barns nor VII
ges except where thcy found II necessary TO 40 SO III
order TO secure fair election or IN Other WoIus' ah
election which should give them majority IL was De
cause they knew that majority of the actual settlers IN
Kansas desired free State that the patriotic duty was
forced upon the reluctant south" of preventing by any
effective nears the deposit in the baot-ooxcs OF votes
ayOrg tree State. The patriotic citizens OF missouri
who came over armed into Kansas at every election uu
not pretend TO settle there They only Killed rs many
mon vonel and children and burned as many houses
s they considered necessary to control thai election
And they did control it, until il has gone into history tha'
down TO the time OF The adoption of the State Constlu-
ton every election in Kansas was decided by armed men
from Mssour! And thus was reluctant South forced
| into rebellion"
And now the colored people Of South Carolina and the
other Southern States repeat the onses Of which tho
North was guilty twenty years ago. and persist In voting
for Reuuicans and again "the reluctant South is com
| uened to adopt whatever most effective means may
seem Ia he within reach to prevent them from so voting
Hence as the whites twenty ago were threatened
and robbed and killed in Kansas, now the co"red men
of the Southern States threatened and robbed and
Whipped and shOtdOnt cali it murdered, Tor the re-
ucant south is" compelled to do it to prevent them
from voting the wrong ticket Everything orderly and
op,o NJ the pols No one intimdations there Bn
tne blacks have taught their lesson escWhcre, III
| ihe dark night, in the swamps, in places out OF
sight and as far as possible OUT b o ,anht
| tbat tEey mGsf vote for Democrats or they cainO
vote at all "Tho reluctant South is forced 10 thls
For no one believes that III South CaTOna TOT instance
where the whites are but One'thtd OI TIE popIldUon
amy fnir election can give anything hut large Repnb-
can majority But when by whippns6, 10y tht.trhlngs
by murders enough blacks nave been hlhdeftu from Vo
ing 10 make an apparent Democratic majority. then are
the svmpathirs OF IiOFatO Seymour excited III Demo
cratic behalf and he tnds at the safety OF the country
is mpeIfed II the Returning Board chhrrcd by law WIN
sucl duties or II any Othcr competent authority Ntil-
turps 10 induire IL this vote has been fair one Whhl
rights have any Republican voters, and especially an
blac6 voters tat any Democrat h bound 10 respect
Clearly none For otherwise " tue reluctant south WI
| be forced into rebellion" THOMAS =. IOhNLLL
| TOaEefB, n. T., Dec. z, 1876