New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-25
woVrrL.DHT 70 BEalEs

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discussion of federal politics. The part!
issues Of the next campaign constitute tn
points of discussion in both bodies
We suppose the effect of the debate II
Congress can not be better explained thar
by the Washington correspondent Of the
New Orleans Times who, speaking of MIR.
Blaine's speech on amnesty, says:
It is difficult to understand how such 9
| blunder could have been made.
And of Mr.. Hills reply:
Mr.. Hills speech was able, eloquent, and
| much of it unanswerahle. But another such
| and the Democrats would be undOne. II
will never do to awaken the passions and
sentiments of l864-65.
In this connection we take up the pow.
erful speech of Mr. Morton, in the Senate
of the United States. As it is probable
the public have not all read that important
document, we will give short summary
of some of it's more salient points. The
thesis of his speech is, "Has there been
reconstruction in the South?' and the
argument is adduced to prove that there
has not been. In this the following points
are made:
That Republicans were prosecuted be-
fore the war.
That white people are kept out of the
Republican party by social and business
prescription.
That the white people of the South are
intimidated by violent element among
them.
That the White League party has MUIR
dered negroes by the thousand, and in
timidated them from voting by refusing
them employment. This enumeration
concludes with the charge that by this
policy it is intended to establish q
solid South in the interest of the Demo-
cratic party" obtain control Of the
national government, ana reconstruct the
South on the white mans basis; to de-
stroy the Republican party by making it
for men of Republican prin-
ciples to enjoy and express their opinions
in peace and safety.
Before this summary shall be dismissed
with the usual contempt manifested with
those with whom We may not agree, it
may be well to consider who the speaker
is. he represents the third State in the
West and the fifth in the Union in point |
If numbers. He was one of the Repub-
lean Governors who sustained President |
Lincoln from the beginning to the end of
he war. That the confidence of his con-
tituents is unimpaired is proved by his
lection to the Senate, and that he contin- |
les in the same opinion by the fact that
10 has made the argument to which we
ave referred. 1t is no Republican secret
hat be is at present the very strongest
for the Presidency which the
arty can present, and that the Northern
republicans will adopt the issues of prin-
iple which he has announced in his
peech from which we have quoted.
If, then, the next campaign is to be
ought on issues which were deemed SET
ed by the capitulation and amnesty,
no is to blame for having reopened them?
is not reasonable to suppose that those
no prevailed in the war, accepted sur
.nder of all armed forces and places,
,ould desire to renew a combat where
ley had nothing more to conquer. Those
no had embodied the issues in contro-
.rsy in an amended consti tuition found
lis settlement accepted as part Of the
lpitulation, and thereupon granted an
nnesty SO general as to relieve the great
ass of those who were in arms against
e government. Certainly if those who
I'd given such evidences of wish to set
= past issues had still nurtured suspicion
vengeance, either motive would have
ctated the wisdom Of holding control Of
cir antagonists while they had it.
1t is unnecessary to canvass the correct
'ss of these deductions which Senator
orion has drawn from the proofs as pre-
nted to his mind. We may infer that
an earnest man he believes them suf-
lent; as prudent statesman he believes
e people, his constituents, are with him.
II will be difficult for Mr.. Hill to
'nvince the majority of the American
ople that the non-combatant politicians
the South are content to abide by the
of the constitution as settled
its accepted amendments. Still more
&cult will it be for Senator Lamar to
tablish the good order Of the States for
ION he assumes to speak, when the mail
d telegraph report daily evidences of {
olence to the blacks, with intolerance
d prescription toward the whites who
Sd restored sectional peace. Il
There are many evidences that the doc
mes quoted by Mr.. Morton from little {
per in Mississippi is the intent of the !
party. 1t is that sin the end
political unity will be enforced, and then {
e political rights which had to be con- s
olled because dangerous will be de-
:oyed. That such is the programme of
e Southern Democracy is believed by f
e Republican party at the North and {
est. a
Is it, then, wise in the South to have I
zen excuse for this awakened power? The q
nsequences may be an enhanced sense 6
sectionalism in the more powerful Sec Z
N. We know very well the usual pro- a