Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-03-09

THE SOUTH.
The permanent pacifeation of the coun-
try upon such principles and by such meas
ures as viii secure complete protection of
all its citizens in the free enjoyment of all
their constitutional rights, is now the one
subject in our public affairs which all
thoughtful and patriotic citizens regard as
of supreme importance. Many of the cal
amitous effects of the tremendous revolu-
sion which passed over the Southern States
still remain. The immeasurable benefits
which will surely follow, sooner or later,
the hearty and generous. acceptance of the
legitimate results of that revolution have
not vet beer. realized. Difficult and en-
barrassing questions meet us at the thres-
hold Of this subject. The people of those
States are still impoverished, and the ines
timable blessing of wise, honest and
peaceful local self government is not fully
enjoyed. Whatever difference of opinion
may exist as to the causes of this condition
Of things the fact is clear that in the pro-
gress of events the time has come when
such government is an imperitive necessi-
ty, required by all the varied interests, pub
lie and private, of those States, but it must
not be forgotten that only local govern
ment which recognizes and maintains in
violate the rights of all, is a true self-gov-
ernment. With respect TO the two distinct
races whose peculiar RELATIONSHIP each other
have brought upon us the deplorable com
pLcatiOns and perpleXities which exist in
those States, it must be a government
which decides the interests of both races
carefully and equally. Ii must be a gov
ernment which submits loyalty and heartily
to the Constitution snd the laws, the laws
Of the nation and the laws of the States
themselves, accepting and obeying faith
fully the whole Constitution as it is. Rest
ing upon this sure and substantial founda-
ton, the sUperstructure of benefcent local
governments can be built up, and not
otherwise.
In furtherance of such obedience to. the
letter and the spirit of the Constitution
and all that its attainment implies, all So
called party interests lose their apparent
Importance, and party lines may well be
permitted to fall into insignifcance. The
question we have to consider for the imme-
diate welfare of those States of the Union
is the question of government or no gov
ernment, of social order amid all the peace
ful industries and the happiness that be-
long to it, or return to barbaFism. 1t
is question in which every citizen Of the
nation is deeply interested, and with re-
spect to which we ought not to be, in a
partisan sense, either Republicans or Dem
ocrats, but fellow-citizens and fellow-men,
to whom the interests of the common hu-
manity are dear. The sweeping revolution
of the entire labor system of large por-
tion of our country, and the advance of
four millions of people from a condition of
seryitude to that of citizenship upon an
equal footing with their former masters,
could not occur without presenting pro-
blems OF the gravest moment to be dealt
with by the emancipated race. by their for
mer masters and by the general govern
ment, the author Of the act of emancipa-
ton. That it was wise, Just and PrOyi-
dental act, fraught with good for all con-
cerned, is now generally conceded through
out the country. That a moral obligation
rests upon the national government to en-
ploy its constitutional power and influence
to establish the rights Of the people it has
emancipated, and to protect them in the
enjoyment of those rights when they are
infringed or assailed, is also generally ad-
mitted. II need be, the State government
should be supplemented by legitimate aid
from the national authority. The evils
which affiict the Southern States can only
be removed or remedied by the united and
harmonious efforts of both races, actuated
by motives Of mutual sympathy and re-
gard and while in duty bound and fully
determined to protect the rights of all by
every constitutional means at the disposal
Of my administration, am sincerely anx-
ious to use every legitimate influence in
favor of honest and efficient local govern
ments as the true resource of those States
for the promotion of cOntentment and the
nrOsnhritN Of thni- oikin,-,c l.. IL .EEo.t