The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-01-26
Letter IRON Hen. Ben. Hill.

Ep1roRs DEMOCRAT; A few days ago I
addressed letter 10 the Hon. Benjamin II.
Hill, Of Georgia, requesting that distinguish
ed gentleman to give me his opinion of the
hirness or unfairness Of the late election in
that State, and Of other matters relevant to 1t.
II reply he sent me the subjoined, which l
saclose you for publication. 1t carries with
iC IL own comments. am aware that your
paper Is republican in its party fealty but
doubt not but what you are willing to give
each side hearing
Z. H. FINLAYsoy.
Amsterdsm, Jan. 9th, 1877.
y HousR or REPRESENTATIVES,,
WASHINGTON, Jan. Srd, 1877
. Dear sir Your letter of 30th ult. has
been received You ask, SIS II q fact that
there has been such unprecedented fraud
and intimidation practiced during the late
election In the State of Georgian You add
that you feel constrained to ask Of me all
snsver to this question, from IAN earnest
desire to learn the truth in reference to this
matter" and that "you of the North have
often to face this question" appreciate
The manifest patriotic motive which prompts
you to make this inquiry, and you shall
have an answer which shall be as truthful
as absolute sincerity can make it.
never witnessed fairer or ireer elec.
sion than the late election in Georgia. | do
not believe one iairer or freer was held in
iny State in the Union. All contrary state
ments are inventions made to deceive the
northern people. But you call my atten-
tion to most Significant fact, which from
your view, is thought to indicate the contra
y when you and:
"The large democratic vote throughout
the State seems to warrant the conclusion
with many that fraud and violence did exist
sud that, too, to great extent. As you
yourself are aware, in many districts in the
State, the opposition republican, vote could
bs counted on ones fingers" This is true,
and might have been still more strongly sta
ted, for, 1 think, in several entire counties
not single republican vote was cast. Were
there no negroes in these counties9 Oh yes,
and they all voted the democratic ticket.
How Is this? will tell you and If you un
dsntood the real facts, as do understand
them, you would admit that the wonder is
that any vote, especially any negro vote,
vas cast for the republican party in the en-.
tire State. ] am writing now, not as DEM
ocrat, nor as a southern man, but as an
American citizen who desires, above all
things, the perfect harmony and lasting
peace of our whole country, with all the
rights of all sections and colors and races
rnimpaired, and which happy result be-
lieve can be perfectly accomplished if mere
partisans can be made to cease the false
hoods by which they seek to keep the mass
- of the people deluded and divided for
nothing but personal and party advantage
Why do the negros in Georgia voluntarily
vote the democratic ticket This is the ques.
tion.
When the southern States were reconstruct
sA large number of our best white popu.
lstion were. by the reconstruction act, not
only placed under disabilities to hold office
but were even disfranchised, and not per.
.mitted to vote for members to the conven-
tions ordered to frame new Constitution.
for the respective States. This furnished
the opportunity for adventures and bad mer
to get control ( the State government, ant
they did get the control with the aid ant
under the protection of the military powe
Of the United States. The negroes wer,
m ade to believe that all this was done tt
secure them in their freedom, and that, i
the democratic party, composed so largely
Of their former masters, should come into
power, they (the negroes) would certainly
be retsped to slavery. In their ignorance
they naturally believed this, and voted, very
generally, the republican ticket. In thi'
way was formed what is known in the South
u "the union Of the negro and the carpet
hagger," the first being prompted by the
. natural and honorable desire to steal, under
the protection of the United States, what
ever else the old master had left to them by
the war and emancipation. This union had
control in Georgia for four years-from 1865
10 1871. What were the results? Crime
multiplied everywhere, and in every form
Convicted criminals were turned loose, by
executive pardons, upon society, until So
ciety itself was unsafe. Taxes were increas.
Cd, business alarmed, and all property de.
preciated in value. Riots, kuklux, and
bloodshsd prevailed--the desperate resort,
Of virtue, property, and intelligence for self
dsfcnse. The taxes collected for the educa
ton of the negro were stolen, and all class
q, black and white, except the thieves
grew poorer together, and neither life mol
liberty, nor property of any race was safe
All we had was being taken, and fraudulent
bonds to the amount of millions, were being
issued to steal in advance the earnings o
our children for generations TO come.
was born in the State and loved it, and i
Was sad thought had, that if no remed,
could be found should feel compelled t,
hunt some place where intelligence, ant
property, and virtue could have at leas
an equal chance in government with igno
rance, pauperism, and theft Most fortu
nstely, ia 1871, by means which fully
know, but which will not now detail, W,
succeeded in staying the hand of Fedora
power from interference with newly elect
ed democratic legislature. Unable to Sc
cure this interference, the republican gov
ernor, whose term had not expired, flee
from the State. when no man pursued. Thu
early in 1872 the democratic party came il
full possession of the State government
and have so continued in possession to thi
day. What are the results? Exactly the re
verse, in every respect, of the horrors abov
described. Everybody is contented; every
body il safe taxes are light; homes al
improving and hearts are glad. Crime
: punished innocence is protected, and labt