Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-28
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AUG u - y A,
Monday Morning, May %, 1877.
Southern Outrages.

Southern Outrages.
Notwithstanding the statements IN dem
ocratic papers that all is peace ana that
Justice reigns in the South since the dem
ocrats obtained exclusive control OF that
section. it remains true that outrages con-
tinue and The perpetrators so unpublished.
The last outrage reported occurred IN
I.ouisiaua. James Laws of East Feliciana,
a colored republican, is the latest victim
of White League conscription. Having
presided at the only republican meeting
held In East Feliciana during the late cam.
paign, he became marked man and was
obliged in consequence to abandon his
business and absent himself from home
to escape the vengeance of the bulldozers.
Saturday week they found him at home
with his mother, and shot him instantly
dead in her presence. All accounts say
that he was a peaceable, conservative.
law-abidlng man. had held influential
positions in the parish and owned property
to the amount of $50. 600 or $4,000, but
being republican nigger" he was shot
to death. Governor Nichols promised
when he became Governor that White
League prescription and persecution
should cease in the State. What his
promise was worth let the murder of Laws
answer. All the disorders and outrages
that occurred in the State under republic
can administration were attributed TO the
hated rule of carpet-baggers, but with
Nichols for Governor and Home Rule"
prevailing outrages continue as before.
Will Governor Nichols have the murderer
punished ? We shall see.
In the case of the murder of the CHS
ohm family, nothing yet has been done by
the Governor of Mississippi to bring the
murderers to justice. They are at large,
and the civil authorities dare not or will
not lay hands upon them to punish them
for their crime. Governor Stone has been
treated to some very plain lectures from
northern papers as to his duty in the mat
ter, and told how his failure to take steps
against the assassns will operate against
the policy of Cancellation, but as yet he
has done nothing. Is he unable to en-
force the law because of public sentiment
against such a measured If so, wherein
is his administration better as respects the
safety of human life than was that of
Governor Ames? Wherein is Home Rule
better for the State than carpet-bag gov
eminent Where is the peace that was
to dawn upon the South when the man
agement of its local affairs was left en-
tirely to the democratic paryP
We trust that President Hayes will not
be deceived concerning these outrages.
aud that the administration will insist up
on the fulfillment of every pledge for
safety and protection to whites and blacks
made by the South as an inducement to
the President to adopt the policy pursued
towards that section of our country. Ii
the Governors of Louisiana and Mississ-
ippi have the power to enforce the laws
they are bound to do it and put an end to
political murders within their respective
States; and if they have not the power
let them say SO and invoke the arm of the
government to assist them as Ames and
Packard did. 1t is a difficult thing for
men who have risen to power by murder
and outrage to condemn and hang their
supporters for acts which they themselves
advocated and aided to perform until they
reached the positions TO which they as
PRED, and that is the predicament in
which the White League governors are
placed. If the administration now de-
clares boldly for the protection of life and
property in the South, the declaration
will be hailed with pleasure by the great
body of true republican.