Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-24
The Race Question.

Disgusting the fact that the freedmen are in
imminent danger of losing, substantially,
all the dear-bought fruits of the late war.
The rebellion broke the chains of slavery,
but its spirit remained. The emancipation
act could not accompany the freedom which
it gave with the protection demanded by the
necessities of the case. The dominant class,
robbed of that which they regarded as prop
erty, sullenly abstained from all participa-
ton in governmental affairs, and compelled
the national administration to make use of
such agencies as il could to supervise the af-
fairs of the states lately in rebellion, and
especially to extend to the enfranchised race
that guardianship which Yves implied in the
act of emancipation. In the choice of these
agencies. the administration has unquestion-
ably, and necessarily, often been unfortunate.
The word carpet-bagger has come to be
a reproach and by-word, and doubtless in
many cases only with too much justice
Reckless and ambitious men have abused the
power intrusted to them, and have trampled
upon the sacred rights of whites and blacks
alike in their greedy scramble for Office and
gold. The frailties of our common humanity
have loaded the case with untold embarrass-
ments. The hostile attitude of the late
shareholders has necessitated the interposi-
ton of the general government; and then
this interposition has been regarded as an
unwarrantable and unconstitutional inter
terence with the domesuc analrs OF the
states concerned. And SO the breach seems
| to have been constantly widening and the
embarrassments multinlvinq.
m, .o..i lido, tbat tba North
having ""uei '"AoA '"o Pi''.'
ton, cannot lnnocently siilIk All uhe IesPon-
sibilities it involves, VIII not be denied.
Better TO have left the freedmen slaves, whom
the selfsbness of ownership would. as a rule,
ho,.o ,,r,.oo,od from, violorca and outrage
80, :. - It, o,,fuoroh;so
'""'' " i"'' =" '''''Ne wv"
ment oiesslng ana alact oeVoiiu all uaiiSer
OF reversal. by making MN cltizeh the
black man has been thrust into an arena as
perilous as was the Roman arena to the early
rhr;s.;o,a IIor;no, mazda tbo slave frae
.. -, tr--..-
"'"n III i"'ii9' ~ 10 '"' i'''''
10 see that ne Is Tree man III lacu iio"
| shall 1t be donef
| But our gloomy forebodings with regard
| IN this snbiect have been increased bv n re.
| $50. ,...a, :; .lo c,,.;,,,.eold poo,,Lj;,o,,
.,.--,,.-, ...,
| ''''' 40 o'' " > wa
emu lie says
"with the possibility and even probability of a
democratic administration for the next four and
perhaps, eight years there is much curiosity to
learn il possible what will be the policy of the
Southern leaders in regard to the colored race,
under such conditions have been at some pains
to obtain the views Of candid Southern men on
the subject, and find that if Mr. Tilden should
be our next President and the Southern states
are left to regulate their domestic institutions
as they choose. at first, nothing will be done BY
way of legislation OF course, from the day of
| the advent of democratic President into the
White House. the government of each and every
Southern state will fall into the hands of white
democrats In point of fact, in every one of these
states but two. such is the case now. A whole.
some fear of public opinion will at first prevent
any legislation aimed at the colored people, and
it is well understood that Mr.. Tilden will oppose
any action which will tend to stir up the preiu
dices of the Northern people. But when demo
cratic ascendancy in the national councils be
comes assured, it is the purpose of the Southern