Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-20

State whom It alone concerned; and with
out formally recognizing either OF the rival
claimants, he quietly announced his inten-
ton to withdraw the United States troops
from the capitol al Columbia to their bar
racks. This action, however, was not de-
cided upon until Hampton, who would
thus inevitably become the undisputed
governor Of the State, had empha'ically
promised the President to SO conduct the
government as TO secure TO the colored men
all the rights guaranteed them by the cou-
sliutional amendments, and protect them
in the free exercise of all their privileges as
citizens. In this promise Mr.. Hayes trust
ed, the troops were removed, Mr.. Cham
berlain quietly withdrew, a single Slate
government was established, and there the
matter rests for the present. II Hampton,
in his position as sole executive of the
State, is faithful 10 his promises regarding
the colored people, it is all that the country
will require of him or Of the President in
the matter but no disregard Of pledges on
this point will be tolerated.
In Louisiana the Presidents commission
has been steadily at work for nearly a fort
night, under the instructions which they
received before leaving Washington. What
the result of their labors will DO is not
yet apparent. Both Packard and Nichols,
the rival claimants to the governorship,
manifest an unyieldng disposition to stand
their ground without granting concessions
OF any kind, and this fact has seemed to
nearly preclude the possibility of sue
cessful issue OF the work of the commits
sion. At latest accounts, nevertheless,
hopes were still entertained that new leg
islature might be organized out of the I'M
contested members of the two rival legisla-
lures, which body, if so constituted, would
decide the question of the governorship,
the legal supreme court, etc. However this
may be, ii is believed that in any case the
troops will very soon be Withdrawn, and,
as in South Carolina, so in L ouisians, the
people will be left TO manage their own af-
fairs and decide all questions pertaining to
their State government.
That a step like this involves very grave
considerations, cannot be questioned, nor
can it be denied that to many people at the
North this policy seems like an unjust
abandonment of the colored people and the
white Republicans of the South to their fate.
But it must, on the other hand, be borne
in mind that there has been constantly
growing feeling in the Republican party of
dsapproval of the policy of upholding
State governments by national bayonets.
That plan has been faithfully tried for
twelve years, and its results have not COM
Io1 . to ka nd oC ,bo L.
1t has not broken down the color line; it
has not established reconciliation and good
will between the people of the North and
the South it has not prevented intimida-
ton of the negroes nor White League out
RACES and, with two exceptions, it has not
saved the Southern States from going over
to the Democrats. The condition of things
has apparently been worst where the bayo-
net rule has been most stringenty enforced;
and now the time has come when, in an
swer to the growing demand on the part Of
the people, an entirely new and different
plan of action is to be tried. Instead Of a
policy which the Southern people have con-
strued to indicate a spirit of hate and OPP
preston, we are to try the effect Of an ex-
preston OF confidence in the honesty of
purpose OF the intelligent citizenship Of the
South. We are to see if, left to themselves,
the Southern people will not rea lie and act
upon a conviction of tie benefits to be de-
rived from an acknowl edgment, both in
theory and practice, of the rights aud priv
ileges of all classes. We are 10 see if, all
exasperating interference in their affairs
being removed, the people of that section
will not see thai it is for their own best in
terest to deal with the negro in a spirit of
toleration and good rather than in one
OF persecution and oppression.
The ordeal is a trying one, but it is one,
nevertheless, which President Hayes was
elected to meet, and, as we have already
said, the spirit of moderation aud frmness
in which he has entered on his task augurs
well for the success of his efforts. II can
not be doubted that, if the work of true
and lasting cancellation and pacificatiou can
be accomplished by policy Of magnanim-
ity and non-interiereuce, President Hayes
is the man to carry it through. il must be
remembered that the new policy is, TO a
great extent, an experiment. 1t may work
well, and it may turn out i'll and no one
L
himself. For ourselves we have full con-
fidence to believe that, should the present
line Of action be iraught with disastrous
consequences to the class of people in the
South who are entitled TO our support and
protection, none would discover 1t sooner
than the President; aud we are likewise
sure that in such case he would be ready,
on the instant, to adopt and enforce such
vigorous measures as the exigencies of the
case should demand. In the course of
events the Presidents new Southern poll
cy had become inevitable, and, until it has
at least been fairly proved failure. we be-
lieve that it should receive the cordial and
undivided support of the Republicans of
the North.