Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1877-08-04
+ FEN c.lJSE> OF TIE riot ELE.

Gathered about them host of fanatics, WHO
ran Into extremes on the abolition question.
Controlled alone by the desire 10 abolish
scrupulous about the means employed TO
accomplish their ends, and in their blind zeal
they met the argument tina, slavery was
justified by both the Scriptures and the Con-
sti,uion OF the United States with the startling {
and dangerous announcement OF "hl2her
Law" founded alone on the authority OF the
consciences and prejudices of its advocates
and TO which a'onc they acknowledged ale
glance or would render obedience. Thus
bidding defiance TO the laws of God and man,
they boldly declared that they would not have
a slavery God nor support constitution that
protected such property. Acting upon this
principle, they not only protected from arrest
fugitive slaves who found their way into their
midst. in direct violation of the Constitution,
bu, actually sent emisaries through the South
to inciie the slaves &c Instruction.
This so alarmed the people OF the South
that they became suspicious Of nearly every |
Northern man who came among them; they |
formed vigilance committees, who watched
the movements of Northern men, and Il they |
saw them secretly talking with negroes, they
arrested them and ordered them to leave the
country, il some instances handling them
pretty roughly, as warning of what they
nigh, expect if they disobeyed the order.
They were thus led into lawless acts. in self
defense, by the lawlessness of abolition
fanatics, who in sowing the seeds Of lawless-
ness also sowed the seeds sectional hate.
These were the first fruits Of the seeds OF
lawlcssness sown by the abolitoni>ts, but by
no means the most bitter. This sectional dis
! trust and animosity deepenca and widened
until our country was plunged into terrible
civil war the result of which is known 10 all
the abolitionisis tumphed, but their pernicious
doctrine did not disappear with the accom-
plishment of their Object, as recent events
have proven The people who fought their
battles and gained the victory were not oe'
: ceived by their false assertion that tdey were
fighting in defense of law and crder-they
q knew that the object of the party was the
4 overthrow of the Constitution and the triumph
of lawessness. Such a lesson as was taught
u by the war is not easily forgotten, nor PERM
cous doctrines, when once thoroughly inn
bibcd, easily eradcated.
The war left society demoralized, and the
: people imbued with the idea that "Nlisht Is
, Right" and with very loose opinions OF honor
and integrity. Official corruption, peculation
. and venality; election frauds, which set aside
;, the will of the elector and placed men of
the most pronigate character in office; the
invasion of free states for political purposes;
the sul,sdizng of rich and powerful monopo-
n lies, through bribery, at the expense of the
I, people, which also made them the task-mas-
a. tiers of the working people these were all
= acts of lawlessness and the fruits of the war,
k, and hence, the fruits Of the "Higher Law"
l. heresy.
u The issue Of a legal tender for one species
=, of debt, and not others; the exemption OF the
very property that was absorbing the gold OF
ii the country from taxation-and this property
!" owned by the wealthies: people of the land
,s the raising Of the salaries Of prominent OFF,
r. cials beyond all reason, while tue country was
ne burthened with an immense oebt, and the
~ reduction of the wages Of subordinates &c
re starving rates, by the very men who instiled
p into the minds of the people the "Hghel
ell Law" doctrine, were all acts of oppression
ie and wrong, well calculated to arouse the
We principles they had implanted in the breasts
is of the people and produce dissatisfaction ant
ra anarchy.
3" But what has this do with the labor strike
70. A great deal. Following the example oil TIT
in. government officials, the officers of corpora
he, tons appropriated to their own use the lion
=. share of the profits of the corporations, Will
they allowed the working men only bar
ars support, and withheld this from them unit
IT, their families were reduced to abject wan
,o Is there any wonder that these men shout
,le refuse to be driven any further under thes
nth circumstances?
We would not be understood as justfyin
or condoning a spirit of communism, thu
ing denies the right of accommodating wealth
ing, legitimate means, or that would destroy prof.
'n', erty for the sake of revenge. although thel
,hs are extenuating circumstances in the preset
ice instance; for such spirit is intolerant unre
ex- sonable, wicked and dangerous. But v
nay would remind those who have for yea
sn controlled the destiny Of the country tn
aid the wrong originated with them, and henc
they are responsible therefor
ns We have enumerated a few Of the me
M prominent causes Of the Trouble, in bri