Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-27

IN our last week 4 issue'
WASHINGTON, D. c., November 49, 1878.
Messrs Editors:-In our letter Of last week we
referred to the fear arising in the minds Of many
of the Republicans here, that the old Southern
issue was again appearing as the next prominent
one in the political future of the country. Events
during the past week have proven that our opin-
ions, then expressed, are held, not only by the
masses Of the Republican party, but also by the
President and his Cabinet.
THE SOLID SOUTH
has become the leading bugbear of all parties
since the election Of the 9TH. As to the position
taken by the administration in the matter, we are
enabled to give you an authoritative statement
which can be relied on as true. Two positions
have, within the past few days, been assigned to
the President by certain newspapers in this city
and New York. One that he has abandoned his
so-caed Southern policy the other that he
has brought about n reconciliation between his
administration and the stalwart wing Of the
Republican party, the elements Of which have
been, since the Inauguration Of the conciliation
policy, alienated from him. The first of these po-
sitons has been assigned him because he has
deemed it best to give orders to the Attorney
General, and through him to the district attorneys
in certain OF the Southern States to see that all
vioators of the law relating to the free OF the
elective franchise be promptly arrested and brought
to trial. The other position was assigned the
President from the fact that during the past ten
days he has received calls at the White House
from Zach. Chandler, Don Cameron, and one or
two others OF the " "stalwarts." As to the re-
ported change OF policy regarding the South,
har to in ath nod nf DEALING
with the Southern States is the same now as it
ever has been, based on the Constitution and the
laws The policy of the President has never been
what may be termed an "experiment." The
President considered, and still considers it mat
ter of duty to see that in administering the laws
OF the land the Constitutional rights of every cti-
zen in every portion of the country, equally and
alike should be fully respected and guarded. 1t
is pretty generally conceded by this time at least,
that the South, under bayonet rule, was not en-.
joying the free government vouchsafed 1t by he
Constitution. 1t was even so admitted by the
administration which inaugurated such rule
by General Grant himself. TO remove that rule
was duty which President Hayes found devolv-
ing upon him, and it was accordingly removed.
He has gone on with the determination of secur-
ing to every citizen the full and free exercise Of
all his rights and privileges. 1t has been his de-
sire not to use the military branch of the govern
ment except to quell insurrection and put down
riots. All violations of the law should be pun
ished by civil processes as far as possible.
Therefore when it was learned, prior to the re-
cent elections, that Republican votes in the
South, notably in South Carolina, Louisiana and
Alabama, would certainly be interfered with in
a., 81. .;..ht I'm 4
torney-General ordered the United States District
Attorneys for those states to that all volators
of the law in this respect be promptly arrested
aud brought to trial. And after the elections
notwithstanding the advances for compromise
from those arrested the Attorney-General was,
last Saturday, instructed to prosecute offenders
to the utmost limits Of the law Neither Of these
instructions can be regarded as any change Of
policy. They were but carrying out
THE PRESIDENTS DIFFERENTIATION
to see that the laws were enforced everywhere.
This is the first occasion which has arisen for
such an order since the President was inaug-
urated. The South has been enjoying a season
of quietude unprecedented since the war, and
although possibly temporary lull it has shown
to all unprejudced minds the wisdom of the Pres
lucut poICl HtT. tlcCtioHS
have again upset her people, and in such an emer-
gency the strong arm of the law is again needed,
and the President will see that it is rightly used.
The statement made that the President has re-
Gently said that he had tried the plan of concilia-
ton and found it a failure, is untrue. The very
newspaper which published what purported to be
an interview with President Hayes, in which he
is made to use this language now comes out with
denial Of its genuineness, and states that " the
administration is in no way responsible for any
publication that may be made regarding its fu-
ture policy, for the President, with circumspec-
ton which is satisfactory to himself, invariably
refuses to be interviewed etc lie has made
no order because of the complaint of the Repub-
lican party, neither has he withheld any at the
request of the democrats. Party measures and
partisan feeling he considers as entirely out OF
his line as President Of the United States.
As to any reconciliation between the admins
tration and prominent
REPUBLICAN LEADERS,
it may be stated that, in the first place, it would
seem to be necessary that the President should
come, at least partially to the way of thinking
held by the leaders of the party with which it is
claimed he is TO be reconced." The President
has never seen any reason why he should cease
to do his duty because some portion of his party
were dissatisfied with his methods. This dissat.
isfaction has been of the least possible copse
quence in administering his duties as an execu
| tive II is in nowise triumph over him that the
| South will not remain In state Of quiet. H'
will be found as ready to rule in the one case a,
| he has been able to do 1t in the other Political,
speaking, a solid South is much better as mean
of consolidating the Republican party than di
vided one, and, for future uses, If the President
Southern policy tends in this direction, it had bet
ter be left alone by Republican leaders. soliC
South s not only sure to weaken itself, but i
liable to destroy the democratic party in the North
and what more should the Republican party want
Nothing could be more disastrous than il the Pres
dent had the power to revive military rule in tn
South. Whether such policy would be the bes
or the worst for the South, is not the question
The doctrine OF one set of laws for one section
and another for the other, is not the one t
govern in this country, and whatever tempol
ary success it may bring, it is sure TO be col
demned in the end No more military rule /
this country. II the South cannot be brough
to its senses through other and proper ager
cies, then she is best let alone, Her defect
will cure themselves in good time, and none wi
suffer more than herself until they are.
1t is becoming more and more the opinion {
ookers-on here at the capital, that
THE GREENBAoK PARTy
received mortal wound on the 9th instant an
that, after January lst 1t will be dead, dead, dea
As Colonel Joyce expressed it in conversation
day or two since, by the time the Forty-sixi
Congress meets there won't be man who w
admit that he was ever elected on any such issue
We find many others who have no less sanguii
a view OF this question. With asuccessful retu
10 specie payments at the commencement OF Il
new year, and a corresponding prosperity up
u December, it is certainly difficult to see on VIII
ground the greenback issue could stand for N
ment, either in Congress or out OF 1t. There Al
to be sure, II number Of greenbackers who st
. talk like fanatics and act worse; among them t
Reverend DE La Matyr, OF Louisiana, who h
lately been in the city, and declares that
greenbackers must organize the next House a
- carry the country in 1880. There is another me
ber-elect from North Carolina, named Ketchu
who says he will not enter into caucus with u
political organization, but will remain gre'