Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-12-25

struction may be upheld by the courts, ruling on
the letter of the law, (which killeth," but the
spirit of Justice cries aloud against the evasve
and atrocious condition that deals out oppression
to the innocent and shields the guilty from the
legitimate consequences Of wlful transgression.
The colored citizen ia thus most unhappily stu
ated his right OF suffrage is but n hollow mock
ery it holds to his ear the word Of promise, but
breaks it always to his hope. and he ends only in
being made the unwilling instrument of increas-
ing the political strength Of that party from
which he received ever-tightening fetters when
he was n slave and contemptuous refusal Of civil
rights since he was made free. lie resembles in
deed those unhappy captives in the Fast who,
deprived of their birthrght, are compelled to
yield their strength to the upbuiding OF the mon
arch from whose tyrannes they have most to fear,
and to fight against the power from which alone
deiverance might be expected. The franchise
intended for the shield and defense of the negro
has been turned against him and against his
friends, and has vastly increased the power of
those from he has nothing to hope and everything
to dread
The political power thusappropriated by South
ern democrats by reason Of the negro population
amounts to thrty-ive representatives in Con
gress 1t Is massed almost solidly and offsets
the great state of New York; or PENNSYLVANIA and
New Jersey together or the whole Of New Eng
land; or Ohio and Indiana united; or the com
bined strength Of Illinois, Minnesota, Kansas,
California, Nevada, Colorado and Oregon. The
seizure of this power IL wanton usurpation; it is
fragrant outrage; It IL violent perversion of the
whole theory Of Republican government 1t in
ures solely to the present advantage and yet,
believe, to the permanent dishonor of the demo-
cratic party. 1t is by reason Of this trampling
down OF human rights, this ruthless seizure of
unlawful power that the democratic party holds
the popular branch of Congress to-day and will
in less than ninety days have control Of this body
also, thus grasping the entire legislative depart
ment of the government through the unlawful
capture of the Southern states If'the prescribed
vote of the South were cast as its lawful owners
desire, the democratic party could not gain power.
Nay, il it were not counted on the other side
against the instincts and the interests against the
principles and the prejudices of its lawful own
ers, democratic success would be hopeless. 1t il
not enough, then, for modern democratic tactics
that the negro vote shall be senced; the demand
goes further and insists that it shall be counted
on their side, that all the representatives in Con-
gress and all the presidential electors apportoned
by reason of the negro vote shall be so cast and
80 governed as to insure democratic success-re-
gardless of justice, in defiance Of law.
And this injustice is wholly unprovoked.
doubt II it be in the power of the most searching
investigation to show that in any Southern state
during the period of Republican control any legal
voter was ever debarred from the ireest exercise
of his suffrage. Even the revenges which would
have leaped into life with many who despised the
negro were buried out of sight with magnanim
ity which the superior race " fail to follow and
seem reluctant to recognize. | know it is said in
retort OF such charges against the Southern cleo
tions as am now reviewing that unfairness Of
equal gravity prevails in Northern elections
hear it in many quarters and read it in the papers
that in the late exciting election in Massachusetts
intimidation and bulldozing, il not rough and
rancorous as in the South, were yet wide
spread and effective
have read and yet refuse to believe that the
distinguished gentleman who made an energetic
but unsuccessful canvass for the governorship of
that state, has ndorsed and approved these
charges, and have accordingly made my resolu-
tion broad enough to include their thorough in
vestigation. am not demanding fair elections
in the South without demanding fair elections in
the North also But venturing to speak for the
New England States, of whose laws and customs
know something dare assert that in the late elcc-
ton in Massachusetts,, or any Of her neighborng
commonwealth, it Will be impossible to find even
one case where a voter was driven from the polls
where a voter did not have the fullest farest
freest opportunity to cast the ballot of his choice
and have it honestly and faithfully counted in
the returns. Suffrage on this continent was first
made universal in New England and in the ad-
ministration of their affairs her people have found
no other appeal necessary than that which is ad-
dressed to their honesty Of conviction and to
their intelligent self-interest. II there be any
thing different to disclose, pray you show it TO
us that we may amend our ways.
But whenever a feeble protest is made against
such injustice as have described in the South,
the response we get comes to us in the form Of
taunt, "What are you going to do about it?"
and " How do you propose to help yourseves?"
This is the stereotyped answer of defiance which
ntrenched wrong always gives to inquirng JUS
tice and those who Imagine it to be conclusive
do not know the temper of the American people.
Gated outrage upon the right OF representation
lately triumphant in the South there will be ar
rayed many phases OF public opinion in the North
not often hitherto in harmony. Men who have
cared little, and affected to care less, for the
rights or the wrongs of the negro suddenly find
that vast monetary and commercial interests,
great questions OF revenue, adjustments of tariff
vast investments in manufactures, in railways,
and in mines are under the control of demo
cratic Congress whose majority was obtained by
deprving the negro OF his rights under a common
constitution and common laws. Men who have
expressed disgust with the waving of the bloody
shirt, and have been offended with talk abou
negro equality, beginning to perceive that th'
pending question of to-day relates more press
ingly to the equality of the white men under tn,
| government and that however careless they may
he about the rights or the wrongs of the negro
they are very jealous and tenacious about th
rights of their own race and the dignity of thei
own firesides and their own kindred
know something OF public opinion in tn
North. know great deal about the views
wishes and purposes of the Republican party O
the nation Within that entire great organiza
tion there is not one man, whose opinion is er
titled to be quoted, that does not desire peace an
harmony and friendship and patriotic and fri
ternal union between the North and the Soutl
This wish is spontaneous, instructive, universi
throughout the Northern states; and yet anon
men of character and sense there is surely l
need of attempting to deceive ourselves as to IL
precise truth. First pure, then peaceable. Gu'
! will not remove n grievance, and no disguise
state rights will close the eyes of our people