Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-06-05

Union was dissolved by act of Con-
gress and we were formally legis-
lated outside in order that you
might bring US into the Union
again in such way as to guaran-
tee US republican form of gov
eminent, that is, that we should
vote the Republican ticket; and
you cited article 4, section 4, of the
constitution, as your authority to
do this. You deposed our State
governments and elected from of.
fee every official from Governor to
township constab BILE, and remitted
US to state of chaos in which the
only light OF human authority for
the regulation of hnman affairs and
the control of human passions was
that which cleaned from the pol
ished point of the soldiers bayo-
net. Under this simple and easily
comprehended system Of jurispru-
dence so corsonant to the great
assertion CT the great declaration,
that governments derive their just
powers from the consent cf the
governed" you began and COM
pleted the task of guaranteeing to
US Republican form of govern
mens. You disfranchised at least
ten per cent. of our citizens, en-
bracing the wisest, best and most
experienced. You enfranchised our
slaves, the lowest and most ignor-
ant; and you placed over them as
leaders class OF men who have
attained to the highest positions of
infamy known to modern ages.
In order to preserve the SEM
blance of consent, conventions
were called to form new constitu.
tions, the delegates 10 which were
chosen by this new and upheard- of
constituency. The military counted
the votes, often at the headquarters
in distant States, the general 10
command determining the election
and qualifications of the delegates.
Many of these delegates were ne
groes, on whom the right to vote
and hold office had not yet been
bestowed. They framed constitu-
tious in which they gave them
selves this right, and it was sub
mitted for ratification to the same
constituency who chose the dele
gates, and none other-that is to
say, they propounded the question
whether they should vote and hold
office to themselves, and decided
this question by their own votes,
while white men were not permit.
ted to vote Perhaps the annals Of
the race from which we spring,
with all its various branches spread
throughout the world, cannot fur
nish such parody upon The prin :
ciples of free government based
upon the consent of the governed.
These constitutions were declar-
ed adopted by the general in COM
mand. Perhaps they wee adopted.
And at the same election, SO
called, were also chosen State off
GERS for long term of years, and
chosen by the same constituency.
The new governments went to
work, and in the short space of
four years they plundered those
eleven Southern States to the ex.
tent of $262,000 600; that is to
say, they took ali that we had thai
was amenabIe to larceny, and they
would have taken more doubtless,
but for the same reason that the
weather could not get colder in
Minnesota, as described by re-
turned emigraEt from that State,
"because the thermometer was too
short" Laughter. And now
recalling these facts and a hundred
more which | cannot now name,
can any candid man wonder thai
we became solid? Can he wonder
that old Wings and Democrats
Union men aud secessionists,
should unite in a desperate effort
to throw off the dominion of 6
party which had inflicted these
things upon them !? And your mil
itary interference, your abuse, ano
your denunciation continue unto
| this day.
} Can you wonder that your fol
, lowing in that country has dwin-
{, died into insignificance? Th'
negro alone is your friend there
: and very few whites, and hi
Y eyes, bliuded as they have been
i, are steadily opening to the grea
! truth which you ought to hav'
! taught him, that his prospe-it,
J and welfare are inseparably con
a nected with that of bis white neigh
bors. One by one the Northern
}, adventurers who led them hav
It packed their carpet-bags and 81
y lently stolen back to the slums c
r Northern society, whence the
;. originated, and the lonely nativ
b Republican makes his solitary lai
S in some custom house or postoffic
Q or revenue headquarters. Th
II broad, free, bright world ontsid
o of these retreats 10 all the Sout
II is Democratic, thanks to you, th
IS Republican party of the North.