The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-05-01
experiment. has proved signally disastrous in

experiment has proved signally disastrous in
The spectacle of thouands of half-naked,
empty handed, deSpair1ng men, women ana
par of the country to another. and preferring
TO risk starvation and death by the way rather
than remain where they naturally belong, is
one calculated TO move pitying Heaven, and to
awaken all that is symnathetic and generous
in the human heart. Their claims 1or lmme-
date charitable relief are equally just and i'm
perative, and it is more gratifying TO perceive
in all directions disposition TO minister 10 the
wants of these poor Outcasts. BY nothing that
they have done, on the score of ldlenesS, dlSSl-
patton ordisordery conduct, have they brought
this suffering and exposure upon themselves
On the contrary, they have been the only IN
dustrious, unOffending lava abiding and loyal
portion of the population in that section, with
but few exceptions, and yet their safety Is only
in flight!
capement from unendurable wrong and out
rage to be treated simply furni ishing an occa-
ward suffering fellow-creatures? If
they are deserving of the deepest commisera-
have been 'peefed, meted out and trodden
under foot?" If there is scope for tender pity
on the one hand, is there not also for intense
moral Indignation on the other? Nosuch stress
of circumstances should haYe been possible un-
del the AMERICAN GoVefhment; nor coulu 1t
have occurred if we had had such Govern
ment worthy of its name, its pretenSionS and Its
claims to universal allegiance. But so far as
the South is concerned it is practically nOn-ex-
iStent in the matter of securing life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness" to all who dwell
on its soil as natural and lawful right There
conspiracy and usurpation successfully bear
sway. In all the late rebel States there scarce
| ly exists a single legitimate State administra-
| lion; for no election has been permitted with
out being controlled more or less by fraud, IN
t1mldat1on and laWleSSneSS. The two senators
| from South Carolina at Washington, Hampton
and Butler, are occupying seats to which they
were not honestly elected, and their faces
should become crimson every time they enter
the Senate Chamber. If they had their deserts
| instead of presenting their brazen visages in
the Capitol, Hampton would be in the Peniten-
| tiary and 'Hamhurg Massacre Butler lying in
a grave of infamy, according as crimes are ad-
! Judged and punished in civilized community.
The political party now timidly claiming TO be
| Congress owes its supremacy solely to the sup
port of a 'soIid South" made such by terrorism,
asoIid South it is ruled as abectIy as was ever
a plantation slave under the lash of slave
driver. 1t is clear therefore, that the battle OF
liberty and equal rights is to be fought over
again, not in party sense in the ordinary use
of that term, bul by the uprising and consoli-
! whelming in numbers, determined in pu pose
invincible in action, and supreme in patriotism
based upon impartial justice and an all-embra
cling citizenship.
( While, therefore, grave, exciting and rela
lively important as the present exodus OF lew
thousands of colored refugees from Mississippi
aud Louisiana may be, it is onl y an incident
the hour demanding succor and aud IN various
forms until they have time 10 select their dwell
ling places. But what of the four miiilons o
colored people in the entire South? Their eX
ilement is a question not to be seriously enter
tained for a moment, either as q desirable OF
possible event. The American Government il
but mockery, and deserves TO be oVertnroWl
if they are to be left without protection, a.
sheep in the midst of wolves. If the Nation
having decreed their emancipation and invest
ed them under the Constitution with all thu
rights of citizenship, can neither devise no
find a way to vindicate their manhood
then its acts have been farcial, and the
local usurpation of contemplate body of ar
istocratic factionists is more than a match 90
the loyalty ard strength of the American pc o
pie; and it is they who are so effectually "bull
dozed" and ruled by the shotgun" policy IA
the coIored people themselves.
Let the edict go forth, trumpet-tongued tha
there shall be speedy end put to all thi
bloody misrue; that no disorganizatioI = South
ern theory of State rights shall det1antly "omt
nate the Federal Governm ment, to the nilVerlSn
of the Constitution; that the millions of col
ored citizens at the South, now under ban anC
virtually disfranchised, shall be put in th
safe enjoyment of their rights; shall freel!
vote and be fairly represented just where they
are located and let the rallying cry be hear'
from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast "Libert!
and equal rights for each, for all and forever
wherever the lot of man is cast within oul
broad domains" Trusting that the meeting a
Cooper Institute will be animated by these sen
timents, and eminently successful. L remain
yours, to sympathize with the oppressed,
WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON.