The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-11-27
The Danger of a Solid South.

fact, which it is important that every true
friend of the South should examine and pom
der. We refer to the census of 1850 and its
results, as bearing upon a solid Democratic
South. 1t is almost certain that every
Northern and Western State, except per-
haps, New Hampshire, will show an in
creased population, and consequently an
increased representation in the popular
branch Of Congress, numbering from fifty
to seventy members. 1t is almost equally
certain that, with the exception of Texas,
not a single Southern State will be enti-
tied to a. larger representation than it now
has. 1t is even probable the census returns
will show that the population has decreased
in the cotton States, especially, by reason
of the negro exodus, and that the present
representation will be correspondlngly
decreased. Not only this, but the practical
Acknowledgement in the Southern States of
the colored people by illegal and uncon-
stitutiorlal methods, will necessarily oper-
ate decrease in the representation. 1t
should be the duty OF Congress, in making
the app ortionment, to examine the delin-
quent lists of Virginia and Georgia, espec-
tally, here suffrage has been inhibited by
uncons titutional restrictions, and regulate
the rer ,resentation so as to exclude from the
calculs ttion the DISTINGUISHED persons. Ii by
legisla tive devices the basis of representa-
ton has been contracted-the popular voice
is NOT known in the selection OF represen-
tatiu,s-then to that degree will it become
necessary to diminish representation. The
presentation, the political power, cannot
be rightfully claimed, while the rights up
on which it is predicated are denied, either
by statutory or fundamental devices.
Not only this, but within the next two
years, the Senate will be enlarged by the
admission of two and probably three States,
created out Of the Territory Of the North
west, and rejecting Northern sentiment.
The political power of the North will thus
be gradually and surely augmented, while
that of the South will as surely remain at
what it is, and probably, from the causes
we have named, be diminished. Ii sec
tiOnai strife is to be continued-a political
unit growing out of party action on the
color line is to dominate in the South, then
we may just as certainly calculate upon
political unit in the North, demanding the
str let observan ce of every word and line,
in spirit and letter. of the laws and Con-
st tuition of the country, and the enjoyment
Of every right guaranteed, without fear or
m olestation.
1t is best to deal with these important
facts plainly, and face the results which
they are certain to work out. Ii the peo-
,ple of the South propose to submit them
selves to the control and direction OF the
Bourbon politicians and sectional agitators
i'm the future, as they have in the past, let
them at the same time, consider the con-
sequences of an antagonizing sentiment
dominating in all the departments OF gov
eminent. A solid Democratic South means
i. solid Republican North. 1t means. too,
that the accepted results of the war shall
represent something more than promise
of the lip to be broken to the hope''-that
the rights and immunities stipulated for in
the laws and Constitution, must and shall
be respected, and the cowirdly and sneak
Ing legislative devices to circumvent them,
that solid Democratic South may be Sc
cured, shall be blotted from the records.
If there is any true craftsmanship left in
the South, it cannot but discern the danger
of longer perpetuating political organiza-
ton upon the color line and sectional and
race prejudices. And if it has any courage
left, it will address itself to disintegrating
a party thus fed and nourished, that tout
of this nettle danger" may be ''plucked
the flower safety