The Ouachita telegraph., 1880-08-06
GENERAL uANCoCK's LETTER.


brief and distinct. 1t says all that was
expected of him, and says no more.
| He accepts the nomination and en-
dorses the principles set forth by the
Democratic nominating Convention.
At the outset he makes q declaration
which meets the enemy squarely IN
front and Geprives him of the last hon
est argument against the people of the
South. This declaration is that he ac-
cepts the last three amendments OF the
Federal Constitution as decisive, final,
conclusive, inviolablc. The word he
uses is uinviolabIc.' 1t is word
which meets the case in every phase
and form. lie regards those amend
ncnte as parts of the Constitution and
not as nullitics. Therefore, he will, as
| President, meet with his veto any effort
to regard them as not II legal part of
Our organic law. This Is no new cnun-
citation on the part Of II recognized
| Democratic leader. 1t has been as
serted and reasscrtcd in State and
national platforms OF the party since
the days OF 1872. 1t now comes to the
country, however, not from politician
who might be regarded as holding the
promise To the ear while ready 10 break
il to the hope, bui from a Federal Gen
cral who knows no cnuivocation ami
who is rs honest as his sword is bright.
Coming from Hancock the people will
listen.
We say to them and To him that tho
people of the South endorse lis dcclar-
alton without hesitation or reservation.
| We have no war to make upon those
amendments. . The NIIIth Amend
mcnt abolisling slavery has aired y been
ratified by all the Suthcrn States. No
one but an idiot would expect to re-
verse that ratification. Tho present
generation of Southern men believe
that we arc better Off with out slavery,
and if the question were an open one
would not vote to restore it. The
NINth Amendment ceased to be hurt
full or even offensive after the adoption
of the XVIII, with the exception of
that part which disfranchiscI our lead
crs. So far AS the disfranchIsement I
clause is concerned it is now practically y
of no moment. The XVIII Amend
mcnt giving suffrage to the negro is
now embodied in all Of the Southern
State Constitutions. Nobody proposes
or expects to reverse the result Of Impair
tial suffrage.
General Hancock may rely upon the
South to sustain him in offering every
opposition to the reopcning of any OF
the issues growing out of the relation
of the South to the colorcd people. 1t
is notable fact which we desire the
people Of the North to know, that here
in Alabama, where Yancey lived and
died, and where Davis was inaugural
ted, the contest in the State election
which terminates tomorrow is made
by tho Democratic party against Il
newly -orgcniZcd party, composed for
tho most part of negroes and ltcpub-
licans, which advocates il financial
theory ut war with and virtually an.
nuiIing that portion of the NlEth
Amendment that declares the sacred
ness OF the public debt.
General Hancock Will fad the people
Of the South not only dcfc,uling tho
amendments which did not meet oul
approval at the outset, but defending
every other portion of the Fedora
| Constitution. When he sounds hi
| trumpet in defence of the Union an,
the Constitution, the people OF thi
section will not be the last to rally t.
! his standard.