The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-07-09
Senator Vance Files a True Bill,

the SCUM W llC LhCsAUaANAh -
since the reconstruction rape has been
one Of violence, pharisaical assumption
of superior purity, aud i~nsolent and un-
constitutional interference with their
rights and Liberties. II Is a story, the
contemplation of which should bring the
blush OF shame TO the cheek OF all Just
and candid men. Consider 1t one mo-
ment. War was waged upon them 10 the
first instance, on the ground that they
were within the Union and could not get
out Of it, and were therefore bound 70
obey its laws When that war closed
those who had maintained this position
were triumphant, and Their doctrine was
vindicated by arms. La violation Of this
position and of common sense, for purely
partisan purposes, they proceeded by act
of Congress TO declare the seeding States
out of the Union, and not entitled to the
protection Of the Constitution and law
which they were yet bound to obey aud
they proceeded TO arrange terms by winch
they should be restored TO a Ulion which
they had never left All civil law and
civil officers among them were over
thrown. They were reduced to military
districts and the bayonet was given them
tor their government instead Of the Con
stitution Of their country. Having dis
tranchised all of their trusted leaders and
men who were acquainted sit the man
agement of affairs, and eutranchlsed with
out the shadow of any authority OF Amer
lean law their recent slaves, utterly un-
fitted in every way for the trust, they or
dered military elections TO be held Tor
delegates TO conventions to prepare con
stitutions for the government OF those
people. Four OF these States whose con-
~stitutiou we're thus framed by ignorant
negroes led by the yilest wretches OF whom
history makes mention, under the
auspices Of the bayonet, were a portion
of the original thirteen whose valor
achieved the independence OF this great
country, and whose wise patriotism es-
tablished its institutions. By thus ex-
Guiding the decency and intelligence of
the Southern people from all partIclpa-
ton in the formation of their own con
stitutions as well as from the first leglsla-
lures held hereunder, it was reasonably
hoped and expected that the spirit OF the
Southern people and their love of demo-
cratic liberty would be broken, and those
fair States would become mere outlying
provinces, obedient to the will of the Re
publican party
Truly it was a magnificent scheme
worthy of the despotic soul of Stratford,
or even of the genius OF Machiavelli.
But it failed, as did Strafford's Thor
ough." Its authors overshot the mark,
by Understanding as well the villainy
and corruption of their carpet-bag tools,
of the Anglo Saxon race-descendantS of
IL -.,. Nolr, H. Ac,,
ard Mecklenburg. Nobly did their man
hood stand the test, and after suffering a
few years of the corruption, plumber, and
outrageous misrule of the carpet bag re-
construction governments, and witnessing
scenes not known before in our history
on this continent, they rose and swept
them out of existence and the places
that too well knew them once now hap
PLY know them no more forever.
From that day to this, however, they
have had no rest from the prosecutions
of the disappointed Republican leaders
Their Representatives, most reputable
and generally able men, occupy their old
places in the halls of Congress, laboring
like all others for the public good and
the common glory their State govern
ments, completely republican in form,
have been ~reOrganized and thoroughly
equipped in all respects for the admins
tration of their domestic affairs on the
busiest principles. Their people, accom-
modating themselves with most wonder
full facility to the new order Of things,
have revived their industries, and with
new hope and far-reaching desires, have
inaugurated on the ruins of war a career
of prosperity and peace such as few PEG
pie in this world have ever exhibited
under circumstance so adverse. Recog-
nizing the fact that the 5000, 900 of
blacks within their midst were their fell
low-cltizenS and their very valuable CO.
laborers in the fields of production, they
wiped away every vestige of their slave
laws which Disseminated againt them,
and set themselves everywhere in good
faith to the task ofcultivating the kindly
relations with them which were deemed
so necessary to reciprocal prosperity. 1t
can be safely affirmed that they have
done everything to further these objects
except to manifest a desire or willingness
to submit to them the government of
their country. If any Northern State has
done more the minority would respectfully
ask that it be pointed out. Ii the people
of any Northern State are willing to COM
nit their destinies and those oftheir chill
dren to the keeping of the African race,
let that State be pointed out, and we will
answer any such possible ease in theory
by showing what has actually been done
in the District of Columbia. 1t is true
that occasional acts Of violence have been
committed by Incorporate men here and
there, but it is likewise true that the out
RACES which have provoked them have
been many and terrible. 1t is likewise
true that the policy toward the blacks of
the great mass of the Southern people
has been conciliatory and peaceful. When
one hundred years from now the Impair
tial historian shall pen the story ofSouth-
ern reconstruction and show how so many
millions of the proud people Off glorious
race were made to pass through the fires
of Moloch, amid so many things humilia-
ting to their pride and wounding to their
sensibilities, he will wonder at their dig
nifty, justice, and forbearance no less than
at the great length of time during which
the evil Vaccinations of politicians have
been able to prevent the restoration of
complete fraternity between he wise and
Christian people of North and South.
TO BE CONTINUED.
WESLEYAN FEMALE INSTITUTE.
Waive take pleasure in
II roo tfnr nttnrtIAr, 70 the - -, ! ]