River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-10-16

expense OF the south, nad given TO the
cotton planter, through tho competition
of home buyers, better price for cotton
in 1850 than we had in 1860, although
the crop was largely increased; and l
found that under the influence of pro-
lection Southern cities like Atlanta
and Knoxville grew great while cities
like Birmingham and Chattanooga
sprung up as il by magic under its fos-
tering touch. But the vital and allah
sorbing questions with Southern men,
since Whitney's cotton-gin made slave
labor valuable, have been questions
growing out of the negro problem.
The Democrats of the old school in
which the Confederate soldiers were
educated believed in a strict construc-
ton of the constitution and a strict en-
forcement of the laws, and especially
denied that there could be any law OF
nature or civilization higher than the
constitution. Under that instrument
before the war slavery was acknowl-
edged and protected. and when the
abolition party contended that there
was a law of nature, civilization and
Christianity higher than the constitu-
ton which demanded the abolition Of
slavery, the Democrats denounced them
as incendiaries who would destroy the
constitution, which was our bond of
union. So long as this remained an alb
stract question of morals and Christi
anity its agitation was confined princi-
pally to the old abolition party. But
there was always feeling of political
jealousy in the free against the slave
State because five slaves, which were
legally personal property, were counted
as three persons in fixing the ratio of
representation in Congress and the
Electoral College, while no property in
the free States was thus represented.
And when we acquired new territory,
and the question came up whether
slavery should be permitted in the new
territory and the property of the slave
holder be there represented, while in
the free States no property was repre-
scented, 1t became great political
question over which many violent po-
litical contests arose, until finally it
eliminated in war between the Con-
federate and the United States. When
the war was over the constitution was
amended and the slaves were not only
emancipated but enfranchised. Now
the attitude of the parties has been
changed, and now Democrats are the
advocates of ''higher-law-ism'. and are
claiming that there is a law of civiliza-
ton which demands the preservation of
white supremacy, and that this should
be maintained, even when it results in
a notification of the Fifteenth amend
ment to the constitution of the United
States.
The Republicans on this vital ques-
ton now stand where the Democrats
once stood in favor OF the constitution
and the enforcement of tho laws, and
this is the great reason why every Con-
federate who loved those old principles
and risked his life in their defense
should now be a Republican. Obedie nee
to law is sometimes repugnant to our
feelings, and is often most trying test
Of patriotism.
The enactment of the Fifteenth
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, at the time and under
the circumstances. was harsh political
blunder, and sympathized deeply with
my Democratic brethren when they
were oppressed by IL. But when they
were restored to power, through revo-
lutions tolerated by the Republican
party, and began to prosecute their
opponents, and to hold their places by
means and practices ruinous and de-
structive to the morals of our people,
and especially when the wealthy plant
ers for pecuniary gain continued to bring
carloads of negroes into the State to
further increase the dangers they pro-
fessed to fear, all my sympathy for them
ceased.
A distinguished Chief Justice OF the
Supreme Court of Mississippi, speaking
OF the reconstruction period, said:
when negro domination had by these moth
DDS been established, there ensucd a scene Of
inccmpct' nee, profiigacy Sas rillage, the like
Of which has never disgraced the annals OF an
English speaking people. II was wealth plum
dered by pauperism intelligence dominated by
ignorance. America ruled by Ethiopia. At
length when longer endurance became impos-
sible. the maddcned whites burst their bonds
burst them under the forms OF law and the
guisc OF the ballot-box, since Federal power
would not otherwise permit, but by means. in
some Instances certainly, which firm believer
in the efficacy Of the ballot-box would find diff
hcult TO deiend.-
After deploring this condition OF af-
fairs, he says: 1.-The men OF the South
must understand once for AL that the
negroes as negroes, and because their
skins are black, can never be disfran-
chised Their right to vote as a race is
as fixed and irrevocable as their free
donl, and the Fifteenth amendment to
Educational Constitution is no more like
ly TO be repealed than the Thirteenth.
They must understand, further, that
Governments can not live by the means
which revolutions Justify any more than
health can be main tanned by the strong
medicines sometimes necessary to pre-
serve life" These were the worsls OF
rue gentleman, pure patriot and an
upright Judge. And they are in full
keeping with the pledge which he and ]
signed whan, as members OF Forests
Cavalry" wo laid down our arms and
gave our paroles, upon which was In
dorsed: ''ro be observed by the United
States authorities as long as he observes
his parole and the laws in force where
be resides"
And / can not better conclude this
articie than by quotation from the
farewell address to bis troops of our
matchless cavalry leader, Lieutenant
General Il Forrest, the sentiments OF
which fully concurred in at the time,
and have since steadily maintained;
The terms upon which you have surrendered
are favorable and should be acceptable to all
They manifest q spirit Of msgnanimity and lib
e. ali;y on the part OF the Federal authorities
which should De met on our part py laitnIni
compliance with all the stipulsiions and conai-
tioes therein expressed. As your COMMANDER
I ssncerely hope that every officer and soldier
OF ay command will cheerfui'y "nNy the orders
gives. and carry out r. good faith all tne te.-,s
OF TIE cartel I have never on the field
seEt you where was unwilling 10 go myself
nor would n y advise you TO a course which
fell nys. 4 unwilling 10 pursue You have been
gcoS sol'Iers and 20. can be good citizens
obcy the laws preserve your honor, ana sne