Year: 1874

poseo 70 tfy the experiment. OF rosuHn W
Tammany tactics in the State government.


The Negro Question In the seyth'


Our Montgomery (Ala.) correspondent,
whose letter we elsewhere publish, does tho
HERALD no more than justice in credidng 1t
with friendly sentiments to the South and
jealous wish to promote the tranquility and
prosperity of that great section of our common
country. Whether the Southern whites owe
any gratitude to the negroes for their pesceful
demeanor during the civil war is minor
question of what we may call sentimental
politics it may be decided either way with
out impairing the strength of the HERAIDs
main position in the article our correspondent
criticisea We incline to sighting estimate
OF all sorts Of sentimental politics Our
correspondent comedies that our practical ad-
vice to Southern white men was 'in the main
excellent" We are pleased with Southern
indorsement Of the only part Of the article on
which we laid any stress, which was recon-
mendation to facilitate the acquisition OF
property, and especially landed property, by
colored citizens, and thus give them COM
mon interest with the great body OF South
ern taxpayers. If the most energetic and
thrifty portion of the negroes were to become
property holders not only might their votes be
relied on for the protection OF property
against exorbitant taxation, but their influence
would be considerable in influencing the
votes of their less thrifty colored neighbors.
Besides the natural weight which belongs to
character and intelligence the colored owners
Of property would hold an ascendancy over
the inferior negroes of their acquaintance by
the loans, credit or other assistance which the
poor crave of the prosperous, and which
embarrassed negroes would be most likely to
apply for to people of their own race. The
abundance of the recent cotton crops attests
the industry Of the blacks, and their frugality
is proved by the amount of money in the
freedmen s savings banks. As soon as there
is large body Of negro freeholders in the
South the political prospect will brighten.
Both sense Of interest as taxpayers and the
pride Of belonging to the property owning
class will array the well-to-do negroes on the
side of economy in the State governments.
As our Southern correspondent does not i'm
pugn this part Of our advice we are willing
he should hold any opinion he pleases re-
spectipg the conduct Of the negroes during
the civil war.


If be denies that they have any claim to
Southern gratitude he must at least admit
that their submissive industry during that
trying periodand since is proper subject of
congratulation. It has agreeably falsi6ed
volumes OF the most appalling Southern pre-
dictions President Buchanan was not in
deed, Southerner, but at the time of his last
annual message he was very much under
Southern influence. He said in that mes
sage:-" "Many nation throughout the South
retires at night in dread of what may befall
herself and her children before the morning. +"
The war followed six months atterward, and
there is no record of these apprehended dan
gers coming to any Southern matron, although
her natural protectors were drawn away to the
army and she was left to the mercy Of her
slaves. Mr.. Calhoun predicted that slavery
could not be subverted without drenching
the country in blood and extirpating one OF
the other of the races" and on another occa-
sion he said that to destroy slavery ''was to
involve whole region in slaughter, carnage
and desolation." Mr.. Clay was equally
emphatic He predicted, as the conse.
quence Of abolition, that ''a contest
would inevitably ensue between the
two races-civil war. carnage, pillage, con-
fagration, devastation and the ultimate exter-
mination or expulsion Of the blacks. Moth.
ing is more certain" This was the general
strain of Southern warnings on this subject;
but, unfortunate as the results of emancipation
have proved in some respects, they have fallen
infinitely short of these hideous pictures. The
Southern people have abundant reason to con.
gratulate themselves that the reality is so much
more favorable than those confident Southern
prophecies. If it be conceded that no graft.
tude is due to the negroes for keeping so quiet
it must at least be admitted that Southern
statesmen formed an unjust estimate of the
reckless atrocity Of their character. And as
those foreboding anxieties are proved by
events to have been exaggerated let us indulge
the hope that present fears will be found equally
chimerical If the federal government had lei
the negroes alone after their emancipation
there would have been no trouble war oi
races in the South would be the surest means
of perpetuGting Northern influence over the
freedmen. We therefore counsel patience,
| forbeannce and humanity fu
ANOTHER REVOLUTION has failed in st. Do
mingo, and the Republic is said to be tranquil
| CAUTION AGAINST A RUMoRED SwINDLE-
We have been informed, on apparently good
authority, that supposed agents of sheet
called The House Gdzette which nretAnds tc