Year: 1878

sixth Congress will have no NOR


right to ignore him and to reeogniz


his defeated contestant, Mr.. Tilden


than Mr.. Hayes would have to send


file of soldiers to the House of Repre-


sentatives to unseat a Democrat whom


he might consider to have beer


wrongfully seated or fraudulent.


elected. The leaders in this desper


ate attempt to Mexicanize ourinstitu


tions, rely confidently upon a "soli'


South" to furnish the bulk of th


Democratic majority I'm the mex


House of Representatives the Senat
| being already secured. Remember


ing the encouragement which North


eTn Democrats in 1860 and 1861 eX
tended 80 the Southern States TO SO


cede, and the manner in which thei


promises of aid and comfort were full
filed, can the Southern people affor(


to join this revolutionary mOvemen


with the certainty that when the in


evitable hour of peril comes. they vii


again be left unassisted and alone Il
meet the storm from the north once


more united by this attempt to revive


an Issue whose settlement was


forced by public opinion upon al


unwilling Congress. In the dark


days of February, 1871, when


civil war over the disputed
election was imminent, and pa


triots trembled for the safety of repub'


lican institutions, the Southern mem


bers of Congress averted the danger
by compelling the completion of the
electoral count under the law which
both parties in Congress had enacted


But now representatives. from
the Southern States, with very few
exceptions, have Joined movement
to subvert the results of their former
patriotic action and to remand the
country to that anarchy from which
less than two years ago it was saved
by their efforts. Grant that in per
mitting the autonomy of all States
and in appointing citizens to office in
the South instead of strangers Presi'
dent Hayes has but discharged his
constitutional duty, does that excuse
Southeren represen tatives for attempt
In 70 i'm laf 70 hi al, fhny
established. or will 1t justify them in
bringing the country again into dan
ger of civil war, in an effort TO unseat
him and inauguTate Mr.. Tiiden? The
South must now face the most mo-
mentous crisis in its history since 1861.
To indorse the recent conduct Of their
representatives. Is to admit the truth
of the charges that the people of the
South care nothing for the welfare of
the Union, desire the downfall of the
republic, and would rejoice to see it
again involved in civil war. If their
representatives have not reflected
their sentiments, as believe to be the
case, then the people OF the Southern
States should take care that in the
Forty-sixth Congress they are repre-
sented by men who will defeat the dis
turbers of the public peace, and pre-
vent the MeXicanizatiOn of our insti-
tutions. To do this they may be COM
PEELED to act independents of the Dem
ocratic party. Recent events have
demonstrated the inability of the
Democratic members of Congress to
resist mandates of caucuses and the
terrOrs of the party lash, the one
and the other inspired by
men who seem willing to endanger
the welfare of the country and stabil-
ity of republican institutions for the
sake of revenge on political opponents
and the hope of dividing the "spoils
Of victory" If the Democratic repre-
Of the South could not resist
a caucus command to pass the Potter
unamended and without de-
bate, how will. they be able in the
Forty-sixth Congress to resista SINH
ar command to ignore Mr.. Hayes as
and to recognize Mr.. Til
len? 1. is, therefore, the duty of the
people to afford crowning
evidence of their renewed devotion to
he Union In which they now enjoy
,very right of citizenship, and are
to no restrictions not laid
lpon every citizen by sending repre-
entstlves TO the Forty-siXth Congress,
pledged to resist at all hazards the
evolutionary schemes of mischief
who seem to have gained con-
rol of the House of Representa-
Ives of the Forty-fifsh Congress.
10 this end the people in every dis
riet should meet, publicly organize,
ND resolve to support no person for
congress who has given aid to this
movement, and who will not pledge |
himself to sustain the title of Presi-
lent Hayes during the term for which
le was elected against all attempts at
IS overthrow. Only In this way can


grave danger to the republic be
verted, and convincing proof be Civ
n that the confidence was not mis-


laced which President Hayes mani
ssted In the South, when be with


rev the troops from the State Hous-


OF South Carolina and Louisiana.


have spoken plainly and earnestly,
'r L feel that should be unworthy
represent the South in the admin


tration were to remain silent now.