Year: 1874




1t is evident that public opinion halt
just.a this tlmO In regard to the Southern
situation The feeling In favor Of "le,
up" policy was very strong in the fall
elections and had large agency in the
result, There was a belt that the Re
publican party had for somu reason failed
to solve the Southern problem, and
that 1t was best 10 confde further expert
ments to the old ally Of the South, the
Democratic party. And so, for this and
other reasons, the Democracy were
whirled into power by immense msjori.
ties, The flood tide was so great that the
Louisville COurier-Journal, an Independ.
ent Democratic paper, declared that 1t
boded i'll to the party in the Presidential
campaign two years hence. 1t called upon
the South not to mistake the feeling at the
North but 10 remember that the change
was simply on experiment, and liable to
be reversed in case the people should dis
cover the embers of the rebellion burn.
ing again. The recent troubles that
have occurred at the South, taken
in connection with those that were
attributed 10 the White Leagues be-
fore the election, have aroused sus.
picions that beneath the surface Ia that
section there Is deep seated feeling Of
violence that finds congenisl expression
in such butcherles as occurred at Vicks-
burg, 1t is to be hoped that the two
Congressional committees that arc now
10 the South investigating the Louisiana
and Mississippi troubles will elicit such
reliable information as will enable all
persons who desire to do justice 10 the
South land large majority OF the people
have no other wish or interest) TO come
to an intelligent conclusion as to what is
bestto be done. At Washington the South.
ern nsituationis considered grave. There is
evidence that both parties in Congress
look upon it with concern, Before the
two committees left for Vicksburg and
New Orleans the President sent to the
members composing them a personal
request TO call at the White House. Thls
they did separately, and had an earnest in.
terview with the President. He told
them of his anxiety TO see the Southern
people paciaed, and to that end his desire
TO les!n theexact truth about the situation
there, and just how far either side had
been to blame for the disastrous occur
rences OF the past year. Many Of the
members Of Congress Including the Vicks.
burg committee, are OF opinion that
1t Is useless to expect Congress 10
keep the army patrollng the South,
and unless the disorder ceases 1t |
will! be best to remand two or three of the |
most discontGnted States to territorial
form OF government. The Presidents idea
is to put Gen. TERRY In command of the
department Of the South, leaving General
EMORY in command OF Louisiana, and to
exercise closer watChiulness over tho
White Leaguers than has hitherto been
done. 1t is apparent to him that the
whites in Mississippi, Louisiana and
Georgia, are too well organized and
armed to be either peaceable or Just. AS
the reports OF the Vicksburg and New
Orleans committees will undoubtedly |
have strong influence in determining
the future policy OF the government to-
ward the South, those reports will be
awaited with especial interest.


The Cincinnati Gazette Of yesterday in
reviewing the siluation at the South re-
marks very truly that "the tone Of the
New Orleans press is that OF determine.
lion, menace, confidence IN their mill.
tsry preparation, and OF caution only as
to the military interference OF the United
States. And this describes the organizl.
tion and disposition of the whites in
large part ot the South. The White
League organization is far more extensive
than any Of the secret military organl2l.
tions that have preceded 1t. 1t has
better defined purpose, and higher de-
termination. From or information of
the Southern situation, we are convinced
that the military preparation IN the South
is far more extensive and determined than
that which preceded secession, and that
thas purpose lar beyond the setting up
OF local white rule"