Year: 1876

claimed that there was an intention not ouy 10 deieat
republican party in the South, but to destroy it by
social aud business ostcism and he insisted that the
republican party would prevent this but would
ssl on every being treated according to his
its Not until this is done will reconstruction be
accomplished The exclusion Of men from society and
from business because of their political opinions, he
said intimidation OF the character He stated
that many of the prominent leaders OF the Conederacy
during the desirous Of accepting the amend
ments and joining the republican party but that they
shrank back from the violent storm Of indignation
which met them, and insanced the Of Longstreet
as showing the effect OF continuing in the purpose.


The leagues which have been formed In the South
not 10 lease land 10 colored ana thus turn them
out Of their homes and TO refuse TO employ them be-
they voted the republican ticket, may not DC IN
violation of any law for which any legal punishment
be nticted but IL is wicked in principle, infamous
IN practice and strikes at the very foundation OF re-
pubcan government II destroys all freedom at cleo
uons, and form OF violence not inferior IN us
effects TO any other that may be employed IL pre-
the colored the alternative OF starvation
the support OF the democratic party, and is no less
cowardy than wicked,


And this leads me to another consideration and that
is. that the Intimidation TO which nave referred,
whether of social or business ostracsm or personal
violence, has operated almost equally upon the demo
cratic party. There is large part OF that party IN
every Southern State, l believe majority OF II,
who do not approve OF the social violence which
has been practised but they have in some way been
restrained from the assertion OF their opinions and
have been poweress TO correct these evils That there
is an element Of violence in the Southern states which


believe is in the minority, that has controlled them
since the II did before the war have doubt.
That majority of the people OF virginia Tennessee,
North Carolina Alabama Louisiana and perhaps other
states were opposed to secession AMI rebellion have
always understood; but the lawless, aggressive and
active portion OF Southern society were in favor OF
secession and by various instrumenalitles drove the
other part of the people into its support and that Gle
ment, which brought secession upon the South, be-
eve has controlled the politics of the democratic party
chiefly since the end OF the war.


LIES ABOUT NEGRO PLOTS


The Infamous lies about negro plots to murder the
white people have become exceedingly stale and dis
gusting. Last summer the columns of the Southern
Associated Press for days groaned with the stupid and
clumsy story that the negroes had conspred murder
the white men and the ugly white women Of Georgia
That this infamous lie intended a pretext for
slaughter there is but little doubt II apprehensons of
these uprsings existed they grew of the
vction Of intoerabe wrongs inflicted upon the coored
people, and another proof Of the truth OF that saying
Conscence doth make towards Of US all Every year
before the there stories of plots among the
slaves TO rise and murder their masters and lamies
which believe in every instance turned out TO be false
but were often made the pretext for the greatest cruel
ties There is class Of newspapers IN the North, not
proiessedy eemocrate but really so, that for several
Years have done everything in their power to backen
the character OF Southern republicans They have de-
MED, justified or excused every persecution and out
rage that have been heaped upon them. They have
jeered at their complaints and sought to with
rdicue and calumny every man who has dared to lift
his voice against these horrible atrocities


POLICY.


The white line policy adopted by the democratic
party in Mississippi and other southern states proceeds





svely in the hands OF the white people and that coll
ored people should be excluded from all participation
therein One excuse for this is that the coored people
had adopted q coored line by which they sought to
gain exclusive control of the government OF Mssis-
sppi and other Southern States This charge against
the coored is utterly ana hagrantly false So far
from having sought to establish color line and to
take TO themselves exclusively the OF Mis-
sssipp or other Southern States they have continually
dlscaimed it. and by their conduct proved the sincerity
OF their disclaimer. They have always been anxious
to act in concert with white men, and, although in Mis-





repuohcans acting Win them mas borne but
small proportion to their number, they
have given the whites constantly majority of the
Offices The fact that the coored people have not
Joined the democratic party and entered the ranks OF
their bitter enemies is most absurdly, oolishy
offered as proof that they have attempted to establish
color line in politics. Had the colored people joined
the ranks OF their impacable they would in
deed have proved themselves be the stupid and in
capable beings they have constantly been represented


VIOLENCE BEFORE REPUBLICAN RULE


But II IS said that the violence ana intimidation prac-
tsed in Mississippi and other States have been the
natural result OF republican msRovernment and the
corruption OF public officers in those States That
there have been msgovernment and corruption is not
TO be denied and that has been grossly exaggerated
for partisan purposes is equally undeniable but that
this corruption and misgovernment have been tho
origin and cause OF the personal violence and
social intimidation is utterly untrue. This
violence and intimidation began with the end of the
war; II preceded any attempt upon the part of Con-
gross to reconstruct the Southern States Its most fear
fu outrages some of the States took place before
republican State governments had been formed
while republican government yet experiment.
The Infamous Ku Klux organ ration began early
1866 and practiced its most fearful atrocities in South
Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama and
Louisiana during the years 1867 1865, 1862 1870 and
1871.


The Senator then continued at great length in re-
counting the horrors and atrocities perpetrated and
which have been generally published heretofore,
and in conclusion said


HIGHWAY PEAcR


Many well meaning people depore any reference to
the outrages committed in the south as nmical TO
coLciation and harmony between the sections They
exceedingly anxious that In this centennial year all
past differences shall be forgotten and the people,
North and South forgetting and orgiving and mindful
only Of great national future, shall meet and
brace as a nation Of brothers Ii is consummaton
devoutly to be wished; but must remind such well
meaning people that any formal reconciliation while
the dearest rights of millions are systematically vio-
lated and the greatest wrongs passed unnotced and
punished will be the rankest hypocrisy revolving alike
quack who puts plaster the mouth Of the wound
and says 1t healed. The healing process begin
at the bottom and be thorough 10 be permanent and
healthy.


which precedes the concession of equal rights and JUS
tce to men OF all coors and opinions In the Southern
States will be the veriest sham and deceive nobody
Such foul wrongs cannot be ignored and concealed
They will forever obtrude themselves upon
the world and cry aloud for redress IL
will be the cry of peace, peace" when there is
peace and should the republicans OF the North turn
deaf the complaints OF the republicans OF the
South and affect to believe that reconstruction has
taken place, and that all is well, they Will be justly
contemplate III the eyes OF MANKIND. Inc Union
men OF the South have been subjected to trials
OF which in the North have but faint idea
and have shown their iaitn and patriotism by ad-
herence their principles under circumstances where
the weak the venal and the unprncpled
have joined the enemy, and the republicans
OF the North dare not VIII not, now abandon them
Let say this class OF people and 10 the men Of
the South, there is but ono highway to reconciliation
and that is OPEN straight and free, and It's por
tails are inscribed these words-'Equa justice TO all
to all the equal protection Of the laws" and If the
Southern people will walk in that highway they VIII
arrive at the temple Of peace and ind unbroken rest


Before concluding Mr.. Morton yielded the floor and
the Senate at quarter past three O'Clock proceeded to
the consideration Of executive business and after
journed.


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.


Mr.. SPRINGER tdem.l Of Ill, introduced a constitu-
tional amendment providing that Congress shall not