Year: 1872

we announced that we would demand of the
next administration. whoever might be at it's
head, return to constitutional government in
the Southern States and the restoration to the
Southern people of all the rights enjoyed by
their fellow citizens in New York, Massachu-
setts or Illinois. We intend to redeem this
pledge, and notwithstanding the apprehen-
sions expressed by some republican journals
that the HERALD desires to excite o conflict
between Congress and the Executive we shall
continue to urge upon the President the
expediency and justice of . reversal OF that
policy which, after four years trial. has lett
the South in state of anarchy. at the mercy
of the worst class Of political Adventures and
stripped of all semblance Of self-government
General Grant has enough sagacity to know
that the favorable verdict of November was
rendered on his own personal merits, and not
on the strength or popularity Of tho republican
policy. There is sufficient evidence to show
that the reconstruction policy Of Congress is
distasteful to the people. During the canvass
the republican organs did not attempt to JUS
tify the Enforcement act, but claimed that the
President was free from responsibility for its
passage. The plea was set up that its provis-
ions would never be enforced except in ex-
treme cases, and the complaints of the oppres-
sion of the Southern whites were met either by
ridicule or bold denial President Grant will,
therefore, understand that in claiming tardy
Justice for the Southern States at his hands we
ask of him nothing in contravention OF the
popular verdict in the recent election. We claim
that the confidence of the people in his own
generous impulses as indicated in his parole
of General Lee and his army, and in his
famous report on the condition Of the South
during President Johnson's administration,
induced the belief that in his second term OF
Office General Grant would exert himself to
restore the ex-rebel States to all their consti-
tutional rights and privileges and to undo the
mischief done by the carpet-baggers and their
friends in the republican Congress. We insist
that this belief materially controlled the result


of the Presidential contest.


In the face of the recent events in Louisiana
and Alabama no one will deny the evils of the
present political condition of the South and
the necessity Of speedy reform. In one Of
these States, through what President Grant
calls miserable scramble for Office, the
city of New Orleans has been brought to the
verge Of civil war. Riot and bloodshed have
only been averted by surrender of all the
rights Of the State. If Judge Durell did not
strain the law and exceed his powers in hand
ing over the Executive Office and the State
Legislature to the Kellogg party then the
Enforcement act really destroys repub-
lican institutions and surrenders the
States to the arbitrary will of the federal
government. The act in question gives large
powers to the United States Courts. If any
colored citizens are denied the right Of regis
tration or voting solely 'on account Of race,
color or previous condition of servitude, and
by reason of such denial candidate for any
Office except for Presidential elector, member
Of Congress or of the State Legislature, shall be
defeated, the United States Circuit or District
Court, ''concurrently with the State Courts"
is given the power to count the votes thus ex-
cluded, and if they are sufficient to elect the
minority candidate, to award him the Office.
Acting under this provision of the law Judge
| Durell granted injunctions against the State
i
| functions, placed new Board in power and
thus declared Governor Kellogg and the re-
publican State Legislature elected. Neither
Judge Durell nor the Kellogg Board of Can
vassers has possession of q single election
| return; no cooperation has been had
with any State Court; no evidence has
been taken or offered to substantiate the
1 Iaxy fc Of nd of kn
| the rejection of their votes, and there is not
particle Of proof that any citizens were dis
franchised on account Of race, color or pre-
vious condition of servitude. We repeat, if
| the Enforcement act has been properly inter-
preted by Judge Durell the Southern States
ore at the present moment stripped of all their
constitutional rights and holding their liber-
ties only at the mercy of federal bayonets.


At any time, after any election, the popular
verdict may be set aside by any political aspir-
ants who can command the services of
federal Judge and federal troops The ballot


is O mere farce-the constitution Of the United
States nothing more than waste paper-while
such an act stands upon the statute books.


In this disgraceful Louisiana fight the par
ticipants are all Of the same stripe It is a
battle for the spoils among the carpet
baggers, who have fallen out among them
selves. Governor Warmoth was the crea-
ton Of the carpet-bag politicians who
gladly availed themselves of his recklessness
and boldness to carry out their schemes They
placed him in Office by the authority of the
bayonet, and armed him with arbitrary powers
to be used in their own service When his
ambition clashed with the aspirations of other
leaders there was division in the party,
and while Warmoth endeavored to turn the
weapons with which he had been armed,
against his former associates they invoked for