Why the solid South?

Front matter

WHY THE SOLID SOUTH?

OK,

RECONSTRUCTION AND ITS RESULTS.

Contents

CHAPTBR I.

RECONSTRUCTION AT WASHINGTON.

Lincoln's death calamity to the South, 1 ; Lincoln's theory of Reconstruction, 1, 2 ; Stevens' theory — Sumner's, 2 ; Lincoln's plan in message of 18G3, 2, 3 ; Act of Congress, July, 1864— Lincoln's pocket veto— Winter-Davis protest, 4-6 ; Congress adjourned leaving Lincoln to carry out his own policy — Lincoln has prepared the proclamation — Johnson subsequently adopts, 5, 6 ; Blaine's opinion— comments, 6, 7 ; Andrew Johnson retains Lincoln's cabinet — issues Lincoln's North Carolina proclamation, 8, 9 ; Civil governments rapidly restored, 9-11 ; Congress convenes, 11 ; Sherman shows Johnson is following Lincoln plan, 12 ; Stevens determined to "secure perpetual ascendency to party of the Union"— Joint committee on reconstruction, 13, 14 ; Veto of civil rights bill— split in cabinet, 14, 15 ; Rejection of 14th Amendment—causes, 15, 16 ; The Freedmen's Bureau— its evil influences— Grant's report, 16-18 ; The Committee of Fifteen — its methods, 18-20 ; Eepublicans victorious in Congressional elections, 21 ; Impeachment, 21, 22 ; Negro Suffrage for the District of Columbia, 22, 23 ; Taken away by Republicans themselves in 1874, 24 ; Congre'^s decided, in 1867, war was not over and passed reconstruction laws supplanting civil authorities by military power, 24-26 : McArdle case, 26 ; Lincoln to Shepley, 27 ; Senator Wilson's prophecy that these acts would Republicauize the South — its fulfillment, 27, 28.

Chapter II. Reconstruction In Alabama

Wretched condition of people in 1865, 29 ; Old political feuds still divided them, 25-30 ; Senator Fessenden on Freedmen's Bureau, 30; Bureau's influence over colored man, 30-31 ; Vagrancy laws— Blaine's comments in " Twenty Years in Congress " and New England Statutes cited in reply, 31-36 ; Reflections on self-government, 36, 37; Representatives refused admission to Congress— exultation of blacks, dejection of whites — Friction between races —

V

^.j OON'TKNTS.

: : ..trict, hc«dqu»rU'i« ot Atlauta; Gen. Swayne of Alabama, , j«, 3© : G»n. CUnton organixes oppoaition or Conservative ^gjlj Itfin^iin brfvMO U#n- CUnton and Senator Wilson— Riot in Mobile— Gen. Pope lla«V<o H^jot al MuUI»— Hortoua amusing decision in case of Charles Archie II ; lien. 8»ayD« a prw«;,ectiTe candidate for the United States Senate— Union U^w^ «sclwlliM( many naUva wbiica, adniittinj; blacks— iU Montgomery Council declares ln^ xrmol RefMilllcan party, thus forming black man's party, 41,42; Attractive

„. , .« (k^OMO— tb« latlj, the foniis and ceremonies, 42,43 ; Gen. Pope's prophecy,

» MfTaUf* CuoraoHoo-iUamall numbers— Colored men phinning to forcibly prevent

., ,. . ■ f Rrpublicao culorwd " Special Committee on the Situation," 44 ; Cousii-

1^,, ,_,. :,, Sof. 5, 1»<;T— all iu memU-rs friunds of reconstruction— its discussions

— ihlrUva ■wialwra. al Ita date, prolcal against proi>o6ed constitution— whites despondently^. 1,,^ < ; r-licvcd — Gon. Bleado in command, 45 ; Ek-ctiou for rati- %c»Uon ■-»t« oniciahf to be elected at the same time— Republican a-titM lf^**. 4A, 17 ; SumiMT " would nut see new states born of tlio bayonet " — Gen. M^mU 4srlan« o I'-d by 8,114 rotes according to law of its submission, a»l Ikto iWfmltil -^ ' for state olTlccrB— Remarkable report of reconstruction twllln that Mhar-qitrot citangr uf law could affect election already held — Congress adopts o '• rrjuft rvjt'cte'l and defeated nominees installed, 47-50 ; State credit

ki. . _ j^»ut railruad legislation, oTt-r issues of bonds— frauds — increase of debt,

ftl-^3, lUilanUe uflk^-boklenii, &3, M; election uf 1870 — Republican quarrels — Lindsay, fHiiiii f ■!. eUclfU UuTpmor — Smith mils on troops to rot^dn him in office, then abandons MHrtart — iJadaky's administration unsuccessful, 65-.')7 ; Lewis, Republican, elected Governor, IVTS-IhMl t^acblalura— U. S. Iruupa again called on, 57-69; The judiciary, amusing charge legfaailjary. S^t-€\ ; Oinpaign of 1K74 — State debt, the militar3', hand-cuflTs, overflow bacon — DMBumU r««W*ai the state, CI-^ ; A new constitution, reduction of salaries and expenses f, 4«U, Kbuula, flgtxnM, reflections, Gl-C\>.

CHAPTKR III.

RRCONSTRUCTION IN NORTH C.VROLINA.

"^'' ' " ' ^Wr WM f.if re»i..mt|un ..f the Union, 70, 71 ; Theory was secession

•^ ' * f thr Union— Thl« rrciigniwHl by all branches of the Government

• «4 Kmj WarvU-k— caaD of James Kagan— Rcrcrdy Johnson- minority report, 71-74 ; ' ■* and North Carnlino put under military rule,

■ i^t*, 75. 7C; Klectl<in of delegates to Conven- •MkoAs aa4 r«Mili»-lbe nmX qanrtloo un the vol© for constitution, 77, 78 ; New gov- !•• laMK«'«*«4-«Mtpl*kioD of legislature— raid on treasury begun— echool fund-

CONTENTS. vii

W. & W. and W. & M Railroads robbed— Littlefield and Swepson ring— anecdote of Cuffy 79, 80 ; Railroad bonds authorized and issued— rates of taxation— County bonds, 80 81 • Courts of Justice, 81, 82 ; $14,000,000 bonds issued— not a mile of railroad built, 82 ; The Schoffner Act— martial law — two regiments, one white, one negro— court-martial — habeas corpus— C.J. Pearson and Governor Holden— state ablaze with excitement — anew election approaches— state redeemed, 82-84.

Chapter IV. Reconstruction In South Caroi^ina

Complexion of state Convention January, 1868, 85 ; Scott elected Governor— Complexion of General Assembly— Moses speaker, 86; "Pike's Prostrate state," 86, 87; General election law, 87, 88; State-House furniture— census law, 89 ; State bank fraud— Homes for the homeless, 90, 91; Another election law, 91, 92; Militia laws -Campaign for Governor— 96,000 negro militia enrolled — fraudulent arms contracts — use made of militia, 92-95 ; Scott's remarkable veto, 95 ; Impeachment : how prevented — Blue Ridge and G. & C. Railroad frauds, 96, 97 ; Financial Agent Kimpton, 97, 98 ; Legislative ring— Printing frauds, 99, 100 ; President suspends habeas corpus in nine counties — Causes of disorder, 100, 101 ; Moses elected Governor — High taxes — Fall of values— Tax sales — Tax-payers' Convention, 101, ir"2 ; Fruitless mission of Committee to Washington, 102, 103 ; Patterson elected Senator — Bribery — Corrupt use by Moses of pardoning power, 104 ; Two hundred trial justices who could not read or write, 104, 105 ; Chamberlain elected Governor— Efforts at reform, 105, 106 ; Moses and Whipper elected judges— Chamberlain refuses to commission them, 107-109 ; Race conflicts, 109; Hampton elected — Democratic administration — Peace — Order — Reduced taxes — Increased values — Prosperity, 109, 110.

Chapter V. Reconstruction In Georgia

Condition in 1865 — opportunity for statesmanship, 112 ; Harsh measures — Freedman'a Bureau — Amnesty proclamation — Confiscation proceedings, 114 ; James Johnson, provisional Governor — State Convention — State obligations repudiated, 115, 116 ; General Assembly laws — Stephens and Herschel Johnson elected Senators, 116, 117 ; Members of Congress-elect refused admission— Freedman's Bureau provokes irritation between races, 118 ; Reconstruction Acts of 1867 — Convention — Foster Blodgett — Gen. Pope in the Convention — Meade succeeds Pope and seizes State revenues, 120-122 ; Gov. Jenkins — Bill for injunction in Supreme Court — Constitution, its provisions — Eligibility of negro to oflSce — Constitution declared rati-

^jj. CONTENTS.

fied-Gov Bullock, 122, 123; General Assembly-Remarkable manner of organizing- Meade'8 refusal to interfere, 124, 125 ; Joshua Hill and Miller elected U. S. Senators-Negro members unseated-Supreme Court decides in favor of right of negro, 12G, 127; Military methods of administration depicted-Ashburn case-exasperating proceedings. 127-130 ; Gov. Bullock and test oath-Special Act of Congress to promote reconstruction of the State- "The Government has determined in this Republic Republicans shall rule," 130, 131 ; House organized by Harris detailed by Governor-his rulings-Gen. Terry helps decide questions of eligibility of members of General Assembly, 132 ; Congress decides Georgia was a State in the Union before it had passed supplemental act reconstructing her, 133 ; Extravagance-Railroad legislation, 133-135 ; H. I. Kimball-Foster Blodgett again-Debt, increase of, 135-137 ; Election law of 1870— Exciting campaign— State redeemed, 138, 139.

Chapter VI. •

The two factions of the Republican party— Reed and Billings, 140 ; Geo. W. Scott, Democratic candidate for Governor— Election methods— Reed declared elected and new Constitution ratified, Ul ; Reed's good beginning, 142; Salaries I860 and 1868, compared, 142, 113 ; Rapid increase of expenditures-figures, 143, 144 ; Election law— Public advertising— secret fund, 145 ; Factional troubles— Gov. Reed's quo warranto vs. Lt. Gov. Gleason as non-resident- Secretary State Alden removed, 145 ; Impeachment proceedings against Gov. Reed- Report sustaining charges— Charges of bribery— Reconciliation of factions, 146, 147 ; Sale of Pa. & Ga. R. R,148; A Cabinet officer, two State Senators and Gen. Littlefleld indicted fur bribery- One convicted and pardoned— Public credit suff"ering, 149 ; Expenses 1860, 1869 compared, 150 ; Impeachment proceedings against Reed still pending — Florida R. R. Co. in Court— exposures, 151-153 ; A forged law— attempted use of it, 153, 154 ; Election for Congressman and Lt. Governor — False certificates, 155 ; New Legislature— forged returns, 156 ; Gleason's remarkable entrj' into the Legislature from Dade, 156, 157; Increase in debt and taxation — figures, 157, 158 ; Governor complains of Littlefield's frauds, 158 ; Impeachment revived — articles unanimously adopted by General Assembly — Democratic Lt. Governor about to get office by judgment of the court and impeachment dropped, 158, 159; Elections for Governor and Congressmen — methods and results, 159, 160; Republican Gov. Hart's plain words— Bribery— Thieving— Election frauds, 160, 161 ; Hart's eff'orts ineffectual — " Gala day for the colored brother," 161, 162 ; Election methods and cases, 162-164 ; Congressman Purman on Governor Stearns, 165 ; Prostitution of U. S. Qourts, 165 ; Fall of values, 1867 to 1875 — figures, 166 ; Receipts and expenditures- figures — school statistics — Comparisons — Figures, 167, 168.

CONTENTS. ix

CHAPTER VII. RKCONSTRUCTION in TENNESSEE

Against secession, but seceded when coercion attempted, 170 ; Andrew Johnson military Governor, Lincoln plan — Military Gov. Johnson's proclamation for county elections in March, 1864 — Few votes, 171, 172; Presidential campaign of 18G1 — Enrollment of militia, — Gov. Johnson ordered test-oath — Nashville Convention plan — Soldiers six months in state to vote — McClellan ticket withdrawn, 172-175 ; Small vote at Presidential election— Johnson elected Vice-President— Ex-Committee call Convention at Nashville for 9th January, 1865, 175 ; Convention met — Few delegates had credentials fi'om primary meetings — Abolishes slavery — Suspends statutes of limitations — AfiRrms Gov. Johnson's acts— Legislates — Nominates Brownlow for Governor, 176 ; Election February 22d, 176 ; Another election March 4th — Peculiar general ticket system— Brownlow chosen, a Legislature also, 177 ; Confederacy failing — Legislature convenes April 2d— Brownlow inaugurated April 5th, 178; Lee's surrender — Disposition of returning Confederates, 178, 179 ; View of Governor and Legislature — Law excluding Confederates from ballot-box — Proscriptive legislation, 171^, 180; Governor's proclamation, threatening those who may violate election law — His address, 181, 182; August election for members of Congress— Votes of 29 counties cast out — Results — Members-elect not admitted, 182, 183 ; Brov.'nlow's views on negro suffrage, 184, 185; Legislation as to freedmen, 185 ; More proscriptive legislation, 185, 186 ; Proceedings to obtain quorum in Legislature— Habeas corpus granted by Judge Frazier— His impeachment and conviction, 187, 188 ; Fourteenth Amendment adopted — Tennessee members and Senators admitted — President Johnson's message thereupon, 188, 189 ; Gov.

Brownlow's message — Confederates excluded from jury-box— Negroes enfranchised — Tests to exclude Confederates made more rigid, 190, 191 ; The Brownlow militia -Extraordinary powers— Factions — Conservative and Radical Repub. leans — Radicals nominate Brownlow — Conservatives, Etheridge— The canvass — The State Guards— Their organization — Their conduct during the canvass — Brownlow's faction triumphant, 193-198; The Alden ring at Nashville, its outrages and robberies, 198- 200 ; New Legislature, October, 1867 — Ratifies Brownlow's irregtilar or unlawful acts — Its legislation — County guards— county police— Sheriff paid as captain of infanti-y, etc., 2^0-2'^ 3; The Ku-klux — Call on Gen. Thomas for U. S. troops— Extra session — Petition for repeal of franchise law — More amendments to militia law — Law against Ku-klux, 203-210 ; Origin of Ku-klux Klan, 210 ; Presidential election, 1868. 210 ; Governor proclaims martial law in certain counties — Brownlow elected Senator — D. W. C. Senter, Speaker of the House, inaugurated Governor, 212 ; Extravagance and corruption of 34th General Assemblj- — Cost of State Guards— Increase of debt, 212-214 ; The August election approaching— Stokes, Radical, and Senter, Conservative Republican, candidates — issue the repeal of the franchise law — Senter and Conservative Legislature elected — Constitutional Convention January^ 1870 — Peace and prosperity, 214, 215.

^ CONTENTS.

Chapter VIII. Reconstruction In Virginia

Conventions at Wheeling May 13th and June llth-Convention elected Picrpoint Governor and two U. S. Senators-Congressmen elected in May-Congress recogni/el Wheeling Government, 216, 217 ; New state proposed-Attorney-General Bates' protest, 217, 218; West Virginia formed-How, 219-221; Restored Virginia at Alexandria- Gen. Ben Butler's derisive treatment-Pierpoint's appeal to Lincoln, 221-224 ; Lincoln's theory of Restoration-Evidence as to, 225-230 ; Pierpoint's Government in Richmond repeals disfranchising laws and completes reorganization of state, 230-232; Representatives of Virginia barred out of Congress-Why ? 232-234 ; Mr. Stevens-The Committee of Fifteen, 234-236; Review— Military rule— Freedman's Bureau, 236-238; Legislation respecting freedmen, 238-244 ; The Courts under Reconstruction, 244-249 ; Virginia " civiliter mortuus" —Gen. Stonemau's Report— Republican factions— The Committee of Nine— Disfranchising clauses stricken out—Constitution adopted— State restored, 249-253 ; The Constitutional question— Practically settled forever— Conclusion, 257.

Chapter IX. Reconstruction In West Virginia

Division of sentiment on questions relating to Civil War — Many in both armies. 258, 259 ; Constitution of 1863, 260 ; First appearance of test oath, 261 ; Election fall of 1864 — Little opposition to Republican candidates — Election law amended in February, 1805 — Remarkable provisions, 261-263 ; Proposed constitutional amendment, 263 ; How control over the suffrage was given to the Governor, 264, 205 ; Test-oath to punish certain attorney s-at- law, 264, 265 ; How constitutional amendment was adopted, 266, 267 ; Prtscriptivo legislation— No Virginian allowed to sue a loyal West Virginian, 267, 268 ; More proscription, 1868 — Andrew Johnson must be impeached and West Virginia tenders her assistance to the United States — Special acts to allow attorneys to practice — Also a young lady to teach school without test-oath, 268, 269; Democrats successful in elections 1S7U — Review of conditions imposed by Legislature on Ex- Confederates, 270-272 ; How the state Courts sustained these laws, remarkable decisions — Cases cited, 272-276; Democratic Constitution of 1872 ended this class of litigation, 276 ; Decisions of state courts on the new legislation and of the U. S. Supreme Court cited, 270-278 ; Attorney's test-oath case— The ■State Court vs. U. S. Supreme Court and resolution of Legislature, 279 ; Edwin M. Stanton appears in a test-oath case— U. S. Distiict Courts in contrast with state Courts, 279 ; Jud£o

CONTENTS. XI

Nathaniel Harrison — His career on both sides of the line, 279-281 ; Col. Hounshell, ex- Confederate, kicked out of capitol for making charges against Harrison — Eesolutions thereon, 281, 282 ; Harrison's subsequent career -It brings upon him new articles of impeachment — He flees the state — Kesigns — Dies in Denver,- Colorado, 282-284; Democrats successful in 1870 — Proscription passed — Prosperity begins, 284.

Chapter X. Reconstruction In Missouri

Constitutional Convention called by act of February, 1864 — Section III. of Constitution, 285-286 ; Election for ratification — Test-oath— Gen. Blair, 288 — Ex parte Cummings— Sales of railroads, 289-290 ; Fraudulent county bonds — Supreme Court decisions — Judge and County Attorney shot to death — Conclusion, 291-293.

Chapter XI. Reconstruction In Arkansas

Condition at close of war— Election of delegates to Constitutional Convention — Submitted to people, 295-296 ; Constitution submitted under law requiring majority of registered vote — Law changed after election had begun, too late for notice to reach voters, 296-297 ; jMartial law — Negro Militia — Adjt.-Gen. Dausforth's letter — Militia outrages amnestied, 299 — Election laws and methods, 300-301 — Erasing registration books, 301 — Throwing out counties and precincts, 301-302 ; Election methods and laws, instances, 302-305 — Revenues — Oppressive Taxation, 305-306 — Extravagant expenditures — Particular instances — Figures — Tax sales, 306-308 — County and school district debts incurred, 308-399 — Fraudulent bonds to railroads, 310 ; Levee taxes and bonds, 310-311 — The Real Estate Bank and the North American Trust and Banking Co. — The ring exposed, 311-312 ; Bribery instances, 312-313 ; Miscellaneous outrages — Many from Poland's Report, 315-320.

Chapter XII. Reconstruction In Mississippi

Andrew Johnson on Reconstruction Acts, 321 ; Gov. Clarke calls Legislature to restore relations of the State to the Uuion — Legislature dissolved by military order — Gov. Clarke arrested, 321-323 ; President appoints Sharkey Provisional Governor — Constitutional Convention, composed almost exclusively of Union men — Its work, 323-325 ; President informs Con-

CONTENTS, xu

,ress-MissisHippiandother8tatesarerestored-Gen.Grant'sreportastoconditionofthe South, 30^326 • Congress refuses to admit Congressmen elect-Abolishes civil government of state- Substitutes Military rule-Enfranchises and disfranchises-Most of the whites abstain fron. voting for delegates to convention-A few capable and good men elected, 327-328 ; Consftutional Convention-Its membership-Its work-Test-oath. provided for trials away from locale by alleged crime-Mixed public schools, 328-330; Constitution rejected-EtTorts to overcome rejection-Committee of five, 330-332-Congress orders another election-Negn-e. driUed-Loyal League-Unfair apportionment-Kepublicans successful-State reconstructed, 332-333; Legislature, complexion-United States Senators-Negro and army oihcer Amcs- Conflict of races organized-Freedman's Savings Bank-Character of officials, 333-335 ; Partisan judges-Spies-Military, 335-336; Gov. Ames declares it an " issue of race "-Educational system-The Chief embezzled, forged, stole and fled the state, 337-Profligacy and extravagance, 338; Tax-payers' prayer, 338-339; Hon. Eugene Hale, description by, 339- 3i0; State redeemed in 1875-Keduction of taxation-Kedemption of lands sold for taxes, 340-342 ; Education-Dr. Mayo, 342 ; What Abraham Lincoln taught, 343-344 ; Lincoln to Shepley-Henry Ward Beecher, 344^-345 ; Lessons of History, 346-347 ; Concluding observations, 347-348.

Chapter XIII. Reconstruction In Texas

Condition at close of War— comparatively prosperous in 1865, 349 ; Andrew J. Hamilton appointed Provisional Governor— New Constitu.ion adopted— Throckmorton elected Governor— his inaugural address, 351-353 ; Slavery abolished— War debt repudiated— Ordinance of secession declared null, 353 ; Telegram from President Johnson— Throckmorton's conservatism, 353-355 ; Freedman's Bureau operations, 356 ; Burning of town of Brenham by drunken soldiers— Indignation— Committee reports facts, 35G, 357 ; Murders in Gaudaloupe County— Circumstances, 357-359; Governor Throckmorton's corre-pondence on Ihe subject with Gen. Sheridan and Brig.-Gen. Oakes, 360-365; Reconstruction Acts passed — Gov. Throckmorton accepts situation — Continues under Gen. Sheridan, 366 ; Gen. Sheridan removes Throckmorton— Appoints Pea^e, 307 ; Pease asks Gen. Hancock to appoint military tribunals— Hancock's refusal — Hancock removed — Military commissions — Prostrate judiciary, 308; Reconstruction Convention— Pease recommends Convention to di>franchise number sufficient to place state in hands of loyal persons, etc., 309 ; Character of Constitution—Davis made Governor -12th Legislature — Bribery and corruption 369,370; Passage of law authorizing Governor to select and enroll militia and to d clare martial law, 371, 372 ; Law of July 1, 1870, established "state police" and gave Governor absolute power over all executive officer^, 372, 373 ; Terrorism under Davis— Gathings case, 374, 375 ; Oongressional elections October, 1871— Methods, 375, 376 ; Walker, Limestone and Free-

CONTENTS. xiii

stone Counties, martial law in, 376, 377 ; Indebtedness of towns and counties increased 377 ; Increase of taxation and state debt— Credit destroyed— School fund robbed — Election of Democratic Governor and Legislature— Eesto-ation of credit — Reduction of taxation, 378, 379; Increase of population — Capital— School funds — Low taxes — Prosperous schools — No discrimination on account of color, 379-381 ; Conclusion, 381, 382.

Chapter XIV. Reconstruction In I.ouisiana

Introductory — Situation, 383-385 ; Steps from War to Peace — Election of Governor Hahn, February, 1864 — Election for Constitution, September 1864, 385, 386 ; Lincoln's course — Joint Resolution of Legislature, 387-389 ; The riot of July, 1866— Causes, 389-392 ; Military Government in Peace— Sheridan — Hancock — Packard — Registration methods— Methods under Lincoln, at war, 1864 — Methods in peace, 1^68, under reconstruction— Contrasted, 392-397 ; The Advent of Warmothism — Methods— Board of Registration — Expenses— Returning Board methods — Bribery — Instances and figures, 397-403 ; Warmothism — Expenditures contrasted — Debt and taxation— Figures — Constabulary law — Metropolitan Police— Catling and Napoleon guns— Infantry, cavalry, artillery and state navy— How Governor obtained control of judiciary— Complete Dictatorship — Profligacy and corruption— United States troops and Deputy Marshals— Republican factions at War — General Emery interferes— Election of 1872 — Disputed result — Kellogg vs. Warmoth — Warmoth's hitherto unsigned law — Durell's Midnight order — Senator Carpenter's Report — United States artillery in possession of State Capitol — Kellogg installed— Colfax Riot, 403-417 ; Warmoth-Kelloggism — Metropolitan Police increased — Cavalry — Artillery — Tax resisters — Registration and election laws improved on — Profits of debt scaling — Figures — Collisions between people and military — Democratic victory of 1874 reversed by Returning Board — De Trobriand — Troops march Democrats out of Legislative Hall — They again disperse legal Legislature in 1875— General Sheridan, 417-424 ; Final struggle for supremacy — Democrats victorious — Returning Board again, 424-427 ; Shrinking of values — Figures — Increase of debt— Figures— Conclusion, 424-429.

Chapter XV. Sunrise

Prosperity follows the restoration of good govprnment — South advancing — The last decade — Figures from Manufacturer's Record, as to assessed values, railroads, agricultural products, mining, manufacturing, banking, 430-434 ; Rates of percentage of increase threefold greater South than North and West, 435 ; Vice-President Morton's interview, 436, 437 ; Education of the negro— Statistics, 43S, 439 ; The race question, 4'>9-142. — Appendix, 4t3.

Preface

PEKHAPS in no particular is the intellectual progress of this age more notable than in the ever increasing public demand for accurate history. In the phenomena of preceding ages we seek the causes of existing conditions. Of these existing conditions the most potent factor is to be found, of course, in the immediate past. The lessons drawn from recent experience will ahvays, therefore, be the most valuable that history can teach ; provided only we get the facts correctly before us. The difficulties when one writes of what happened only twenty and twenty-five years ago are twofold, resting both with the writer and the reader. The former must school himself to an impartial study of his topic that he may write correctly; the latter must endeavor to lay aside prejudice that he may judge fairly. The authors of the articles which comprise this volume, each agreed when he undertook the task assigned him to write as impartially as possible, to "understate rather than to

XV

^^.l PREFACE.

overstate facts." In like manner the reader is invited to judge calmly and dispassionately of the statements these writers have made, and draw his own inferences. He may possibly conclude that each has failed in greater or less degree in his effort to write dispassionately; but he wall probably be more ready to overlook any exhibitions, if such there be, of temper, that ought to have been restrained, w^hen he remembers that we were all parts of what we relate.

A complete history of reconstruction in all the states would fill many volumes. The plan of this work has been to condense into a chapter the controlling facts in relation to each state. It is hoped that we may thus arrest the attention of men who can devote to public ajffairs only a few hours of their time.

Each article is signed by its author, who thus becomes directly responsible for the truth of his statements.

The parallelism throughout the history of all these states, whether in lines of retrogression or of progress, furnishes a striking illustration of the truism. — Like causes produce like effects.

PKEFACE. xvii

This work has not been undertaken with any such impracticable purpose as agitating for the repeal of the Fifteenth Amendmentj or for the deportation of the negro. Its object is to show to the public, and more especially to those business men of the North, who have made investments in the South, or who have trade relations with their Southern fellow-citizens, the consequences which once followed an interference in the domestic affairs of certain states by those, who either did not understand the situation or were reckless of results. A thorough comprehension of the facts we attempt to portray will, it is believed, at least aid the reader in deciding what ought not to be done by the Federal Government. Even this much will be of value in the solution of one of the pressing problems of to-day, for, however it may be in morals, in statesmanship, it is undoubtedly true that sins of commission are generally more fatal than sins of omission.

Hilary A. Herbert.

WHY THE SOLID SOUTH?

OR,

RECONSTRUCTION AND ITS RESULTS

Chapter I. Reconstruction At Washington

UNDER ABRAHAM I,INCOI,N.

I'^HE death of Abraham Lincoln was an appalling calamity- — especially to the South, Had the crazy assassin withheld his hand, reconstruction could never have been formulated, as it was, into the Acts of March 2d and March 23d, 1867.

Mr. Lincoln's leading thought in the conduct of the war was the preservation of the Government of the fathers; and he took issue squarely with those who, like Mr. Sumner, were seeking to take advantage of the times and ^' change this Government from its original form and make it a strong centralized power. ''"^ He believed the Government to be, as Chief Justice Chase afterwards defined it, in Texas vs. White, '^ an indestructible union composed of indestructible states. " Upon this idea of the constitution he based his theory of restoration, — a theory which, at the time of his death, was well known, though it appears to have since been industriously forgotten. This theory was, that the insurrectionary states, notwithstanding the w*ar, still existed as states — that they were never out of the Union and were always subject to the constitution. Hence it

* Nicolay and Hay's " Lincoln.'"— Century, Oct., 1889.

followed that those people of these several states, who were entitled to vote by the laws existing at the date of the attempted acts of secession, had, when they returned to their alleo-iance and were pardoned, the power of reconstruction in their own hands. On this theory President Lincoln aided the people to set up state governments in Tennessee, Louisiana and Arkansas— all without any aid from Congress.

But from the beginning there were eminent Republicans in Congress who denied the authority of the President to "intermeddle," as they called it, in this business. As early as 1861, Mr. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, had announced the doctrine, that the constitution and laws were suspended where they could not be enforced ; that those who had defied them could not invoke their protection, and that Congress could legislate for such rebellious territory outside of and without regard to the Constitution.

Mr. Sumner laid down the proposition, in resolutions introduced February 11th, 1862, that, by attempting to secede, a state had committed suicide, and its soil had become territory subject to the supreme control of Congress. Both of these theories, which did not differ in result, denied to the President any power whatever in the premises.

But Mr. Lincoln seems always to have stood on the declaration made by Congress in July, 1861 : that the war was being waged " to defend the Constitution and all laws in pursuance thereof, and to preserve the union, with all the dignitv, equality and rights of the several states unimpaired; tliat as soon as these objects were aocompUshed, the icar ought to cease, " &c.

Pursuing steadily the spirit of these resolutions, even down to the day of his unhappy death, reconstruction as practiced by him was, simply, restoration of civil authority in the insurgent, but still existent states by the people thereof, aided by the military power of the United States.

More than two years af\er this question of power had begun to be mooted in Congress the President formulated and communicated to that body, in his message of December 8th, 1863, the plan he proposed thereafter to follow. In no material particular did it differ from the theory

EECONSTKUCTION AT WASHINGTON. 3

upon which he had theretofore acted. He said : '^ Looking now to the 2)resent and future, and with reference to a resumption of the national authority within the states wherein that authority has been suspended, I have thought fit to issue a proclamation, a copy of which is herewith transmitted.''

In the proclamation, embracing the plan, he offers pardon to all who will swear ''henceforth'^ to support the Constitution of the United States, &c., and proclaims that when those who, accepting this amnesty, shall have taken the oath of allegiance, each '' being a qualified voter by the election laws of the state, existing immediateli) before the so-called act of secession, and excluding all others, shall re-establish a state government, which shall be republican and in no wise contravening said oath ; such shall be recognized as the true government of the state,^' etc., etc.

This was President Lincoln's plan for restoring the insurgent states to the Union ; it left the question of suffrage entirely in the hands of those who were qualified to vote under the laws existing at the date of secession. It was precisely this proposition — viz., that each insurgent state, at the time of rehabilitation, must decide for itself whether it would adopt negro suffrage — that angered the Republicans in Congress when acted on by Andrew Johnson ; and culminated in the impeachment proceedings.

But Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson were two different persons. Johnson was pugnacious — seeking always to beat down his adversary and never to conciliate. Lincoln, on the other hand, never needlessly antagonized those who could be won to his views, though he was accustomed to adhere to his matured opinions with inflexible purpose ; as we shall see he did in this case, in the face of the fiercest op])osition.

When this message of December, 1863, went in, many of the Republican leaders were claiming for Congress exclusive jurisdiction over the question of reconstruction under the clause of the Constitution which declares that : '' The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a republican form of government." The counter-claim by the President, that he could aid the people to set up governments for themselves, seemed a challenge.