I incline to think that a large number of the
men who got political office in the South, when the men who
had taken part in the Rebellion were still disfranchised,
and the Republicans were still in power, were of a character
that would not have been tolerated in public office in the
North. General Willard Warner of Alabama, a brave Union soldier,
a Republican Senator from that State, was one of the best
and bravest men who ever sat in that body. Governor Packard
of Louisiana was I believe a wise and honest man. But in
general it was impossible not to feel a certain sympathy with
a people, who whatever else had been their faults never were
guilty of corruption or meanness, or the desire to make money
out of public office, in the intolerable loathing which they
felt for these strangers who had taken possession of the high
places in their States.
President Grant gave the influence and authority of his Administration
toward maintaining in power the lawfully chosen Republican
State Governments. But in spite of all he could do they had
all been overthrown but two when the Presidential election
was held in 1876.
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