Emboldened by the support of the National Administration, the Southern leaders believed that they could carry their designs through, and, instead of being restrained by the protest or the advice of Republicans, they chose with apparent gladness the course that would prove most offensive to them.
Blaine describes how Southern leaders felt emboldened by the National Administration's support, leading to provocative actions.
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In all the revolted states, upon the testimony of your ablest generals, there is no safety to the property or lives of loyal men.
The deep-seated prejudice against color is assiduously cultivated by the public journals and leads to acts of cruelty, oppression, and murder, which the local authorities are at no pains to prevent or punish.
An attempt to guarantee and protect a revived State government constructed in whole or in preponderating part from the very element against whose hostility and violence it is to be protected is simply absurd.
The wisdom of maintaining that institution was abundantly vindicated by the results of the war.
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