The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-25 00:00:00

ROLSiIIN.

Tata ICYtarn°, TII PC C1:4(.%31.75ER'S BAT. Mr. Vollahe :
11 esdame. Leery.' +n•l 17. riaumlers.—And THE ANTI POUF:,.,
Iletant. E. Garden. Voltaire, U. ?rice, Blake. R. Thorne. and S.
Napery , Mealtauee Ellen Terry, Haymow:l, and C. Sawolere.

BRITANNIA.
TIM ItTioints, TOR BALLINASLOr HOY: OR, THE YOR-
TUNF:46M ‘N I KISII PUSAN f.—Mr. 0. Backatone. Mr. and
)Ire. Y lIuIIW : Ma.ara hildelmand and lonotale --Coarluding
with kLI.t.N AND SUSAN. Mr. J. B. Howe & Mina S. Milra.

HIGH WATIN AT LONDON BRIAN&
TWO DAT —Morning. Th. linn Afternooe, 7h. 39,n.
TO-Sluaftow—Morning, Oh. tfin Afternoon. bh. 40m.

LONDON, TUESDAY, JUNE 25.

THE reorganization of the Southern States is
steadily proceeding under the military rule pro-
vided by Congress. That rule has been, as we
believed it would be, of the mildest and most con-
siderate kind, and it is greatly to the credit of the
Generals to whom it his been entrusted that so
few protests or complaints have been raised
against it. It was distinctly understood, as we all
along represented, that no vindictive purpose
actuated Congress in applying what seemed a
severe remedy to the evils of Southern disorgani-
sation and anarchy, and up to the present
moment not a trice of vindictiveness and not
more than necessary harshness has been ex-
hibited by the military power. The army
has been nothing more than au armed
police, keeping violence in check, overawing
the rebellious element which made reorganization
impossible, and bestowing the new possession of
freedom of speech and action on the loyal part of
the population. Experience has abundantly
proved the wisdom, and indeed the imperative
necessity, of this interference with the liberty c.f
violence. The spirit which prompted the New
Orleans massacre has now and then shown itself,
but in presence of the military power those whom
it possessed have only gnashed their teeth, and
demonstrated their impotent rage. Rowdyism and
violence have certainly had some provocation to
endure. Under the protection of the army of the
United States the phenomena of free speech and
free political organization have actually appeared
on Southern soil. The Republican party of the
North has sent some of its best representative men
to enlighten the newly-enfranchised negroes on its
principles and aims. The voices of Republican ora-
tors have been heard in Southern cities. The leaders
of the party which was not even tolerated
by the Southern chivalry have been appealing to
the coloured population to rally to their side. A
wide Republican organization is being rapidly
spread over the South, and the freedmen already
show that they know their friends and will give
them strong support. It is a great testimony to
the efficiency of the military protection given to
the cause of order that it is only in the city of
Mobile that one of the Republican speakers was in
danger of his life. But the shots fired at Judge
KELLEY in that rowdy city called forth a satisfac-
tory evidence of the new state of things which is
beginning in the South. Instead of official sym-
pathy being given to the assailants, and a popular
verdict of approval being passed upon them, the
action of public opinion and of the civil authori-
ties was in a contrary direction. Whether a whole-
some fear possessed them, or whether their mood
has changed, it is impossible to say, but thecitizens
passed resolutions sympathizing with the cause of
free speech, and the Mayor himself, an old seces-
sionist, sent to the speaker guaranteeing him an
orderly meeting if he would repeat the attempt to
address the people. Here and there negroes have
been subjected to violent interruption of their
meetings, and in one or two cases they have them-
selves been guilty of disorder ; but, as a rule, the
difficulties in the way of political reorganization
have been far less than we might have had reason
to expect. The Generals have only restrained
violence and protected civil freedom. The mili-
tary rule has been as exceptional in its tole-
rance as the treatment of the leaders of the rebel-
lion has been exceptional in its generosity;
and has up to the present moment realized the
intention of Congress by forming a strong protec-
tion against anarchy and a bulwark against
organized violence, under the shelter of which
the new political and social organization of the
South may be formed in safety and peace.
There can be but little doubt of the speedy re-
storation of the Southern States. Now that the
ATTORNEY-GENERAL has promulgated his official
explanations of the Reconstruction Acts to the
Generals who are executing them, there need be
no fear of further delay. Mr. STANBERRY has
not satisfied some of the Northern Republican' by
his interpretation of the disfranchising clauses of
those Acts, but that interpretation is in entire har-
mony with the liberal treatment which the South
has hitherto received. He has acted on the well
known principle of giving the accused the benefit of
a doubt. He has interpreted the disfranchising
clauses in the most liberal sense he could fairly
put upon them, admitting to the franchise all who
are not expressly excluded from it, and limiting
the exclusions to the strictest meaning of the
words of the Acts. He has, in short, construed

the law in the sense most favourable to the South,
but without, in any way, straining it in favour of
those whom the Legislature obviously intended to
exclude. But the very fact that this liberal inter-
pretation causes dissatisfaction amongthc extremer
portion of the Republican party will tend greatly
to conciliate Southern feeling. The liberation of
Mr. DAVIS has raised a little storm in the North,
but has had a quieting influence on the South, and
the storm will blow over while the calm will re-
main. Mr. STAN BERRY'S interpretation of
the Disfranchising Acts will have the same
effect. There will be protests at the North,
but acquiescence at the South. And though
one of the Southern Governors, disappointed at the
failure of the appeal to the Supreme Court, hag
given a certificate of approval to the military
government by deliberately preferring it to negro
suffrage, and by calling on the people to choose it
in preference to reconstruction on the basis of the
negro vote, it is not likely that his advice will be
taken. The people are tired of playing a losing
game, and the narrowing of the disfranchisement
inflicted on their ruling classes widens the area of
active and willing participation in the work of
reconstruction. There is of course much talk of
resistance, just as at the North there is a talk of
new conditions ; but North and South there is a
strong desire for speedy settlement, and a determi-
nation to set the obstructionists aside. Mr.
Svzverces talk of confiscation and Governor
PERIN'S talk of refusing to reconstruct
the States are two extremes which coun-
teract each other, and between them are the
vast majorities of the people ready to close the
era of division, and open the new period of recon-
ciliation and peace.

The work of reconstruction has now entered on
its third stage. Registration will commence at
once all over the South, and for the next two
months will constitute the chief business of the
States. Tho Act provides that it shall be com-
pleted before the Ist September, and that within
thirty days of its completion an election for a
Constitutional Convention shall be held. It will
now be the fault of the Southern people if the
registration does not include nearly the whole of
them, and if the Conventions do not represent
with equal impartiality both races and all classes
among them.