The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-02
SOUTHERN VIEW OF CONsTRUC.
TInN.

SOUTHERN VIEW OF " CONSrRUC-
TON.
The Richmond Sentinel, the official organ
Of JEFFEBsoN DAVIS, publishes, with its
editorial sanction, an article on "The Great
Issue-Our Relations to it," from "the accom-
plshed pen Of distinguished and popular
citizen Of Virginia The accomplished
pen" commences its labor5 by writing a col
umn OF clap-trap Of the first order-one Of
those excited effusions to "6re the Southern
heat" We do not propose to review that
part OF the production. Its character may be
defined by quoting few of those words which
are most popular with the author-"Inde-
pendence," "Liberty," "Northern Despotism"
and others of that genus. We will hasten
over the preliminary prologue, and proceed
10 glance at the argumeDtative portion of the
article. The Importance which is attached to
the sentiments it sets forth arise from the fact
that the endorsement by the official organ Of
the 8oi-disaat President is equivalent TO an
exposition OF the Governments views on the
subject of reconstruction.
Speaking lof the causes which led to the
secession of the Southern States, he assigns
Eve reasons, wiz
"First. We feared exclusion from she Terri.
tories, IN colonization aud settlemcnJ.
at has been 'eal,ed in q Law of total hnd cter-
nal exclusion.
Second. We fare5 abolition in he District
of Columbia.
at has been realised in a law sor abolition.
with Inadequate compensation as 20 all, with
none rs T. some SHAREHOLDERS.
"Third. We tea'c7 ultimate abolition IN the
States.
"It has been ,coT;cd il the Infamous proca-
nation OF The Presdeut under lSw, for abolition
in the tislOyaN States
| 1t win be noticed that all the ground ever
claimed by the advocates Of Rebellion for
tEeir secession consisted of anticipated evils.
| No events which had occurred are presented
| by these Southern Molochs as their sympa-
thizers in our midst have attemptedyto excuse
their parricidal attack on the nation. They
say, with the utmost cOolness, that fears are
sufficient occasions for war. No overt act has
been committed at which they could take
Ofense, but it was possible that such might in
! the future occur; the efore they deluged the
land with blood, and turned our happy coun-
| try into desolate wilderness.
No further proof i needed and they declare
that the cause and occasion of this Rebellion
is slavery. 1t Is the cornerstone. Four out
of five reasons for rebelling was human bond
age.
They say that their antieipations were well
founded. Their fears have indeed proved cor
rect, but their ful6ment has been caused by
the Rebellion in the South. Had it not beer
for the civil war which the defenders of sla
very have waged against the constituted
authorities of The land, no Interference will
the domestic institution of slavery would have
t occurred. However strongly the feelings OF
, humanity in the Northern hear caused it to Op
pose slavery, yet the sense of obligation to laW
would have compelled the great mass of the
loyal people 20 allow the peculiar institution
e to continue uninterrupted in its course of bar.
e barlty and tyranny. But by their acts have
It they caused the loss Of their object. Freedom
is indicated, and they must lie in the bee
they have made"
y We call particular attention 20 the thrt
" caEse assigned, and its CulGlmcnt. 'It hat
je been realized by the Infamous proclamation
ts under TAO tor abolition in the 'dislOyal
States" The expression under law is pecu
+" liar, and has a suggestive significance. I
evidently means that this great act Of Ou
Is worthy Executive is, Notwithstanding th
,I emphatic denial by Northern s. ympa,hil,r,
acknowledged by Ihe Rcbels themselves to hi
according 10 law. What must be the ~eoss
i tions of the Coppcrhead. who has been work
y ing Tor the South in his invidjous manner, Il
le find that his principals rcpud,ate his effort
~ and acknowledge as legal lhat which he ha'
d, so persistently attacked as % gross usurpatio
" and unparalleled act Of Tyranny?
N The remaining reasons need 40 urthe
&c comment. Our remarks in the prsccdn
r apply to them. The weakness Of the Gith
too palpable for refutaton, and reflects n
credit to the accomplished pen" whic
framed it,
"Fouth We feared an effort to eluallhe III
Is white and black races-2n attempt to excite lusu
le reCtiOn.
y al. has been yeqli.cd in misceganatloa; in tl
~ sending of black troops % subjugate MS; in tf
rt enlistment Of our own slaves TO fight against u
N Fifth. We feared that Northern power wDul
,o become a foreign dominion to Us, alien in I
k sympathy and strong in its antipathy, and TN
N Il would subject all our interests 10 Us action, M
checked by practical Limitation and unm0dlhe
> by friendship.
v '"It has been yealised in this war"
o After long religious dissertation on th
h Northern church, he proceeds 10 review tina
o important subject ofreconstructiOn. He says
+ -" Can reconstruction destroy this elemeu
; of antagonism? Does such a union promls
e unity, and peace and progressP Does it nc
r threaten, nay, insure our utter destruction
d Having propounded these queries, the "accon
o plished pen" like the giant who erected stra'
k men, stood them up, and then knocked theT
9 down again, proceeds to reply TO his ow
g questions, In his own manner, which is any
70 thing but truthful one.
Ie The "hrepressible conflict" rdiculed !