Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-08-17


On the other hand, President Lincoln
showed himself to be nothing more thar
clay in the hands of the potter, ready tc
change his measures and principles at the
bidding of his party. President johnson
has filed all the highest and most honora
BILE Offices in the State of Tennessee with
great ability and satisfaction to the people
There is no stain or blot on his private
character. The ablest speech ever deliver
ed in the Senate of the United States, on
the issues between the North and South
WAS made by President johnson. He vo.
ted for Breckenridge in the Presidential
canvass of 1860. Judging, then, from his
antecedents, the South should have every
hope and confidence in him.
Mr.. Chairman, the future to my mind, is
not so gloomy as some would bave US be.
lieve. have no doubt that in ten years
the Southern States will be happy ndpros-
porous again, and we shall find that the loss
of slavery will be no loss at all to our real
comfort and satisfaction. The planter and
farmer will find that his net profits are great
er with hired labor than with slave labor.
The idleness and vagrancy of the negro,
in free state, may be nuisanceto society.
l have no doubt, in nine cases out of ten,
freedom will prove curse instead of g
blessing to the negro. No one should turn
off his negroes, if they are willing to re-
main with him for their victuals and clothes,
and work .as they have heretofore DONE
They had no agency in bringing about the
change which has taken place, and we
should feel no i'll will toward them on that
account. -
But Mr.. Chairman, the secession of elev.
en- or twelve sovereign States, composing
one.half of the territory of the United
States, was something more than rebellion.
1t was legitimate war between the two sec'
tions, and they acted toward each other
throughout the war as recognized belliger-
ents, and were SO treated and recognized BY
foreign nations. Prisoners were exchanged
between the two belligerents, and none were
treated as traitors during the whole of the
four years war. Hundreds of thousands
of prisoners were thus exchanged. The
highest generals, as we'll as the humbest
privates, were treated as captured soldiers
By both Governments, and exchanged.
Surely q general officer who has been ex-
changed while this gigantic war has been
waging, cannot tnow be demanded as o trait.
or, tried and executed as traitor.
There have been few national wars in
Europe in which greater armies were car
ried into service and on the field of battle.
To call such war a rebellion simply is
misapplication of terms. The greatest and
best men of the Southern States were most
conscientiously leading this war, either in
council or on the field of battle. .
In all history there is not more perfect
model Of a pure and great man (saVe Wash
ington) than General Lee. That he should
now be hanged as traitor would be an act
of national infamy that would shock the
whole civilized world, and render the name
of the United States odious in history.
While I do not think, Mr.. Chairman,
that the whole people of the Southern
States have behaved we'll in this war, and
done their duty at home and on the field of
battle, yet there is very large proportion
of them who have won immortal honors,
and whose glory in war and wisdom in
council will illustrate many bright page
in history. They have been unsuccessful
in the;. revolution, but this should not, and
does not, detract iio::c ii:c their heroic gallantry
on the field of battle, or their Statesmen ::nshlD
in the cabinet or halls oflegislation. They
will be remembered and hohored as heroes
and patriots, not only at the Sonth, but in
the North, too, as soon as passion subsidies,
and sober reason and calm reflection assume
their sway over the public mind.
I cannot and would not Mr.. Chairman,
ask my -oitizens to forget the past in
this war ss far as the North is concerned.
There have been deeds of atrocity commit
ted by the United States armies Wu.H@ nay
er can be forgotten in the Southern States.
But I do entreat them to become loyal cit
izeDs and respect the national authorities of
the Republic. Abandon, at once and for.
ever, all notions of secession, notification
and disunion. There is no reason why
there should be any sectional jealousy or ill
feeling between the North and the South.
They are greatly necessary to each other
Their interests are dependent and not rival
interests; and now that slaveryis abolished,
there will be no bone of contention between
the two sections. .... ---..
CoNFIscATIoN.-We publish quite a
long list of citizens of Virginia whose prop
erty has been seized for conGscation. The