The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-28

allegiance and amnesty, and associated
themselvosl with tho sec0nd-class IN
their political operations. This class h
by no means unimportant; il is strong
In numbers, deals in brave talk ad.
dresses itself directly and necessarily
to the passions and prejudices OF the
masses, and commands the admiration
of the wamen. Fl
The multitude of people who have
no definite ideas about the circumstan-
ces ,luder which they live and about
the course they have to follow; whose
intellects are weak but whose prejudices
and impulses are strong, and who are
ant to be carried along by those who
know how to appeal to the latter.
After eplarging upon these points, he
comes to the following conclusions:
If nothing We're necessary but to re-
store the machinery of government in
the States lately in rebellion in point of
form, the movement made to that end
by the people of the South might be con-
sidered satisfactory.
But II it Is required that the southern
people should also accommodate them
selves to the results of the war i'm point
of spirit these movements fall far short
of what must be insisted upon.
The loyalty of these masses and most
ofthe leaders Of the southern people con-
sists in submission to necessity. There
is, except in individual instances, an en-
tire absence of that national spirit which
forms the basis of true loyalty and patri-
otism.
The emancipation of the slaves is sub
mitted to only in so far as chattel slavery
in the old form could not he kept UP.
But, although the freedman is no longer
the property OF the individual
he is considered the slave of So
ciety, and all independent State legisla-
ton will show the tendency to make him
such. The ordinances abOlishing slave
ry, passed by Conventions under the
pressure of circumstances, will not BE-
looked upon as barring the establish
ment of a new form of servitlIde.
Practical attempts on the part of the
southern people to deprive the negro OF
his rights AS freedman may result In
bloody collisions, and will certainly
plunge southern society into restless
and anarchical confusion.
Such evils can be prevented only by
the control of the National
in the states lately In re-
bellion until free labor is fully devel-
oped and firmly established, and the ad-
vantages and blessings of tho new order
of things have disclosed themselves.
This desirable result will be fastened by
q firm declaration Oh the part of the
that national control in
the South will not cease until such re-
suits are secured. Only in this way can
that security be established in the
South which will render numerous i'm
migration possible, and such immigra-
ton would materially aid favorable
development of things. The solution
Of the problem will be very much facili-
lated by enabling all the loyal and free
labor elements of the South to exercise
1 healthy influence upon legislation. 1t
will hardly be possible to secure the
freedmen against class legislation and
private persecution unless he be endowed
with ceytain measure Of political
power.
AS to the future peace and harmony of
he Union. it is Of the highest impor-
ance that the people of the states lately
n rebellion be not permitted to build up
mother peculiar institution" whose
'pirit is in conflict with the fundamental
principles of our political system; for as
ong as they cherish interests peculiar to
hem In preference to those they have in
common with the rest of the American
people, their loyalty to the Union will
always be questioned.
desire not to be understood as saying
that there are no well-meaning men
among those who were compromised In
The rebellion. There are many, but
neither their number nor theirinfluence
Is strong enough to control the manifest
of the popular spirit.
There are good reasons for hope that
determined policy on the part of the
National Government will produce In
and valuable conversions.
This consideration counsels lenity as to |
such as is demanded by the
humane and enlightened spirits OF our |
lines, and vigor and firmness in the car
ying out of principles such as is de-
handed by the national sense Of justice |
nd tha axipancies Of Our situatiOn