Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-10-11
The soutiern Congressional Elections

The Southern Congressional Elections:
f. The World. of yesterday, says The New:
York News Of the 22d ult., replieB to cur
comments rpon the threat which it, held out
Ito Southern constituencies a .fews days ago,
that if they did not demonstrate u their np-
qualified submissiYenesS" to the North, by
teIectipg to Congress; such men as could swear
Ethat they h:ld been her worst enemies during,
the terrifc.itruggle through which she has;
passed, not9only would her representatives be
denied admission to their Beats, but their
States would continue 70 be held in condi-
ton Of territorial bondage, and under militia
Try rule.-.; ssj5 - sa.ies.. - :: s
- We you'd hardly have refrained to tresd
upon such delicate, ground - this, ossto haye
given our advice to tho people Of the South
10 a matter which so peculiarly concerns
themselves, if !, we had not feared that tho
widespread reputation,of the w orld for con.
:servatism ard moderation might minlesd tho
1South as to, the real sentiment of the North
on 20 grave q matter. To. prevent this, we
assured the South, as we. again assure: her;
that the North does not. demand any such
self abasement and humiliation on her part
Tho World now shiftsits ground, and bases
| its advice mainly upon tle-act Of 1862. We
are very Cert ain, that if this act had any valid
4 Its even as to the Congress which. enacted it
land Ne think that it had none} it certainly
cannot be held binding upon any subsequent. n
| Congress, and cannut possibly be enforced to
the exclusion from, the next Congress- Of any
nember who, having the qualifications pre-
scribed by the Constitution, may, be duly
elected thereto. 49,. -. ,.x. u.
+ But if the next .Congreassshall, contrary to!
our belief, hold that tits still in force, We
are very sure that it will hasten to repeal it..
Every one, except the extreme Radicals, will
tbe opposed to its enforcement, and these.will
not caro- to use so public and Ineffective q
weapon. They do not wish to exclude any
particular class of ofSouthern, Representatives,
but to deny all representation to the Southern
States until these shall purchase their corn
I'plete restoration to the Union by granting the
fright Of suffrage to the freedman:
But even, conceeding that the next Con-
sress will enforce the Law of 1862, or re. en-
act.it, We still maintain thatthe South cannot
consistently with hor self respect or interest,
! send TO Congress the class of men who can
ttaEe the oatar arS1v'o-a..l---.---l..-..
not be represented at all than that she should
voluntarily send to Congress men who have
been false to her during tho s,omenteus con
aict of the last four years, and between whom
and the vast majority Of their constitu.
onts there can be neither sympathy nor con;
idence. >.ea.
| IF fthere is ever to be . Congress in which
the South will need her ableSt aud most de.
voted sons, that Congress will be- tho asxt.
It is already filled with mon who were elected
under the influence OF the imbittered feelings
which were 30 recently prevailing, and few,
very few, of them are yet disposed to be mag:
nanimons or as just ss they should be to
their more PROSTATE foe. Why require the
South to increase the pumber[of these one
mics By sending from hor own midst those
] who would be even more dangerous to her
peace2 s j
| Some Southern men may deiude themselves
with the idea that this would be only tenn
porary concession to the Office seeking rene:
gsdes in,their midst; that to all subsequent
Congresses they would be able to send men
who would more faithfully represent them 2.
But isit not more probable that these men
si,ies which tho act Of 1852 imposea, and
thereby keep ;ths offices within thsir, oxn
control?. ,.sezssns. -.
We agsin selss speaple, ofthe South that
they ought TO plant Themselves upon the, gon.
atilution, .to.Nhese protection .hsy will have
been rastorsd before. they can vote, and rely.
hing npon ats powor. and upon the .patrietiana.
and good, sense Of the President, and the.
growing moderation and jastics o{ tho North,
to send to Congyessz theiE truest, best and
5wisest men, regardless ofrhc act ofsls6e. {: