The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1865-12-16
The Situation.


ing since the meeting Of Congress. The great
rupture between President johnson and the Re-
publican party, which Copperhead politicians
predicted would take place, has not occuTed.--
There is happy agreement between the Presi-
dent and Congress on the leading issues before
the country, differing only in minor particulars.
The Radical movements of Sumner, Wade, Ste
vens others, meet with little favor in Congress or
throughout the county. There is an evident In
clination to favor the moderate policy of the
President. His views gain strength every day.
Horace Greely has declared himself favorable to
them, and other prominent members Of the Re
publican party seem inclined to treat as kindly
and moderately with the late Rebels as is consist
emf with public safety.
1t is source Of regret that this disposition is
not met by a more hearty acquiescence in the
results Of the war, and a more earnest desire to
cement the foundations of the Union, on the part
of the Southern people. 1t was only after the
most emphatic demands Of the President, that
the Southern Conventions adopted the amend
ment abobilishing slavery annulled their ordi-
debts, and agreed to give the blacks among
them, some sort Of protection. At their elections
for Congressman and State officers, those candi-
dates were chosen who had signalized themselves
by devotion 10 the Rebel cause. The harder
they had fought against the government, the bet
ter their chances for election. Nine-tenths OF the
Representatives elected by the Southern States
are unpardoned Rebels who cannot take the test
oath prescribed by Law.
Will the people of the South not see that their
only safe and wise course is to accept the cOnd-
lions imposed on them, with a cheerful admis-
sion of their justice and necessity They who
peril all in a desperate hazard and lose, surely
may not prescribe for themselves the conditions
on which they will receive again, that which
they have lost 1t is for them humbly to accept
the easy measures proposed by the President and
vigorously to work for the success of those new
ideas and systems that have followed the war
Common sense as we'll as interest demands this
course.
Every display Of determination to Withstand
the demands of Congress or the President; every
childish repining at their fate every silly hank
eringt after the sAesh-potsr of slavery, only
makes their condition worse. They must feel
the Impulse of that progressive spirit which is
abroad in the land. The shackles that bound
press, the tongue and the arm, must be broken.
1t won t do to allow the freedmen to be whip
ped and shot and hunted down by blood-honnds.
1t wont do to insult and maltreat Northern men
because they favor the protection Of the negro
in his simple rights. 1t won't do to throw news
papers out Of the mails because they speak senti-
ments which do not agree with their own. There
must be free Speech free press, free discussion,
free enterprise. ~ eli
The safety of Northern men as citizens or trav-
ellers in the South, must be fully guaranteed
to blacken the news columns Of Southern pa
pers no more pompous Qualifications of South
ern chivalry; - no more yilli6cation of Northern
mudsilIs;' no more threats against the govern
ment if their demands are not complied with
There must be a decent respect shown for labor
and laboriug men.
Ifsuch evidences of good faith are followed By
an absence of that fell spirit which for fifty years
made it impossible for an anti-slavery man to
live in the South, By cordial encouragement Of
emigration, and the establishment of thorough
systems of Public School Education, the people
Of the South will be fairly met by those of the
North, and the whole country will advance in
harmonious prosperity. If they refuse the ad.
monitions of fate, the dictates of prudence, the
advice of friendship, then the power that saved
the country from disruption and ruin, must con-
tnue its guardianship over the rebellious States.