The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-03

NNNLhNENACNE III 81
The President has issued q proclamation
for the reorganization of South Carolina,
which is an essential reseript of those al
ready issued for the reconstruction of North
Carolina and other states. We regret that
this action has been taken so early. We
have already expressed the belief that it
was especially true of South Carolina, IS
m~essurably of every other state lately in
rebellion, that its people were not yet fit for
sslf-goverDment under the Union. The
mass or Tnenu arc stin bittor and unrepsnt-
ant rebels conquered but sullen and defiant,
opposed to the Union, opposed to enamel
patton, hating the "Yankees" with a vio-
hste the negroes, and nursing within their
breasts q smothered volcano Of secession
which wants only opportunity TO burst out
into renewed rebellion. If there are any
white loyslists, true to the Union and will
ing to support the emancipation policy Of
the government, they are in 8 hopeless
minority. Thousands may, TO be sure, take
the oath Of amnesty, but experience has
taught us the utter delusion and folly Of
attempting to transform already p~erjured
rebels and traitors into patriots by the for
mule of oaths and afirmstions. They msy
swear loyalty with their tongues, but their
hearts remain unchanged.
Are people holding these sentiments TO-
wards the Union and toward true Union
lists, black and white, fit TO govern them
selves, fit to frame constitutions under the
Union, fit to determine their relations with
their sister States, fit to be entrusted with
the care and keeping of the Union-loVing
freedmen 2 Would it not have been better
TO maintain a military government for the
preservation of law and order until there
has been time and occasion TO develop
cultivate and test a Union sentiment
among the mssses-until the emancipation
policy of the government has been fully
carried out and the freedmen placed in q
position of Independence, able 10 maintain
themselves against want and agsiustoppres-
ssion-until, the State could be reconstructed,
in the words ofthe Union platform, "at such
time and upon such terms as will give I'M
questioned assurance of peace and Sc
curity, not onlyto the loyal people of the
rebel States, but also Of the peace and
prosperity of the Federal Union
These remarks, as we have said, spply
messurably to all rebel States, but most
especially to South Carolina. First and
last in rebellion, bitterest in secession, Hero
osf now in hatred ot the Union, of emsn-
cipation, of the " Yankees" aud the "nig-
gers" its people would seem especially un-
fit TO l~egislste for themselves or the freed
men. The policy of the President, which
is only an experiment in the other States
would seem predestined to failure here
We hope it may succeed we shall feel il
our duty to make every effort for its sue
CESS Dus rno prospects rr = satisfactory
adjustment of the relations between the
Palmetto State and the general government
are by no means hopeful.
We know nothing of the a~ntecedenh of
the newly appointed Provisional Governor,
B. F. Perry, Esq, except what we CLEAN
from the reference made TO him during the
recent interview between the President
and the North Carolina delegation. The
part of that conversation which refers to
him is thus reported in the Washington
Chronicle:
Delegste.-It may be that those in
whom we might have confidence might be
Objectionable; but there is Mr.. Aiken.
Other Dslegste.-Or Mr.. Mckinley.
Another.-Mr. Boyce, or Colonel Man
ming, or Mr.. Perry.
President-B. +. Perry 2
Delegste-Yes, sir.
President-What part has he taken in
the rebellion
Delegste-He was for q while Judge in
one of the Confederate courts.
President.-Perry used to be rather too
much ofs peoples man for you South Car
olinians over there. Well ishe an accept
able man.