Washington telegraph., 1865-01-04

RE-CoysTRUCTIoN.-T election Of Lincoln
as President of the United States has had the
effect which we predicted, and desired Re-
construction is dead, North and South, forever.
That ghost, the mos, fearful of any that has
haunted us during the war, is exercised most
etfectualy.
Have you never observed Of warm spring
day, when the genial sun comes out, how frogs
and snakes, and Lizards, and the whole cold
blooded reptile tribe, that had lain dormant
during the winter, begin to put forth their
heads, and crawl out boldly to the public gaze,
This was the effect of the prospect of the
election Of Democratic President of the United
States. In unexpected quarters arose the loath-
some vermin which selfish love OF ease and per-
soral security always engenders. Men sacrifice
too much the future for the present, and many
were weak enough to desire peace and rest upon
terms that would have bound them hand and
foot to the dominant msjorties of the North,
under the delusivs promise of constitutional
guarantees; or which might perhaps have given
the enemy, in the lull OF hostilities, an oppor-
tunity of putting their heels upon us, and
crushing us out forever.
The election of Lincoln has frozen the South
ern heart into consolidated mass of opposi-
tion-too much thawsd before by Democratic
Establishments. Thank God! we are now all
fully in harmony! In tho whole diapason of
Southern sentiment, there is not a note of dis
cord. All perncious sentiments have withered
like tender leaves in the early frost All the
crawling vermin have receded to their holes
The South is ONE. Never in the history of the
world has there been people SO much and
entirely one
We do not wish nor mean to preserve the
parallel of the reptiles. But glad to
nounce that both vice-President Stephens and
Hon. Mr.. Beyce, of South Carolina, have pub
Ished explanatory letters. removing the very
painful impressions with regard to them, ere
ated by their publications during the recent
Presidential canvas in the United States. Mr.
Boyce, indeed is past apology, and his letter is
only lame effort to plaster over a recantation,
but Mr.. Stephens stands on higher ground. We
scarcely differ with him as he explains himself
do not differ with him at all except in beev-
ing, as he does not, that recognition should pre-
eeds an armistice and negotiations. His re-
communication, or rather his acariescence in
convention of States, IS not based upon any
design to recognize such convention as an
authoritative body, over and independent Of the
Confedsracy. He says he does not mean at all
that the States should assemble in their sove-
reign capacity, to decide and act upon public
affairs as such. He is only willing that the
Confederacy itself, under the treaty y-makinc
power. should refer the matters in question for
advice and consultation only, to a set of arbi-
traitors as it were, selected from the different
States by the people. and therefore better ac.
quanted with their wishes. Recognition being
once had, there would be more objection to
this than to refer our matters in dispute to any
foreign power, not being bound by the decision.
We find, also, that our Congress has crushed
out, and utterly repudiated, all adumbrations
OF reconstruction sentiment. Through Federsl
papers we learn that unanimous vote Of lhe
House of Representatives declared that we could
fever again live in political connection with
She people Of the North Re construction has