The Abbeville bulletin. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-08-17
MAaNANIMoUs TEMPER OF THE SOUTH.
EHH pEOpIR

The subjoiued article from the New York
Wortd contains many just statements and in
dIcous reflections, which We trust the Admin
ia.ration aud The people Of tho North geuer-
ally will calmly ponder:
The bearing OF the Southern people under
their defeat and the immense loss of property
involved in the emancipation of their slaves
Is more generous, manly and eeIfrespectipp
than We had any reason to expect. From the
Potomac to the Rio Grande, there is not a
single guerilla band nor any demonstration Of
resistance to the Federal authority. The in
fuential statesmen of the South and their trus
ted military leaders, are disroseds. to a man,
to acquiesce in reunion and make the best of
the situation. Gen. Lee, whom the Southern
people almost revere, is an open applicant for
pardon, and lends his weighty example to a
sincere aud faithful submission 10 the lave
Gen. Johuston, who stood next to Lee in
Southern consideration, has publicly given as
rational advice to his fellow: citizens as could
have been DICTATED by the staunche friends
Of the UGion. Mir Boyce, of South Carroll.
ma. Governor Brown, OF Georgia, and other
Southern statesmen of equal distinction, have
made addresses cuunselling acqu iescepce in the
nhoii ion of slavery and iealty to the Federal
Government. The Southern newspapers are
almost universally conducted in the same ad.
nirahle and manly spirit There is no con.
tunacious sull llenness. no cnptious defining on
the Constitution. no refractory assertion of
'''h'e sovereignty, no narsh Criticism OF the
policy of President Johnson, none of the
naughty tone of self assertion once 80 char
;ct.rist,c OF Southern public men. And vet
there is nothing scrvile or craven in the gen.
cral tone Of ncquiescence and submission, 1t
is the simple manifestation of good sense and
manly feeling, which accepts the inevitable
without woranish petulence and seeks, 10 a
slva:eat forward manner, to adapt itself to the
actual situation.
AS Americans. the South Inns given us no
seas"ns TO be ashamed of our oountrymen
They made, to be sure, a terrible mistake in
going into this contest; but once IN, they bore
themselves with q resolution. gallautry, per
sistence ard fidelity to each other which did
no diecrcdt to them public spirit and soldicrIv
qualities. The herculean and protractcd ex
er'ion We were compelled to make to subd Tie
them, et,cSt their vigor and ardor; and alter
So tough contest we cannot deny them the
possession of great qualities without humia
ting self disparsse,nent. But the frnnkness Of
their submission, when they saw they were
beaten IS rs conspicuous proof of magma
nimity as the chva'ric determination with
which they fought against superior odds. 1t
adds to our sense of national strength That, in
future wars with foreign powers, we phall
hare the support Of men who understand 80
we'll the daties of soldiers and citizens.
Considering their PRESENT admirable bearing
ought we to treat them as friends or as enc
We proclaimed to the world, in the Declaration
Of Independence, that we should hold tho
Britons, like other foreign peoples, "enemies
in war, in. peace friends Shall we treat our
own repentant brethren with less magnaniln
~ Than foreign nations practice toward each
other9 Having treated these brave and mis-
guided fellow cuuntrymen as enemies in war,
shall we refuse 10 treat them rs friends in
peaceI Why should our newspapers teem
With caluninies on their chnracter7 When
they 40 frankly accept the new order Of things,
and the mighty revolution in their social
eysten, what sense. what magnanimity, what
decency even. is there in sukj citing them 10
needless humiliation and indfguitiesl Nobody
fears new rebellion; nobody believes that
the hank submission of the South is fegned p;
and 1t ID unworthy tho character of a great
nation to practice n mean, suspicious. and ir.
ritating eurveil ance over proud aud spirited
community who bear themselves with such
sense and self command under-~-oae of tn.
greatest trials through which any people. " as
ever called 10 pass.