Shreveport semi-weekly news. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-09-03
Loyalty Of the South.

faults. On the contrary, openness,
frankness, even to a fault, has been
the leading trait of the great body of
our people. They look with sover-
eign contempt upon the crafty, sneak
ing hypocri;e who attempts to palm
himself off for what he is not, in or
der to deceive and put people of
their guard.
Mo- the southern man has ever
been open, manly, and frank in his
dealings with others; and was never
, more SO than at present.
Many years ago our public men
and Our press, made known to the
world our political creed. There was
no dissuis', nor attempt at di '.uise {;
i'll plain, unsophisticated nage,
the people of the north WEI, that
We We're agrieved, and ,ha al iusti-
tutions were endangered by the po-
li,isal action of party in that sec
ton of the Union, and that We would
undoubtedly dissolve our connection
with it if they persisted in their pro-
fessed policy. All this was said in
an open, straight forward, manly way,
without the least attempt ut conceal
lnent. There were no secret clubs,
plotting the destruction of the Union;
but, on the contrary. We openly pro-
claimed our principles and intentions
to the whole civilized world, and
when the contingency occurred upon
which the secession movement was
predicated, the whole thing was &C
complshed in the broad light of day,
in the face of all men. There was
not one secret meeting held-not one
single act that was not open and I'M
disguised. All this is undeniable.
and we do not believe that the worst
enemy of the south will even attempt
denial. Our only purpose in allu-
ding to this at present, is to bring
prominently before the people of the
north this we'll known trait of south
ern character.
And then, after the surrender OF
General Lee. the people, with one
unanimous voice, proclaimed tina, the
cause was Ao~"rab'y lost, and that
any further struggle would involve a
y aste of blood and treasure to no
good end. The struggle could have
been prolonged eveA for years, bu.
Mt such an enormous sacrifice AS 10
shock every we'll ordered mind.
We had openly and frankly wagsd
the war upon the ground of principle,
and would not descend to the bust
ness of the bandi. and the butcher
We wish to impress the idea, that so
long rs the cause maintained it's
ground in the minds of the people as
a great and holy principle, no sacri-
fees We're too heavy for its maintain
ance, but AS soon as We We're con
WINGED that, aLone, success was i'm
possible. we abandoned the cause as
frankly as we had commenced it.
Now comes another era. Tn, PEG
pie, everywhere, have submitted to
the national authorities, and with one
voice they declare that this submits
sion is sincere; and in proof of the
fact that there is no deceptiou, no
disguise in their professions, they
point to the tone of the southern
press, which, without one exception,
breathes a spirit Of loyalty to the
national government to the tone Of
our ecclesiastical leaders, and also
to the actions of southern men. so far
as the have been permitted to TAXI
part in Public proceedings. Then our
Lees, and our Johnsons, and cur
Beauregards, AL = the great Mill
tary leaders of le south, and our
Elliots and Quintards among the
clergy, have not only given in their
adhesion to the government. but have
all, in the most public and solemn
manner, urged upon all our citizens
to do the same. Then, why distrust
the people of the south? Our past
history and our present professions
do not justify any such distrust.
We say that we are loyal to the gov
ernment of the United States; that
we have no idea of again disturbing
the public peace, and that all our
acts harmonize strictly with this pro-
facciop Tile baipc O., ,,J W., ,,,,,,