Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1865-08-23

versities of principle and belief, as
many shades of opinions and of pur-
Lposcs as we find among ourselves.
l have already spoken Of the fact of a
class of original and bitter secession
lists who have been dominant in the
contederacy during the war, but this
was by no means Il majority in num-
bers. They had succeeded III grasp
ing the reins Of power and acquir-
ing Il control in the government OF
these states; but there was Il very
large portion ofthe people their equals
IN intellect, and their superiors in no.
rality, who were opposed to Il divis-
;On of the Union, and who resisted
the doctrine Of secession until the
machinery ot the rebellion. having
been used to produce an actual coils
ION between the Federal Government
and the rebels, these men, influenced
% the notion that allegiance was due
TO their state, and not by their love
u the principle of secession itsrlf.
We're induced [ o submit TO, rather
than cordially unite III The rebellion.
iii UNION MEN.
During the whole war they have con-
stItuted q party, IN several States exceed
mgiy influential. and at times seeming
almost able TO obtain the control. known
Is conservatives While they yielded a
nominal submission to the rule If Davis
Il his Cabinent, they sought by every
means, within the scope of what they
called Il constitutions opposition, to
weaken the power of the rcbcllious central
government, and To force the confrderacy
INTO negotiations which they hoped 10 be
able 50 far to control as to bring about
peace upon the basis of reunion. IL would
not be correct to say that all of them en-
tIreiy agreed 20 the positions which ]
nave Just stated, but / think ! am moi
mistaken in say ing that. had IL not been
for the cruising uespOtism which the
Davis Government succeeded in establish
ing and the ruthless severity with which
military government was applied TO the
remotest portions of the community. in
each Of the seeded States this party would
nave openly avowed and probably sue
ceeded in carrying out the purposes and
doctrines which | have described. When
put IN peril Of their lives. such men ire
q~uently avOwed their allegiance 20 the
rebel government in terms much stronger
than their hearts received. and thus thciI
apparent cause was far more consistent.
although their purposes and their djspo-
sition were so well understood by the reb
ell government, that they were never
trusted but were kept under the strictest
and most constant surveillance, and were
constantly upbraided as tories blythe party
IN power. II is from this class of persons
that President Johnson has selected the
men to whome be has intTusted the reOr-
ganization of the rebellious States. Had
there been a body of true and determined
i~oyalisls there, of course the Provisional
Governors, n other officers intrusteu
that duty. would nave been selected from
them. But the despotism of the Davis
Government was such that no class of 10y
al persons could exist within their dOmin-
IONS. They were killed or exiled. The
few who were found still faithful, were
generally men whore humble circum-
stances and lack of positive influence sc
cured them some degree of immunity
In the mountain Businesses OF North Car
Dina and OF Georgia little communities
of poor and uneducated farmers might be
found among whom the fire of loyalty
still burned; but even these were often
hunted out their young men Were mer
c~ilessly impressed into the rebel army,
aud forced to fight against the Govern
ment which they loved. and the homes
OF those who persisted in their attach
ment to the Government, were destroyed.
and their households forced to flee be
yond the rebel lines for security. If
those who we're thus forced into the rebel
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tisan bands of rebels secured the country.
Selling and hanging them without form
of trial or pretense Of investigation. I'm
der such a rule the existence OF any con-
siderable body of avowed loyalists became
of course al im%posibIliJY, and the whole
South, below the harder States. took on
the complexion OF u uniform subservi-
ence to the rebel rule, which it otherwise
never would have had.
TIKI POLITICAL DRIFTwOoD.
In every community there is a large body
of persons whose personal opinions have
30 little of ixelness that they readily fol-
low the prevailing sentiment, and attach
themselves with more or less fidelity to
the prevailing ~goyernmcnt, Whatever 1t
be. In the South, a large portion of the
poorer classes were thus blindiy allied TO
those whom they were accustomed to
look up to IN their own neighbOrhoOd,
and followed the rebel leaders as they
would have followed the Conservatives.
had they been able 10 obtain a real con
troll in the Government. The close of the
war has now set free these different ele-
ments, and it remains to be seen in what
direction the opinions aud purposes of
the different classes OF society will tend
THE PRESIDENTS POLICY.
The experimental policy of re-construc-
ton devised by the President IS testing
this. The time has not yet come when
we can affirm with certainty what will De
the result. From a personal acqudint-
ance with some of those into whose hands
the work of reorganization hasbeen given,
I incline to the belief that the conserva-
tive party, sO-called, in the South, viii
gradually collect about 1t enough of the
floating mass of people TO whom l have
TO give them the substantial con
troll. and enable them, for some time, al
least, to guide the d~estinies of these States.
| believe that this party, in several OF the
States, Will be found DESTROYS of coming
cordial rapport with the Union party
of the North-that the antagonist be
tween lneM ana lHOsc SCCSSSlDulSlS VINO
were dominant during the war, will in
rather than diminish, and that if
those States can be brought into proper
to their sister States of the North,
and into y cordial acceptance OF the real
result OF the war. under the guidance of
any party formed out OF the white pop
now residing in the South, ii will
be through the influence anu under the
.uidence at these men. That they have
prCjudices cOmmon to their class,
aud false opinions with reference TO the
system q! slavery. HO one can question
but | think it will be found tlgJ in their
are all those men who have any
Willingness to do justice TO the freedmen.
who seek the real advanccuIeutan and pros
1erliy OF both races. and ~ bring matters
10 such an ultimate condition rs would
be IN amy degree satisfactory 10 the Union
party in these States. They are those
guo are most willing to receive without:
opposition, the educational effect Of the
war upon themselves. to listen with some
of candor TO ihe suggestions of our
Northern people, and To- weigh, as we'll
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