Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-07-07
From the Philadelphia American.
HLH ~

now 10 ask the Afternoon OF rejecting lheh " 'ho
obs,acles which seem to interfere with this policy,
and which we should strive TO overcome, as well
for our own sake as for that Of our common coun'
try. These are various, but may all be grouped
together as influences tending to pauperiz1 the
3 nth; for the southern population offers no op'
position TO the enforcement of our revenue laws,
and the only trouble in assessment or collection
springs from causes operating to render the south
ern people unable to pay their taxes These arc
as follow
l. The uncertainty Of all property tenure at the
south In consequence OF the Impending poSsiOil'
" of conhscstion.
. The prevention OF all Northern aid to the ut.
tsrly IMPOVERISHED business men and planters OF
the south, caused by the dissemination Of exag'
Veratad statements OF the irritat condition OF
those classes the danger OF bread riots and gen
eral effort 10 foster disuusi.
q The indispostion Of Northern capitalists
and merchants to rlsI their money or goods In
communities " here they are liable az any moment
10 be taken possession OF by some arbitrary MIL
itary officer in consequence OF malicious mis-
information circulated by some evi!-disposed per-
son. .-,--.
4 The systematic eucOurage cement OF pauperism
AN ng the masses OF tho rking population,
both b.. cs and white, whereby produc i've indus
try becomes stagnapt, and capital invested in
lands or manufactures is un;emunerative.
9. The absurd sysiem, already established IN
some sections and advocated for general applica-
ton, Of dividing large aud valuable plantations
into lorty.acre farms giving these 20 pennies Ia
boreis without capital 10 purchase implements
or build houses or 70 Improve the land or 10 90
more IN IN raise enough to eat on the land
l. The terrible Suspense in which oil landed
property is now involved at the South, in conse.
auence of the cOnfscation act, has been discussed
earnestly and intelligenty by some Of the leading
Republican Journals az the West. ana the convlc
ton seems 10 be that the injury thus produced at
the south is so great as more than counterDai
ances the good the coutscation system might
involve il properly carried cut. Almost any
thing would be better Cor the South than this
suspense s,Uce even If all the lands Of rebels were
condscaIed they might be sold and pass into the
hands of men able 10 cultivate them; whereas
now, very many of the planters do not know
whether they own their lands or rot, and, conse'
ouently, feel Indifferent about spending money TO
nav laborers for their cultivation. so MAJ per
sous at the South were involved IN the REBELLION
that he loyal men aIe the exceptions. Hence all
who have property are living every day under the
auprehension that a stringent enforcement OF the
coniscatIOn act would sweep away all their pos
sessions aud leave them entirely destitute. We
need not dae upon the pernicious influence OF
this suspense, since its practical operation must
be obvious enough TO eyerg business man. The
ouestion is what can be donel The act was
passed by Congress and approved by President
Lincoln, 20 that II is binding law. IL Is not i'm
perative, however, that II should be executed
now since IL has been dead letter so long; or,
il still adhered 10 as matter OF policy TO be he'd
as a reserve weapon against Southern treas N us
operation may be restricted by Presidential proc
lama ion-Iestricted within fixed conditions
What We deem essential is that suspense should
he terminated as far as the Executive can ID so.
II the land is 10 be coLhscated, let proceedings he
commenced. Ii any classes are - be relieved OF
the peril, let them publicly be informed OF 1t by
procls mation.
. knowing rs we do the terrible havoc Of war
al the South, the devastation wrought by am!es
and guerillas, the robbery by the tremendous eN-
actions of the rebel government, and tie ami
hilation Of currency and accumulated capital 1t
is cruel thing for 80 many Northern presses TO
devote 30 much attention 10 the fostering OF con
tinued sections al amin )slty and contention. The
south needs our ali 20 rebuild and stock her rail
WAYS and canals, 10 restore her manufacturing in
terests 70 recognize her agricultural system, 10
replace her banAs. and to do thousand other
things Indispensable To the growth and progress OF
ciyihzaton Just AS we we,e Ourselves driven TO
call i A the aid Of foreign CAPT a. when our own
section WAS poor Yet nothing Is more sensitive
than capital and every we'll concocted yarn about
toe reu al Of planters 10 hire negroes their uety
n their enancipAted slaves plots 10 re-establish
the oLgarrhy or assume the rebel war debs, ne
cessarily kee away Northern capital from the field
where II could now be employed with so much
advantage 70 the whole county. How much pa
triotis IL there Is in getting up aud circulating
es stories, or in iosJer.ng these animosities,
our readers can see for themselves. What they
do not SO readily perceive Is that JUS. in proper
ton as we thus weaken the South and proong
Der suhsripgs. we keep upon our own shoulders
the entire burdens of supporting The natiuna eA'
penditures. Those who pay taxes may Therefore
set il down as a set led fact that they pay out OF
their own pockets for a. this insensate vengeance
NJ hat raA nd m
cation OF continuing 10 pay for II just so long rs
this implacaOle disposition continues. The South
being helpless 10 terminate IL, II becomes grave
question for the Northern people, which they may
solve for their own Satisfaction.
J. IL Is essentia! 10 the prosperity oil the south
that President johnson should prohibit, under Sc
we're penalties g. seizures of the properly OF civil
ians except under due process OF law. We see
every here statements in pint intended TO con
pass the arrest of Individuals and the coahscAuon
Of their property which Ne suspect 70 originate
Othsr N malice or re5enge, and We have watched
many CAses Of ne kind in order TO discover the
yet hardly any have stood the test OF military
civil investigation. We have, 10 the course OF
the war, read of TOO many instances II the capri
cious action Of military Offices toward civilians,
20 be inclined now 10 trust 10 their Aoministra'
ton Of civil affairs except under the restrictions
Of fixed laws. These things IN ~ be tolerated In
war, but in peace no American should cont:m
plate them with patience, and II seems TO US
strange that any one can expect high spiflteo
people ike the southerner4 10 be submissive IN
der such state Of things. The President may
retain in the hands Of the military the power to
suppress disturbances, 10 stop rebel publications,
TO arrest disturbers of the peace, but property
should be safe against seizure by then, except
undec the lega, process contemplated by The con
fscatiOn &C.
4. The pauperizetion Of the lab5ring popula'
ton is not, as many suppose, attributable TO the
abolition Of sl0very. IL mas existed In some sec,
tons of The north as q consequence OF lavish and
unwise charity, and the fact is 80 well ascertain
ed that those who 10 inquir- into the subject
may fnd il stated in a numcer of documents CON
ming benevolent organizations. We read
great deal about tie horrible restitution OIL thou'
sands of poor whites and blacks az the south,
and how they would starve to death were IL not
for government aid IN the shape Of the destitute
ration; but we hear nothing of another equally
potent cause of southern pauperism-the facility
afforded by this relief for getting living without
work. Every one Of these pauPers could get
work, pay and subsistence on the numerous plan
ta,ions which lie neglected for want Of labor
era. If any Of them are too proud or too lazy to
WORK they ought TO have full and official permits
sion 10 starve in the most dignifed and hero!c
Southern style. If 50 many are now on the verge
Of starvation ut q time when agricultural labor Is
in such demand, pray what are we 70 expect next
winter So long as we are foolish enough to
sea ter relief reckessly, we shall have this simu-
ls,ed want, and the moment the aid ceases star
walton will suddenly disappear. As regards the
poor whites, they are really no worse now than
they have always been. OF couse, thousands OF
men, women and children would not have lived
BY ,tng clay if they had anything else to EFT.
Nov thai labor is free and honorable, and wages
are paid for it, let these clay eaters 90 TO WORK on
the plantations and earn their living.
o. L. is 10 benefit to the agricultural laborers TO
take the lands from those who are able to pay
wages for work, and divide the PARTITIONS into
small holdings among pAuper owners, who are
unable to buy implements or stock their lands,
blacks NAV be benefited because they have
prospect of becoming established in life, the great
mass are really the Sufferers since their prospect
Of pay is thereby diminishe y. However much we
may, therefore, Afrlcanize the cotton and rice
districts, we shall relatively impoyersh the South,