The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-12-15
Wistellantpus>
From the Galveston Tszas) Nesos.
The True Status of the South.

Are we not il danger of misunders and
ing and disappearing ourselvesas to our
opinion and relations to onr government
and to our late enemies? By some
We arc represented as admitting that the
war was great crime-that the southern
people are, by consequence, great crimi-
mails, aud that now, heartily repenting of
their manifold offences toward the govern
nlent, they ask forgiveness and rest ora
tion 10 their former status, on the ground
simply of repentance and reformation -
BY some, they are represented as submit
ting under protest-as still cherishing the
spirit Of opposition to the government -
as still breathing threatenings and def.
ance against it and as still resolved to op.
pose aud defy it, by some other than bel
ligerent programme.
These representations are both ultra
and untrue as well as unjust The first
degrades us-brings US down to the low
est level of ignominy. 1t implies that
the war was inaugurated without rational
cause and against principle--and that ei.
Their from ignorance or spirit of iniqui-
ty, millions of the most enlightened peo-
pie Oh the globe, for four years, waged,
with uncompromising energy, gigantic
conflict that consumed all their substance
and compelled the sacrifice of unnumber.
ed thousands of their best and bravest
sons.
The other representation degrades us,
also, because it charges US with insinceri-
ty anl duplicity-the opposites of candor
and frankness which have always been
allowed as characteristics of the southern
people.
Why may not the truth be known and
published !? The southern people would
be false to themselves and to all the great
principles which have shaped their opin-
ions and animated their heroism in the
late terrible contest, if they desire their
character and sentiments 80 to be in the
least distorted or shaded also as to obscure
their true lineameuts.
The government and those 10 authority
over us, by knowing US truly as we are,
will not only respect US the more in our
condition of disaster and misfortune; but
will more promptly aud effectively restore
our political rights aud reipvest US with
our lost political powers Whether ap-
piled to nations, communities or to indi-
viduals, it is, aud will forever be, true,
that sincerity auK good faith, in the wild
est sense Of which they are capable, are
infexibly necessary to establish and main
tain useful or unpleasant relations. This
law is ordained By the Deity, and applies
alike to all beings and conditions
Truth constitutes one of the organic ele.
ments Of the Divine Being. 1t enters as
an essentia! constituent into all the "works
that He has wrought"
ln defining the true status and opin-
ions OF the southern people, it must be
admitted that the most accurate and con-.
prebensive statement will not apply to
many individuals and to considerable
classes among US. There are some, who
have always opposed, with conscientious
ness, secession and all that was ATTEMPTED
in Its name. There arc some, who never
had we'll defined or clearly formed opin-
ion as to secession or any other political
question and who followed their leaders
because of their faith in them or to be
with the multitude. There are some, and
not few, who wcre outtpokeu secession