The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-08
From the New York World.
MAGNANIMOUS TEMPER OF THE
SOUTHERN PEOPLE.

The bearing Of the southern people unde,
their defeat and the immense loss of property
involved In the emanci patton Of their slaves, is
more generous, manly, and self-respecting thar
We had any reason to expect. From the Poto
mac to the Rio Grade, there is not guerrilla
band, nor any demonstration of resistance to the
federal authority. The Influential statesmen OF
the South, and their trusted military leaders
are disposed, to,a man, to acquesce in reunion
aud make the best of the situation. Genera
Lee, whom the southern people revere, is an
open applicant for pardon and lends his weighty
example to a sincere and faithful submission t.
he laws. General Johnston, who stood next tt
Lee in southern consideration, has publicly
given as rational advice to his fellow-citzens a.
could have been dictated by the stanches
friends of the Union. Mr. Boyce of South
Carolina, Governor Brown, OF Georgia, anC
other southern statesmen of equal distinction
have made addresses counseling acquiesence ir
the abolition Of slavery, and featy to the fedora
government. The southern newspapers are al
most universally conducted in the same admira
bic and manly spirit There is no continuation:
suleness, no captious refining on the Constitu
ton, DO refractory assertion of state sovereignty
no harsh criticism Of the policy of President
johnson, none OF the hasty tone of self-assertior
once so characteristic of southern public men
And yet there is nothing servie or craven il
the general tone Of acquiescence and submission
1t Is the simple manifestation of good sense ano
manly feeling, which accepts the inevitable
without womanish petulence, and seeks, in
straight forward manner, to adapt itself to the
actual situation.
AS Americans, the South has given US nt
reason to be ashamed of our countrymen. They
made, to be sure, a terrible mistake in going in
| to this contest, but once in, they bore them
selves with resolution, gallantry, persistence
and fidelity to each other, which did no discred
II to their public spirit and soldiery qualities
The herculean and protracted exertions we were
compelled to make to subdue them attest thei
vlgor and valor; and, after SO tough contest
We cannot deny them the possession of grea
qualities without huMiliating self -disparagem
But the trankness of their submission, wher
they saw they were beaten, is as conspicuous
proof OF magnanimity the chivalric determi
nation with which they fought against superior
odds. 1t adds to our sense of national strength
that, in future wars with foreign powers, VIZ
shall have the support Of men who understand
so we'll the duties Of soldiers and citizens
Considering :heir present admirable bearing
ought We to treat them as friends or as enemies
When We separated from Great Britain, we pro
claimed to the world, in the Declaration of In
dependence, that we should hold the Britons
like other foreign peoples, "enenaies an ecor, IN
peace friends" Shall we treat our own repent.
ant brethren with less magnanimity than foreign
nations practice toward each other? Having
treated these brave and misguided fellow-coun.
trymen as enemies in War, shall We refuse tc
treat them as friends in peace? Why should
our newspaper TEEN with calumnies on their
character? When they SO frankly accept the
new order of things, and the mighty revolution
in their social system, what sense, what magma
nimity, what deceney even, is there in subject
ing them to needless humiliation and indigni
ties? Nobody fears new rebellion; nobody
believes that the frank submission Of the South
is feigned; and it is unworthy the character OF
a great nation to practice a mean, suspicious,
and irritating surveillance over a proud and
spirited community, who bear themselves with
such self-command lnder one OF the greatest
trials through which any people was ever called
to pass.
PUurNup nrCIcJoA-Thoro hoe