Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-08-24
A Few words about The South.

We do not plead that no blood shall flow
That is a small matter. We waive the discus
sion of that. We do not go behind the Presi
dents proclamation. What We plead for IL,
that the war being oyer-the Southern people
having submitted to the National Government
having in good faith taken the oaths Of allie
gance-having in good faith abandoned seces-
sion--having in good faith accepted the instar-
taneOus emancipation of their slaves-bcing re-
ally disposed to become law-abiding citizens Of
the United States-having surrendered their
own views of the nature of the Federal Consti-
tuition, and accepted the Northern interpreted
ton. as decided by the war-haying turned
their backs on all their most cherished ideas
and opinions and honestly fallen in with tho
memorable logic of events-preparcd for new
ideas. new social adjustments, new habits OF
thought new ways. new laws-that there os
regards the nuin body Of the people the quarrel
owght TO stop, and the Northern people ought
to help them, and not pursue them.
If they deserve punishment--if all Of them
deserve punishment-hav they, has any indi-
vidual of them, gone unpunishcd2 Where are
the Young men of the South? The flower Of
that chivalry is dead. Thousands arc MANNED
and mutilated for life Where are their aged
parents and helpless sisters ? The whole land
draped in mourning they have not the enyron-
ments of luxury to temper their griets. BE-
reaved, they are also impoverished. The bulk
of the population have absolutely no property
at all. Great numbers need the plainest food.
The entire social organization Of the South, at
one blow, is violently destroyed. We live In
the midst of four millions of free Dcgrocs--yes-
r.. Al Ill I.ts Ia
ken. That which man values more than lifo
that without which he almost loses his idcnt-
ity-his habits of thought-the convictions and
feelings which have taken firm and enduring
possession of the mind-this is violently anni-
hilated. Accustomed to the widest liberty
and authority, the Southerncr is now restrain
ed, and has bit in his mouth. He belongs 10
a conquered race--hc feels that that race has
lost its individuality and dstinctiveness--snd
will be assmilated to the conqueror, and merg-
ed in the conquerer as Italy yielded to the
Lombards and Ostrogoths. The historic South
is dead. The sentiment Of life is cankercd.
The emancipation of the slaves was apenal-
ty inflicted directly, and went home to every
family in the South What scvcrer punish
ment than this could have been devised p
What were hundred gibbits and the confsca-
ton of millions Of property to this? This was
an earthquake: it upturned the whole social
| fabric.
We have not space to speak Of the hvmilia-
ton attendant upon oaths and applications for
pardon. upon seeing our towns garrisOncd and
Justice administered amongst lis by strangcsol-
diers.
We ask. then. has not the South been pun
ished ? GoD alone, who sees the iron enter the
soul. knows whether the South has been pun
isbed.
Punished: Virginia by New York; North
| Carolina by Massachusetts The descendants
of Washington and Jefferson by those Of Ham
ilton and Franklin: punished because they
differed in their view of the Government, after
that difference had been asserted for four years
in a war which engaged two millions Of soldiers.
4 cause raised to the highest dignity according
20 the laws Of nations by the gigantic, earnest
and we-sustained struggle of six millions Of
people occupying region of country within
| whose limits there was no diversity Of opinion.
| A civil war in which the division was not
division in the midst Of society--cach party
having adhercnts in all parts Of the countryi
but civil war, which was sectional rdr, and
which, therefore, approached the nature Of
war between nations.
Yes, this contest has been more than rebel
lion-more than a civil war; and provided tho
vanquished knight submits in good faith, no
should be treated with courtesy, and not with
revilings.
But bleeding and painting, it is proposed TO
stretch the South again on the rack. The o.
Emancipation is not enough; the negroes must
| rOte!
Nor is this ALL No Southern man is 10 hold
Office unless he takes an oath which none Of us
with very rare exceptions) can take.
And we are to have no representation In
! Congress. - Charlottesville Chronicle.
STATE JUDICIAL Decision AGAINST A Law