The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-07-20
Frym the Boston Post.
The Work Of Reconstruction.

I GUILTY. ~ Tie DOueAs HI . /" "CAOOA-'
change to fall in with thoughtful anC
intelligent discussion in the columns o
j a party Journal, Of the whole matter
taking the facts as they are, and seek
ing only to reach a sound and perma
nent conclusion We have read with
great pleasure what the. Philadelphi
North American and Gazette paper
OF positive radical tendencies. hitherto
has recently had 10 ssy on the ques
ton Of reorganizipg the labor system
Of the South, and bringing back state
of general prosperity to that section o.
the country. Il begins with the gen
ersl statement whose truth all concede
that if the rebel States are ever to re
gain their lost prosperity st must be
by means of industry, thrift and enter
rl-Hrse, developed by. the feedmen, the
poor whites, or the late dominant elass
Of shareholders; or else the regenera-
ton must proceed from 3 new element
of population emigFating tbither from
the North or from Euroee' Each ol
these Instruments ID the wCr& is con
sideFed in is turn, whilep'th excited
manner in which mere partisans are
apt to speak or write on the subject
and to denounce others for not agree
/ ing with them, is held up 10 public
reprobst'on. -iaa
p sfbe North American thinks that ito
expect the freedmen to accomplish the
regeneration of the South, without
capital experience or education, seems
unjust to the newly emancipated me-
grOes, and must visit upon them many
woes for which they are not responsible,
They are ignorant, it says, not only Of
reading, writing and arithmetic, which
are essential to the most ordinary
transactions. but an immense nsjority
of them are only field hands, laborers
and house-servants, who know nothing
of the practical part of any business.
They could not, therefore, be expected.
to take leading part in the reorgan-
ization Of their section They have not
the means, either, 10 cultivate the
landed property Of the South, even. if
it were given to them They are in
large, minority, too, in the South, and
if the lands were confscated and di-
| vsded among them, 80 fierce would be
the resentment of the despoiled whites,
who have fully proved their courage
| and Vigor in this war Of rebellion, that
all the military power we might keep
in the South would not maintain the
blacks in their possession; and the
same journal adds, it does not think
"that any considerable portion of the
Northern people would be found willing
to fight in such cause. At any rate,
the conflict would put at defiance all
! possible chance for any renewal or
extension Of Southern prosperity.
So far as education, capital and ex-
perience in business is concerned, the
North American thinks the poor whites
are as badly off as the negroes, though
twill not deny 1tbeiF greater natural
capacity. Their want of capital makes
them quite As poWerless; and hence, II
the Institutions of the South, except
that of slavery, are to remain unchang
| ed, both Of these classes will still l'remain
nearly helpless. The blacks and whites
might, with free. farms given to them
for nominal price, become as thrifty
and independent in time as the settlers
in the Western States; but for ten years
to come they would yield no revenue to
the General Government sufficient to
pay the expense of assessment and col
lection; and it suggests whether other
arrangements, whiehs would be- better
for all parties, could not be agreed
upon.
The planters, then, are the last class
to be considered in connection with this
problem. They are popularity thought
| the most Objectionable and dangerous
of the Southern population, because
they have always been the governing
caste, aud the cause of all our sectional
troubles. The war has taught them
many salutary lessons, yet their minds
must be greatly embittered against u.s.
Still, it is not to be denied that these
are the best educated men of the South,
the most intelligent, enterprising and
shrewd, and despite the smallness Of
their numbers they are more than a
match for all the others combined
"If," SAYS the North American, "we
confscate their estates and divide them
among the blacks only, the poor whites
will Join the planters in their discon-
tent And yet the poor whites have
participated in the rebellion Just the
same as the planters. Moreover, all
confscated estates would be able to be
held subject to the constitutional re-
striction, whereby at the death of the
traitor the whole estate would return
undivided to the family, a state of
affairs fatal to the improvement Of land
and conducive only TO its impoFerish
ment The best work that could be
done for the South would be performed
through this class, if it were 20 become
thoroughly loyal yet the peril of trust
ing them is not to be overlooked, and
must be provided against si
Emigration from the North and from
Europe may supply a large number of
valuable citizens to the South, but so
long as discomfort prevails there such
emigration cannot be induced 70 move.
Emigrants never 90 into country with
the expectation of superseding its ma
tive population and regulating affairs,
but Of beneftting the public good as
well as that of theindiEidualh Ina new
country remarks the North American,
''the case is different; but at the South
it il folly to look for any entire revolu-
tior of society. Its conditions may be
modified, but they cannot be altogeth-
er upmrned.Y Is also deprecates too
much meddiesomeness By the. Govern
ment, which is usually received with
distaste by the people, and is really an
injury to Individual enterprise. Such
interference is sure to keep out utemigra.
ton, for those coming in have no chance
70 carry on their operations because
Government is swallowing up every
thing South IN its missionary efforts for
the elevation Of the emsncipated ne
groes The education Of the Southern
population it adds. is proper sub
iect for associative effort and for the
State Governments, but it is clearly not
proper duty-for the National Admin
istration 10 undertake"
A final quotation from this sensible
discussion Of the subject by the North
Americaa shall suffice 1t is as fol-
lows-a statement from which no man
of intelligence and true humanity can
reasonably dissent:
IF We interfere with agricultural
operations at the South, and by our in
huence among the blacks prevent their
arranging terms with the planters, the
result after the lapse of e few years
Will be the same as IN the British West
Indies, apprenticeship, Chinese coolies,
etc. The Government agents have no
business to assume the duty Of fixing
the rates Of pay for labor The negro
IS freeman, and if be possesses any
capacity at All, he certainly must be
able 70 regulate his own pay, Just as
tat white mechanics DO al over the
South. If not, the sooner he is left 70
himself the sooner he viii discover the
necessity Of acquiring a knowledge Of
such things We must neither support
the negro in idleness nor regulate his
bargains with his employers; and just
IN proportion as We do either shall We
embaErass the operations Of agriculture
st the South The negro must learn to
look after his own affairs, and not to
depend upon the National Government
to do everything for MN" 4
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