The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-15
THE SOUTHERN PRESS.

We have of late observed with no little
concern the remarks of the press in the
states south of us, and we must con Tess to
no small degree of modification at their
general tone. Our Southern cotempora-
ries appear determined to pursue course
calculated to drive every conservative
Union man of the border states into the
ranks of the radicals. They forget that
they are indebted TO the conservative
element of the country for their very ex-
istence. They forget that if it had not
been for the conservatism of Abraham
Lincoln and Andrew Johnson every
single dollar of their estates would have
been confiscated long since, and that in
stead of losing negroes only, they would
have lost everything else. Now this is
wrong.
Our hitherto rebel friends in the south
ern states ought to remember that the
conservative Union element is the only
wall between them and destruction, and
that it is their duty, as well as their in
terest, to strengthen the bonds of this
element by a willing acquiescence in
things as they exist. Bnt instead of do
ing this they pursue a different policy.
A man in the southern states who has
been Union man has no chance what
ever to be elected to Congress or any
other position. Upon the contrary,
most, if not all, the candidates elected
to Congress in the cotton states were
elected solely upon the ground that they
had been ardent and useful rebels.
q candidate, Wade Hampton, q rebel
ing elected governor of that state over
Mr. nrr xyhn GnCnQatnH nf hOVinn
entertained Union proclivities during
the war. In Mississippi, too, the gov
ernor of that state was rebel general
and so anxious was President johnson
to render him eligible, that he pardoned
him the moment he was announced as
n candidate. And yet the moment he
was inaugurated he pursued such
course as to render it necessary for the
President to send General Thomas to
look after him.
Why is this? Can it be possible that
the cotton states only wait a "mOre
convenient season to again rebel ?" We
hope not. And yet our convictions are
daily becoming stronger that conserv
alive Union man has but little chance
in the hitherto insurrectionary states for
place or power. Even i'm Tennessee, in
certain localities, Unionism is not much
recommendation to candidate for
Office. And it is these startling facts
which strengthen the hands of the ex-
tremists not only in Congress and the
North, but in our own state legislature.
The papers south of us are cOntin-
ually clamoring against Gov. BrOwnlOw
and what they call the radicalism of the
Tennessee Legislature, and yet they
persist in policy calculated, II not in
tended, to make that radicalism still
more intense i'm our state. We feel sure
that neither Governor BrownlOw nor
the Legislature will make the slightest
concession to the hitherto enemies of
the Government so long as they persist
in a course which creates the impression
that they have no regrets OH their &C
count to overturn It, 1t would be just
and polite, Therefore, If our southern
friends wonld adopt different course:
Let them stand up manfully for the
of the United States and
those in authority. Let them cease
their talk about the glorious Constitu-
ton. Such talk from the rebels is in
bad taste. If it is good Constitution
now, it was always such. And yet they
were not content with it, and attempted
to make separate government, In which
they signally failed. We beg them,
therefore, to cease their rawlings about
rights, etc., and beseech
them to pursue such a course as will
the arms of Andrew John
osn and the great conservative Union
element of the country against radi-
calism.
If they do not do this the hitherto
rebels in Tennessee will whistle long
time before they get to the ballot-box.
1t SO happens that what our rebel friends
call radicalism is now in authority, not
only in uRessee but everywhere else,
and they ought to know that they can
never displace these radicals without