The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-08-31

those who have been in the army have
bad naturally, induces them to believe
that they appreciate.more clearly and
more fully many Of the conditions Of
the problem. 1t may be that in this
they over-rate the advantages for OBJ.
sefvatioh which they have enjoyed
and that in their preference for prac-
tical views as cohtrasted with theorctiC
ones, they may err in giving too much
weight to circumstances which may
themselves rapidly change, or in plac.
ing too little reliance upon conclusions
drawn from general principles By
those who have not had equal oppor.
tunity of seeing things as they are
But when we compare views in q
friendly manner, if we are actuated by
the same spirit, and are conscious ol
seeking the same general end, these
differences will then appear to be what
in fact they are, simply differences in
the mode Of applying principles, and
not radical differences as 10 the funda.
mental truths Of government, or of the
rights OF man. incline to the opin.
ion that no man can rightly judge oi
Southern society who has not had
some opportunity Of observing it, and
and that our theories concerning the
condition OF affairs there, will quite
uniformly be modified, to some exteut
at least, by actual observation.
SEVERAL CLASSES OF SOUTHERN People
In looking at the people of the South
eth country, we find great diverhitiet
of principle and belief; as many
shades Of opinions and of purposes al
we find among ourselves. ] have al
really spoken Of the fact of class o.
original and bitter secessionists whc
have been dominant in the coniedera.
cy during tho war, but this was by nc
means majority in numbers. They
had succeeded in grasping the reins O
power and acquiring control in the
government of these States; but there
was very large portion of the people
their equals in intellect, and their su
pcriors in morality, who were oppos
ed to division of the Union, anC
who resisted the doctrines of secession
until the machinery of rebellion, hav
ing been used to produce an actua
collision between the Federal Govern
ment and the rebels. these tnen, influ
enced by the notion that allegiance
was due to their State. and not by theil
love of the principle of secession itsel
were induced to submit to, rather thar
cordially Unite In, the rebellion.
THE SOUTHERN UNION MEN.
! During the Whole war they hhv,
constituted a party, in several States
exceedingly influential, and at timel
seeming almost able to obtain th,
control, known as conservatives. -
While they yielded a normal submis
sion to the rule of Davis and his Cabi
net. they sought by every means
within the scope of what they called
a constitutional opposition, to weaken
the power Of the rebellious central
government, and to force the confede
racy into negotiations which they
hoped to be able so far to control as
to bring about peace upon the basis
of reuhion. 1t would not be correct tt
say thatall of them agree to the posi-
tions which l have just stated, but
think ! am not mistaken Id saying
that, had it not been for the crushing
despotism with which the Davis Gov,
ornment succeeded in establishing
and the ruthless severity with which
military government was applied t
the remotest portions of the commu
nifty, in each OF the seeded States, thi
party would have openly avowed ant
probably succeeded in carrying ou
the purposes and, doctrines which
have described. When put in peril o
their lives,such men frequently avoweC
their allegiancB to the rebel govern
mont in terms much stronger thar
their hearts received, and thus theil
apparent course was far from consist
ent, although their purpose and dis
position was 30 well understood by
tho rebel government that they wer,
never trusted, but they were kept un
der the strictest and most constan
surveillance. and were constantly up
braided as tories by the party inpower
1t is from this class of persons tina
President Johnson has selected th,
men 10 whom he has intrusted the re
organization of the rebcllious States
Had there been d body Of true anc
i determined loya,ists there, Of course
The Provisional Governors and Other
officers ihtrusted with. that duty, would
have been selected FROM them. Blu
| the. despotisrn Of the Davis Govern
ment was such that no class Of loya
persons could exist within their do
miniohs They we're killed or exiled
| The few who were found still faithful
were generally men whose humble
circumstances and lack OF positive in
huehce secured them some degree q
immunity In the mountain Businesses
of North Carolina and OF Georgia little
communities Of poor and uneducated
farmers might be found among whom
the fire Of loyalty still burned but
even these were often hunted out
theif young itieh were mercilessly i'm.
pressed into the rebel army, and for.
ced to fight against the Governments
which they loved, and the homes o.
those who persisted in their attach
ment to tbs Government were des,
troyed, and their households forced to
fee beyond the rebel lines tor securi.
ty. ....'5a4 allt 81; G.. ea.lr5 b