The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-07-14


al II Is admitted, there is peace. And
I y say there is peace, for see not as in
the days of my hegira ardent younty
1 soldiery mastering into ranks, nor hear
the tramp of armed hosts Fastening to
\ dlstant 6attle7tields. NIusket, rifle, can
hnnds ofsoldiers who march TO the notes
OF freedom. But is this n peace of axS
hpustion and force simply. or NAV we
accept 1t as u peace CARRYING with Il ali
peboly and subduing influences which
gather around that word when used in
Its sublimest sense
Habits of thought, political opinions.
/ growth of more than two Centuries nra
seldom unlearned or relinQuished in n
utty. 40 conversion, the result OF force 4
can harnontze opposing social and
m0tertnl elements, which for SO MANY
years have given distinctiveness and
character to the two sections of the
I'umon. Inc mind and character of "a
people receive too deep an impress from
thelp constitutions, easily or quickly to
4 DC dash1oned into new forms or directed.
INTO new channels. Slavery. In its
mental, social or political influences,
II mas floe on intimate iaualogies to, hut
many points of identitywith feudhiism.
The student of history will remember,
that the force and impress of feudnlism
renamed power in the affairs of En-
rope long time after the institution as
ulstlnct organization, had passed
away; It r. not wise, then, in our ap-
| proaches to that point where those lately
in arms against liberty, are to be rein,
stated in an unrestricted franchise. to-
disregard the lessons of the mist. nor
forget that the south has MS vet but the
lueas and education peculiar to tho
south. The sword has indeed won its
victories. 1t remains to combat in
another field and by other means oil
the elements that enter into the erron-
eous civilization of the south.
There has been no advance ston tn
ken by the South toward this civil con-
summation. The leaders of pubIic oc-
nom the moral and political power of
tie sonth, accept only this-the power
ana triumph of the Union arms. Tho
SOuth stlII belongs to the South. No
government has the right to dictate to
her policy, and every foot of progress
in tho subjugation of the South Wns n
violation ofthe constitution. The es-
tnDllshlng provisional governments.
tney say, Is an act of military power
VloIallve OF State rights and the federal
cohlp1ct. IheSe governments are Dop-
ular because they are the channels
through which the dfsenthrallment 0ri
the States is to'be effected. Nothing is
decided in the four years. contest Int
the simple matter of fmilitary puissance.
9S s9t0ts sovereignty, slavery and all kim
dred issues are aS before the war. The
government of Tennessee, offices and
officers under it, are usurpatioil to he
trampled under foot when the ueonIo
get into power. = = s,
SucEis the grand outline of things
socialand things political in the subjSI-
gated States. They present space and
bute and fierce agitation. Th6ss w W.
hold the great interests of the country
| in their hands, may well hesitate and
wait the development of events before
tlLss nIIstl I'rlii.y Is decided Upon
Here come an opulent planter, n suc-
cessful merchant, an astutc LAWYER
They are Democrats and secessionists.
| we speak of the great question of the
| day. They are hopeful of the future
have no doubt but the Democrats will
again get into power and rule the coun-
try. The votes of the South. with the
Democratic vote of the North, would
push thea present dominant party out
and give the Government to the only
constitutional party. My three friends
are excited and shake their fists defiant
| ly toward Washington when we sneak
of the present peace. Now we speak of
"The black man? Whit clause in the
constitution gives the right to take nv
property from me? The YankeeS-peS-
tilent and interfering-we can take cnrc
of our own interests, d um." A
fourth gentleman joins us, direct from
the interior of Georgia, in the neighbor-
hood of Merewether county. "Well,
what of the blacks in your State?''
"Why we do not exactly think the ne
grocs are free. They very generally re-
main on the plantations; sometimes
they run away, but the Provost Mar
shal puts them in Jail, and when the
masters go for them he gives them up,
when they are whipped little and
taken home again. We heard TINT CIen-
eral Gilmore had been removed in dis
grace for issuing that order by which
the negro should get wages for his labor.
President johnson is IA Southern man
and knows what we want. Negroes
won't work when they are free" three
more from West Tennessee join us
planters. They ure especially in n bnd
humor. Each has large plantation.
They have'a great deal of trouble with
their negroes; they nrc so impudent
and insubordinate. "But, sirs. hive
dom under tho law?" mo, not /, for I
am not so sure about that in tho end.
When we, the Democrats, get the pow
er, we'n go back to our constitution.
BrownlOw's government won't do.''
But what about the impudence and
insubordination of your hands F? DO
they refuse to work; or threaten vio-
llcnce? "Oh, no; not that, but the ras-
/ calls demand wages for their work. ~
What are your politics, gentlemen ?"
ave are Democrats, and believe in Sc
cession, and are opposed to violating
the constitution, or making war on the
sovereign States." pass on, and soon
meet with n friend with whom I have
had daily intercourse in Alabama for
twenty years. He is clear thinker,
and has so much of the man in his char.
acterthat he can reason dispassionateIy,
even on all the topics involving the in
terests of the South. He tells me that
1 the great question is still the negro ques-
! ton. 1t is such wrong, the Ala6am-
| inns say, to take away their slaves. The
constitution gives no such power. They
hope matters are not SO desperatc.S
They think it possible this blessed in-
stitution may not fail altogether; are