New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-23


ness or refeTve Of the different speakers Some said
nothing Of sdherng 20 their old principles and convic
uOna oi rlcht; Others still argued against The consu
tonaiy ~ coercion and Of The Emancipation Procia
malon others expressed their determination to become
good c2ens IN s'rong language, and urged with equal
emphasis the necessity If hcir home Institutions beng
0t once LEFT 70 their controls others would so so ar
as 20 say tey were glad that the wer was ended ana
they hal never had any confidence in the COnfeleracy
Others protested that they bad been opposed 10 eees
zion un their States went ont and then yielded 70 the
current OF events; would give 20 undcrftand
that they mad always been good Union men at heart
ard IeOicei that the had terminated IN favor OF the
National cause but in most such seItm mt was
expressed only u whisper; others again would gr1m'
tlney nst cpOn the restoration OF their lignts, as
ithey had done wrong, and md cate plainly that
they would submit only 70 what tney could not resist
and a. long a. they cod not resist H. such we're the
definitions 0l returning loyalty received from the
months OF large number of individuals intelligent
enough appreciate the meaning Of the expressions
. they used. found great many whose manner OF
sTeasilg slowed that they lid not understand the ciI
Cumsiancls DndeT which they lived and bad no settled
Opinions OF al except on matters immediately touching
their nearest Interests
Upon the gTonnd of these declarations and Otlor ev
dense gathered IN tho OF my obser 9ons, may
group tie southern people igto four ciasscs each Of
winch exercises m influence upon The development "a
! things in that section.
]. Those who although having yielded submission 10
the National Government only when obliged 20 DO so
have clear perception Of the rreversibe changes pro-
duced by the war, and honestly CndeavOr t0 accomulo
date themselves tho new order OF things. Many of
them are rot free from Traditional prejudice, bur open
10 conyicon aud may be expected 10 act in good iah
whatever they do. This class Is composed in lis ma
ioriy Of persons Of mature age planters merchants
and professional men; OF them are active IN the
rec Instruction movement, but bolduess an energy are
WIN few Individual exceptions, not among iheIr dis
| tingshng qualities.
g Those whose principal object is TO have the Staos
without delay restored 10 tier position ara influence
IN ibe Cnon ard the people Of the states 10 the aoso
ute control cf their home concerns. lbcy arc ready
m order 10 attain that object, to make ay oscnsO.e
concession that viii not prevent them nom arranging
ihlnSs 10 suit their taste as soon as hat oi9eet IL at
tanned. This class comprises considerable number
probably large majority, ~ the protest. politicians
who arc extremely active in the reconstruction move
neni They are loud in their praise Of the President
reconstruction policy. and c.amorous FOR e Withdrawal
OI Tho leGerdl troops and the abolition OF the Freed
mens Barcau
3. Tho ncorrigibles who sin indulge in the swsgger
Wbich was 81 customary before and during the war
and still hope for tins when TIE Southern Conederaey
VIII achieve its Independence. This class consists
mostly OF yOlIg men, and cOmpiseC the !oerers oi the
toIn aud the lirTs of tie COnnry. Ihey peTsecute
hlon men ard negroes whcIevcr hey can do SO WIN
iiaruniiv Insist camOTOu.y upon their Tiehis. ana
are extremely impatient Of the presence OF the Federal
solOcr a good many OF thcin have taken The oath OF
allegiance and amnesty and associated themselves WIN
The second Clss in their political operations. ms ec-
ln'nj IS ~ 10 means uniu porht II i' strong IA nun
teIs tets iu brave talk addresses ilsed drecty uhd
inces lnty 10 The lions and preiaIccs OF the masses
and commands the admiration Of ,he women.
!. The multitude %! people who have no definite ideas
abCl, thc COURSE thcy have to follow; whose inteects
weak blt whose peudccs and impllsas are sirong,
and who apt 10 carried along BY tho.e who know
how 20 appeal 10 TIE latter.
Much depeads upon tho relative strength and inhr'
Of THESE casScs In The Oi 'his report on
VIII fad statements Oi fGcfs which may furnish basis
for an estimate. But whatever tleir differences mhy
ne. on os point they are agreed: further resistance 70
Tie power al the National Government is useless, hi
SUBMISSION T. Us authority matter al necessy' AZ -
ne iho night or scc sson in theory s sill bee'eu "a
~ nos c those Ng0 formerly believed m u; some ~
sun entertaining vague hope of seeing II reaiil,u -
some 'I-re time, but all give it up "a practical IN.
os1hity ior The present. An movements IN favor oi
separation from the DIOn have therefore. been phc'
csuy abandoned and resistance ~ military forces
'n thai score has ceased. Ihc demonstrations OF hos
.ty tO q troops and other arts 0f The Government
hic are sill occuTnsin in some localities and Of when
s1aI ereak hereafter, spiinR rom another class 81
motive. Tbs Kind a. loyalty, however which ls pro-
ducea hy ihe irresistible pressure Of force ana consists
moTcly in he uonconn.sson of acts of rebellion Is oi
- tive character and might as sgrh. hardly Dc con
sdered independent ~ fcrcumstfnccs and contingencies.
OArB-TARISG.
A demonstration Of returning loyalty " of more
positive characleri is the taking of the oaihs 81 ale
glance and anne-ty prescribed by the Goorai GOFeIH.
neA!. At first the nG0ber Of Tereons who ayaileG
themselves Of the opportunities offered Tor alJufng
ther adhesion 10 the cause of tie Rebellion not
very large but it increased considerably when the OBJ
tanning Of pardon and the night OF voting we're made
dependent upon the previous performance oil ht act
Persons falling under any Of III. exceptions of the am
DosIy procllmaton mode haste to avert the imphdhg
induce people swell The number Of voters ny clear
ing Themselves of all disabilities The great argument
tbdt th was hecesoAI! TO ihe ehu ol
their State Governments ard of roglinng the conFO
Of their home affairs nnd their ruencc IN the mon
eOpi0usy ENLARGED upon IN the letters ana speccho
Of prominent individuals. which are before tho country
and need no further comment In some cases the taking
OF the oath publicly recommended IN newspaper
ard addresses with sneering remarks ana nave ns
tened TO many private conversations ~ wi Hiiem !, "a,
treated with contempt and Tidicule. While 1t was not
generally looked upon ia The SatcsI visited az avery
serious matter except to The benefits and privilege
il confcrs have no doubt that great many persons
took il fully conscious oi the obligations imposes tuo
honestly intending 10 fulfil them. -
The aggregate number Of tAOse who t-S had qualified
themselves for voting previous to elections lor me s'at'
Conventions, not as large a might have been c1
peccd. The vote obtained at these elections was gen
orally reported very light, in some locaics surp!
ingly 80 Ii wOu.d perhaps be worth While Ior tAt
Government 10 order up reports aboat tAc number
oaths administered by The officers suihoised to 90 SO
pyr.ious 90 the election for the Ssatc Conventions
Snch reports would serve ." Indicate BOW large pro
norton of the people participated IN the rcconst
movement that tine 0nG 10 what extent The iaa'Se'
were represented IN the oonvcntionf
Ofhose who have nor yet take tie oath o. allegiance
most belong 10 thr class OF indifferent people who Do
not care one way the other" there are st some IN
dyduals Who fd tho oath 20 be confes o! defeai
and declaration Of submission too munilning and too
rcpugnant 10 fhOir feelings. II is 10 be expected that
tie former Will gradually overcome tncr apathy ana
tho latter their sensifeness and that ai not remote
day al viii have CuGlAed themselves ia point OF ioIM
% resume the rights of clt<eu5hp. On The whole, II
may be sad thar be.value OF the oiLs iaken IN tie
Southern states sgecr above nor below iho value o
politlcai 0aths taken IN other cOunrics historical
e,au,uaou of DE subject ofpoica oahs 1ill lead TO
tle conclusion tb'i the. can be vefy sercen5le IN Ger
tain emergencies and for certain objects. but that tht
have never insured tho stability OF government, and
/ never iurro5 ed the morals of people,
FlELISG TOWAkD THr SOLDIERS AND TIE PLoFLE OF
! TIL SORTH.
! 4 more s.lslartial evidence of returning LOYALTY
would be q favorable change Of feeling with regard 10
the Government ireldB and agents and the people o.
tie loyal States generally mcntoncd above th@i 81
organized attacks upon military forces stationed ~
- IL L.-A -L-.-.- .-.1 III n