Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-12-14
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. magi From the N. Y :; Times, Dec. lLll1 ta
Hostility 10 HEecOnstructIOn---A
.rS M-r4 Had Spirit. t.api4usft.r,

Hostility 10 HeecOnsfructIOn---A
ion .sTa1 Had Spirit. f.rn1usi,.rn
There is class of public men who, appa-
rently, desire an indefntte postp0nement OF
the restoration of the South. They do not
openly avow it, but their words and actions
indicate settled purpose of obstruction.
There is no end to the requirements and
conditions they would impose. They are
captious, exacting, implacable, not so much
from devotion to any principle as from
original bent. They deal with the whole
business in the Shylock mood. Their main
study seems to be to feed fat the ancient
grudge." This spirit ought to be marked
well. 1t is the spirit of evil 1tis without
wisdom, and can work mischief only. II it
shall pTeVaiLas certainly as fate leAe late war
Will have for its sequel a reign ADf sectional
hate and strife that will be fraught with
financial calamity and with disgrace to the
republican name. 'gT E.a .lr.lI r.'r.r..
Enough has transpired since the war to
prove that the Southern people are sincere
ly desirous of genuine reconciliation.
They have with one accord acknowledged
themselves utterly, vanquished. They be-
gan by accepting the broad amnesty oath of
President johnson without hesitation orre-
serve. They continued by putting them
selves promptly into the path, which hcin-
dicated would take them back into the
Union. They received the leaders he as
signed them as Provisional Governors, and
treated them with all respect and cOnf7
dence, though many, of them had never be-
fore been the men of their choice. They
elected conventions, composed, for the most
part of men in full sympathy with the
Government and these conventions remod-
eled the State Constitutions in substantial
accordance with the suggestions of Presi-
dent Johnson. Their Legislatures have
been animated with a similar anxiety to
satisfy the Government at Washington. We
believe that there has not been an Instance
of persistent holding out by any Southern
Convention or Legislature against any
solicitation OF President johnson for the
adoptiOn, of any measure that in his view
would facilitate the work of reconstruction.
1t Is true that the elections for State officers
and for Congressman have been in many
cases unsatisfactory. Yet there is no evil
dence that such elections were inspired by
opposition to the Government. There is
reason to believe that such elections were
influenced by personal predictions and
prejudices rather than by political motives
At all events, taking the action of the South
ern people since the close of the war as 9
,ohole, it has been eminently reasonable and
DTODGTs lllbbOIy
finding another instance of a vanquished
people submitting with 50 good grace. No
body would have ventured to predict it a
year ago. 1t is opposed to every old con-
ception of the proud and impracticable
character of the Southern people.
The great question of the day Is, now
that we have this display OF good sense and
good feeling in the Southern people, wheth-
er we shall encourage it, and make the best
of it, or meet it with distrust and aversion
1t is a shame that there should be such a
question. The duty of the Government
and of the Northern people in the premises
ought to be plain enough oevery man to
exclude all question. gAs Vietorsi ia the war
we are bound by every manly sentiment tc
generous policy of reconciliation. e.. Az
Union men, In consistent devotion to thai
cause in the name of which the terrible
struggle was maintained, we are morally
obliged, in consistency, to do our utmost
| to have the Union fully restored Just so soon
as ir can be done safely, and without sacri-
lice of principle. All sacrifice of prlnci-
pie, it is true, ought to be opposed, The
time of sacrificing principle to the South
for the sake of conciliation and peace has
passed forever. There will never be an
| other compromise of right with the South
andwe thank heaven for it. But nothing
of the kind is asked for now. The only
sacrifice that is called for is a sacrifice o
| feeling. That ought to be made to the las
! little. Every old animOsity and resent
ment should be utterly cleared from on
| souls. Every memory Of former wron;
4 should be effaced forever. The favorable
| disposition of the Southern people shoult
1 be met with. a true brotherly spirit, ant
4 the way should be made clear Tor their ear
| ly return, to the enjoyment OF tn
common birthright. They are a suf
fering people. The war has left them des
olate. Poverty broods from the Atlantic 4
the Rio Grande. No change is possible un
| til the securities and blessings of the Con
stitution' are restored. The political an'
social system of the South must be relieve
from all uncertainty, and receive that stim
ulus that can come only from participa
tion in all the fullness of American life
This speedy consummation is just as need
llful for the nation atIlarge as for the South
| The national finances, as all admit, are beSe
with peril. They rest on foundation O
irredeemable paper, which never has beel
and never can be a safe basis. What1i
more necessary than allaelse TO stay up tn
national credit, and to restore soundness T.
all the business operations Of the country
is a, regaining Of something like the oil
lequilibrium of trade between this and for
eigii lands. But the preponderance mus
continue to be scores of millions against u
until the great Southern staples are repro
i duced and supplied for export. AS pre-
requisite to that, the South must again b
tions. Keep her under the iron heel of
military government, and there will be n
more chance of her acquiring energy ant
| thrift than Athpra is in the case az Mexico