Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-12-05
THE FUTURE OF THE SOUTH

s>onthtrn people 10 carry ont in good faith
'neir sileged purpose of doing their whole
duty as Citizens of the United States, than
the tone of the journals of Richmond, Va.
published on the 2,th ultimo. They were
filled with Just such d.atrabes against the
people aud institutions of all the Union
save those of the late rebellions States a.
they published throughout the war: If DOS
siole Intensified by the mar ifes alton of deeper
hatred engendered by the recollection of The
uetestaoIe treason, which the conductors OF
those journals evidently continue to worship
under the name of {" The Lost Cause" There
seemed to be no sneer too bitter. and no asper-
sion too vile for application TO the loyal Sec
ton of the Union, its ideas. alleged purposes
and people. We submit, respectfully, TO the
portion OF the Southern press engaged in the
worse than senseless publication OF such arti-
Giles, thar they are dong their best to render
utterly abortve the iabors of all north of
the Potomac who would restore the South
70 the mon with as little loss Of former reia-
i've strength therein as possible. They may
not expect the representatives of the yictors IN
che late war TO rehabilitate in the Union with
uniTnpaired rights, communities who manifest
through their press all the hosn Iity to il that
was considered praisewCrthy in the south
amid the late clash of arms. The truth is the
press Of the South, with exceptions here and
there. continue 10 be under the control of its
secession leaders. These latter inspire its sem
umen's. One of these Richmond journals OF
that day denied thar those leaders were inter-
fering 81 this time IN public affairs. Yet every
ides upon the condition of the times published
m that city on that day, was but an emanation
rom their animosity, their hatred and their
general bitterness of feeling against those TO
whom they attribute the failure of their efforts
TO destroy the Union-the .sYankees- and the
negroes The North is not so bind as tia, IL
dOes not zee clearly that there can be no sincere
peace ana general prosperity for the whole
country, with the South left under the intelI-c-
Iuai control OF those who Yet inspire the only
teachers OF their popular mind-the Southern
press. The South, always lamentsbly def
Cient in ordinary schools. has fewer of them
now than ever before, and thus relies
almost wholly on her press for the diffusion of
thought smong her people. That is conducted
perhaps with more ability and earnestne.s
than ever before But its intensity has under
;he inspiration Of apparent devotion 10 1.-The
lost cause" taken direction that bids fair 10
destroy tse good cause; that of saving As much
SIS possible cut of the wreck of Southern affairs
Tor Inc benefit OF her present generation of
Inhaoiranis, white and black. The hope of re-
establishing her former governing influence.
intact in her midst, is at the bottom of the
general Southern-newspaper incubation of
naired to the " Yankee" and bitter hostility 10
the negro That hope is generated by the mol
low professions and promises of copperhead
newspapers here and elsewhere, that did their
best 70 make the defeated rebellion victorious
Ii Is nigh time that the South learned how
ii,t!e reliance she can place upon the integrity
OF their counsel, As upon the possibility that
she VIII be permitted TO play successfully the
role OF the Jacobite, in the near future NJ
American affairs. II is now evident that those
who have the power TO shape her destiny intend
to sysiematize some plan by which, at any cost
and hazard to her ccntumacious ruling spirits
or influences, she will not long hence be M ade
homogeneous TO the rest Of the Union. The
proposed amendment to the Constitution bids
tair TO be declared carried by Congress-
~henever twenty lone States may sanction
II. That action will probably be followed by
the enaI.men OF bills renting the States
lately In rebe lion To a territorial eond,tio,
with laws enacted by Congress for their gov.
eminent, under which none shall be allo wed
TO participate in the right OF citizenship for the
time being. who voluntarily took part in the
rebellion. The voters OF the South under this
state Of things will not be long in presenting
their several States to Congress for readmis-
sion TO equality IN the Union, with State consti.
rutions entirely acceptable to that body. Tins.
one by one, they bid fair 70 be brought back
into the Union, very much as that was done
IN the case of Tennessee. That is with chaneAs
IN their organic laws. made without the sane
ton of the mass of their people; with Repre-
seniatiVes, GoVernors, legislators, and all other
public functioharies arrayed in bitter hostility
to three fourths of those surrounding them.
but &c backed up by the power OF the General
Government (which, owing to the turn things
have taken, is neither more nor less practi
oally. than Congress) As that there can be no
OF of he MIA
these mutations are sought 10 be wrought IN
the affairs OF the South. That all this is reyo
intionary, we know well. That il will work
additional sacrifices on the part OF many de-
serving people of the South, We know equally
well. Yet IL is but the natural and apparently
inevitable result of the purpose OF the seces
zion leaders TO night ont 10 the bitter end their
claim TO the right 10 continue to direct matters
at home. Whatever IL may cost the people OF
the South, we do not believe II can possiblv
cost the country AT large as much in the end.
rs would the success OF those whose local as
cendancy there 10 is designed 10 overthrow
The ease and speed with which ID has been
accomplished In Tennessee, prove with what
facility II is destined TO be achieved vherevsr
the majority OF the people OF a Southern State
elect 10 continue to endeavor to thwart the de-
termination OF Congress that there shall he
bOmogeneiiy throughout the land, TO the end
VI tue POSSIBILITY Of the
recurrence of so costly and so causeless a civil
war IN the United StaIes and also to The ed
of repairing the devastations and other dam
ages or that war in the shortest possible tim.
We know IL will be urged that all this will be
ia violation of the Constitution and law and
we frankly admit that we can no warrant
for u In either. Yet the ma ority Of the con-
siituents of Congress will sanction it. beliey-
ing IL the only means left by the South of soIv-
ing the political imbroglio growing out of the
rebellion and its results up TO this time II is
idle on the part of the South to dream that her
alleged States rights will be regarded by the PEG.
PIE OF the Northern States as OF more Importance
than SalES populi. That is f: Than the safety of
the General State. the preserS alton Of which
50 long as nen have been associated under
civilized government, has been conceded TO be
fhs great duty of rulers and peoples, though in
30 DONG, constitutions. laws. institutions,
Sssted rights, and all ether impediments may
y Obliferafad No man bas raaa h;storv o., 80,