Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-11-29
,nnroved Political As psct.

is gradually setting uo" ,n'o 'ne
.onr;c.;on. that the late elections
must be accepted and regarded as
decisive of the great national ques-t
tioo in issue in the political canvass
inst closed. It is not to be expect
ed. that the South will at once aequi7
esce in the result, but an improved
state Of public opinion is already
manifesting itself in many parts OF
the South, and it is reasonable to
anticipate that calmer views and
sound judgement and reason will
ultimately control their actiens. 1t
is true, that the Southern Governors
and legislatures have generally re-
fused to ratify the proposed Consd-
tutional Amendment, but in so doing
they have displayed no ill-temper or
bitterness of feeling, out on the con-
trary have reasserted their purpose
to remain true to the Constitution
and Union with an earnest calnness
that does not usually attend insin-
cerity. The Amendment is indeed
at present rejected, but this feeling
will not be permanent The South
erners are human after all, and when
it becomes clearly manifest that the
loyal North is fixed in its determine
tien to adhere to the Amendment as
the best and most practicable basis
of reconstruction, they will make
the best Of circumstances and grace
fully acquiesce in the result. They
have the common passion for public
life, and will not rest easy until Con.
gress and the federal offices are once
more open to them. And when they
find, that the Amendment is the only
door through which these can be
reached, they will accept it. Anoth-
er favorable sign Of the times in the
South is the growing tendency on
the part of her people to accord to
the negro population those rights of
person and property and that equali-
ty before the law, which the change
in their condition has rendered nec-
essary. Among the poorer and un-
educated classes Of whites there still
exists, and probably will exist for
many years to come, mere or less
prejudice against the black man, but
there has been already decided and
gratifying Improvement in this re-
spect, and the South Is slowly, but
surely, coming to recognise the fsct
that her late slave population, being
now free, is entitled to receive full
and equal protection before the law.
The times are hopeful.
The Northern Democracy likewise
manifest some signs of a willingness
to yield to the inexorable logic of
events and to accept as final the de-
cision rendered against them by the
people at the late elections. The
more prominent and intelligent jour
nails of that party in the North freely
admit, that their course hitherto has
been suicidal to them as a party sr
ganization, and that the party, if it is
to be perpetuated, must be thorough
ly reerganized and reconstructed
upon q basis mere in harmony with
the advanced ideas Of the age and
nation. There is no longer that
universal and unreasonable demand
for the immediate and unconditional
restoration of the rebel States, which
characterized the whole Democratic
press previous TO the elections
And while still opposing the Con-
gressional plan of reconstruction as
embodied in the Constitutional
Amendment, they now admit the
necessity of some plan, and the
bolder of their organs are proposing
universal amnesty and impartial suf
frage as the one most suited to the
condition and the wants of the ma
ton. The times are hopeful.
The President too has assumed a
more moderate and sensible tone
Removals from Office for political
purposes have in great measure
ceased. We eno longer hear him de-
nouncing the Union party as rebels
and traitors on the other line, nor
arraignlng Congress as revolution
ary body hanging On the verge Of the
government There is every reason
TO believe that he will take no course
to agitate the coming session of Con-
gress,. or to prevent calm and dis
passionate action. He is . wiser
man than he showed himself on his
fatal electieneering trip across the
country, and the unmistskable ring
of the late elections have forced him
to understand what the popular will
is, whether he likes it or not. His
message to Congress will probably
be moderate in tone and very little
Objectionable in. substance. There
seems to be growing disposition
on his part to abandon the untena-
BILE grounds assumed by hin at first,
that he,. independent of Congress,
a.