Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-04-24
sENTImENT AT THE SOUTH

The Washington Chronicle, in publishing
the report of the Committee of Congress on
Reconstruction, giving the testimony of
Stephens, Sharkey, and Johnson, says:
"Perhaps the most remarkable feature of
it is the contradictory character of the state
ments Provisional Governor Sharkey, of
Mississippi, for instance, is of opinion that
the Frecdmen's Bureau ought TO be abol-
ished, and the colored troops withdrawn
from the South, while Provisional Governor
johnson, of Georgia, thinks that the bureau
should be continued, and the troops retained.
Sharkey evidently belongs to that class
which has no particular love for the blacks,
for he gives it as his deliberate conviction
that the whole race must eventually become
extinct. In other words, he believes in the
doctrine of a "war of races, " which seems
to be prominent plank in the platform of
Tiny policy and its supporters. He does
not seem to know much about the great
principles which form the cornerstone of
the Declaration of independence, or if he
does he evidently cannot understand them.
If, as the census demonstrates, the negrOs
increased at a rapid ratio when they were
slaves, VIC should like to know by what pro-
cess Of reasoning Mr.. Sharkey reaches the
conclusion that in a state OF freedom they
are bound to be exterminateG It is to be
hoped that he does not represent the popu-
lar sentiment of Mississippi; if so, the work
of reconstruction is by no means complete in
that State. The entire animus of Mr. Shar-
key and his evidence is apparent when he
says that the Freedmen's Bureau has done
more harm than good, and that had the
colored troops and the Freedmen's Bureau
been withdrawn he could have had perfect
state of order. The most important witness
examined was Alexander H. Stephens, the
Vice President of the late Confederacy.-
What he says of Georgia relative to the
feeling of the people on the question of Sc
cesson may be taken as fair example of
the sentiment of the entire South on this
subject. 1t will be observed that while
there was and is some difference of opinion
as 10 the policy of secession, there is scarcely
any as to the right The only trouble was
the want of ultimate success. Mr.. Stephens
himself inclines to this opinion and, Judging
from his testimony, he is not alone, There
arc thousands in the South to-day who be-
lieve in this doctrine. They do not look
upon the rebellion as crime, but simply as
questionable and unsuccessful policy adopt
ed to carry out a cherished principle. Most
of the Northern witnesses agree:
l. In the general feeling of animosity
which exists among the Southern people
toward the Government of the United States.
II. That this feeling is more bitter and
widespread now than it was Immediately
after the surrender of Lee and his army.
III. That there is general disposition to
prescribe Southern Unionists and Northern
emigrants
~. That the colored race is subjected to
inhuman and barbarous treatment wherever
the late rebels obtain the ascendancy.
From this it would seem that 'my policy
has not accomplished all it started out to do,
or at least what honest people were led to
expect by the professions and pledges of its
author"