New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-09-13
HANLING DOWN THE FLAG.

HAULING DOWN THE FLAG.
Gen. Dix, who said. long, long while ago, II
YOU see a man attempt to haul down the American
flag, shoot him on the spot" has now an opportunity
of shooting Mr. Raymond. This unpleasant duty is
imposed upon him by a leading editorial in The
Times recently, which directly sunenders the
little loyalty to Union principles which repeated con-
cessions to Rebel demands had left it,
1t is admitted by The Times that the Loyal South
ern Convention will exert decided influence on the
public mind and that the members will have to relate
many prosecutions they have endured from the Rebels
"many incidents of cruelty and crime well calculated
move the sensbilites and arouse the Indignation OF
the country" 1t admits "the sufferings these men
have endured-the sacrifices they have made-the
services they have rendered" Much further than this
The Times is compelled to go:
THE men the South who stood By the Union during the
Rebellion think that the political control OF the southern
States should now rest exclusively in their hands That the
practical object Of their efforts They demand the dsah
hisement OF all who we're the Rebellion and the besiow
ment of ali potcaI power upon those who not The
claim without paubly IL seems Just AMI tsf ana
if utterly and hopelessy impossible would deserve
confederation
With these premises even allowing certain msrep-
reservations of the Southern Union TO pass I'M
questioned The Times should have formed different
CONCLUSION. MT. bunh ~ iPNS'i"'N
to give the restoration Of the Southern States into the
hands of their loyal people. His proclamation ex-
pressly provided for it. The Times did not think so
year ago. and the Union party still believes that with
an upright and firm Executive, nothing could be easier
for the Government to accomplish. The minority IN
which the Union men Of the South are found, proves
nothing against the duty of the Government to recog
nize their rights, and we may add that the slightest
disposition on the part Of the President to acknoWl
edge these rights would show that the loyal minority
is by no means 30 contemplate in numbers as The
Times would persuade the public Now, because OF
the direct encouragement given to Rebels by the
party for which Mr.. Raymond speaks, the loyal
Southerners live under reign of terror, and their
full strength is but mperectly represented, even IN
the Philadelphia Convention. Here is the miserable
subteruge of the renegade policy To prove that there
is no Union party in the South capable oil taxing
charge of its reconstruction it deliberately encourages
and defends the massacres, and threats OF greater
massacres which keep that party from rising mus
The Times declares as a reason why the Government
should not acknowledge the lust and fair claims oil
Southern Union men, that "the Southern delegates
in Philadelphia actually represent nobody in the South
but themselves"
This is not true They represent the maJorites
who protested against Secession, and were dragged
into it, they represent the 900 Of faithful blacks;
they represent thousands of consistent white 10y
alists in every State and this representation is none
the less direct because Rebel mobs prevented full
expression of Southern loyalty in the delegate cleo
tons At least The Times has already admitted that
all the loyalty in the South during the war; IS repre-
sented by this Convention and that admission makes
more vile the argument that the interests of the nation
demand that the whole political power Of the South
should be restored by the Government to Rebels.
Here is the hauling down Of the fag--down as low
in the dirt as any wbtewashed Rebel could desire.
The demand Of the Union men TO control the restora-
ton of their States is to be refused according TO The
Times not because it is wanting in fairness and
Justice. but because the Rebel community objects
II has come TO this pass that the restoration Of the
Union is only TO be effected by the sacrifice of the
Southern men who were true; by the elevation of
the Rebels who sought its destruction. Meager and
mean are the rights which The Times would concede
TO the loyal:
Southern Union men ore entitled to foil complete pro-
lection in their rights Of and property IN freedom OF
speech Of action in all the Southern States and they
a 10 receive al the hands OF the local authorities they
nav demand from the National Government Ba IN regard
exercise Of political pon, tsg must ysd iAe hectssfs
Of the case"
Can the trucking to Stephens and Orr 60 further
than this Powerless indeed were the flag Of the
the Union it, where floats in the South, the loyal
men should see in it the emblem of their ruin, and
Rebels the sign of their triumph.