The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-06-19
OH 4 RI E S TO N.
TUESDAY MORNING. JUNE 10. 1866.
OUR DISA BILITIES,

all tho many days and endless wndage OF it's de-
iberations, than propose and discuss constitu.
tional amendments. The ruling party we'll merit
the appellations Of Radicals,-by which thoy
please to be called, for in their estimation moth
ing that is, is right Restless and meddling by
nature, your genuine down East politician sees
no reason why the organic law Of tho land should
bo more sacred, more stable, or moro prote ected
against improvements than tho Matte cob
blers last years patent for now style Of shoe
pegs. ssWhy should the Constitution not be
mended2" We fear many OF these legislative
taors pick holes into tho venerable garment for
tho special purpose of having the pleasure OF
patching it.
natural remonstrance would retort: What is
the use of o Constitution that can, ut any tim 9,
be set asido BY truculent ma jority2 Why amend
it? 1t is as easy to act counter to it as to pass
those amendments, and far less troublesome.
But the Puritan is q great sticker for forms.
While he has not the least scruple against an
nuing the most solemn compacts, he is strangely
squeamish, and must have an er-pos,:fdcto modi.
ication of the compact to cover his disregard Of
the law. The agitation, discussion and lcgisla-
tion of the Republican party during tho last few
years, has been entirely consistent with tho prin-
ciples and practice of their Puritan ancestors.
An utter want Of reverence for established inst
tutions, an over-weening assurance and sef-right-
eousness, coupled with narrow-minded bigotry,
and its usual concomitant, malignant spirit of
Given these as the guiding principles OF your
judge, and small your chance of justice, none your
hope OF mercy. We regret to be compelled to
come to the conclusion, that this is tho COM
plexion Of our present political status. fair
II, 80
President, supported by all the weight of his au-
thority and influence. Had this course been
adopted, the country would now be at peace, old
strfes rapidly healing, and healthy, rapidly dis
cicatrix would cover the many wounds
made during the last few years. The country
would be unit, politically as we'll as geogra phi
cay, one in aim and purpose. No inte agi-
taion would be gnawing, cancer-lke, at it's vitas,
as is now the case retardng the growth and de-
velopment of industry, fomenting suspicion, in
spring dstrust, and keeping alive the dying en-
bers Of civil and social strife.
All this might have been but for the sordid,
selfish fear entertained by the ruling faction, lest
their lease of power should be shortened. Power
is sweet and Office profitable, and to lord it over
their betters is particularly pleasing to the craven
mind Of the base born That all this agitatio is
kept up, and injustice committed, in tho name of
justice and under the guse of philanthropy, is
only in character with the inherent traits Of this
race of fanatics, who, with tho wisdom of the
serpent, all the while pretend to be harmless as
doves.
There is, therefore, no prospect for tho politi-
cal recognition of tho Southern States as long as
the present Congress shall shape the legislation
Of the country The elections arc close at hand,
and it is to be hoped for the sake of the peace and
Of the whole country, that the people
Of the North will throw off the incubus that has 30
long been a drag to the nation, and elect new
men to Congress,-who shall not be commit ed to
amendments and pet philanthr opic
distractions, who shall not spend all the six
working days OF the week in discussing the Freed
mems Bureau, and making Pariahs Of tho white
men of the who shall occasionally at least,
consider the interests Of the whole country-en en-
deavoring, bya conciatory course, to bridge over
the chasm created by the war between th two
sections. 1t can be done, and we hope to see it
done.
There is much also for us to do. We believe, as
we have said all along, that the South fully COM
prehends her situation. (Certainly il she do not,
it is the fault Of neither Provost Marshals or
Freedmen's Bureau). The Confederate armies
were surrendered in April and May, 1866; and the
subject OF our disabilities has been constantly
fore our people ever since, so also the require
ments Of the Republican party. 1t is reasonab le,
therefore, to suppose that they are perfectly cog
infant of the situation Of the duties Of the hour
and the further sacrifices to be undergoneo on their
part, and that they are all now prepared to yield
cheerful submission to the inevitable, and come
up deliberately to Intelligent discharge OF their
new duties. This should be done soon, and done
thoroughly.
It was not to be supposed that all this could bo
brought about instsnter, that failure, gu oh as
ours should forthwith be followed by radical con-
version. A fcT individuals, we know, foun no
difficulty in thus hauling down the bars, and in
stantly thereafter unfurling the stripes We will
not here inquire into their motives, or som too
closely the question OF their sincerity sufi cient
to cay, that but few among men are ever found so
dispassionate, who have their feelings and i'm
pulses 30 perfectly under tho control Of tn cir
reason. A wise statesman, therefore, pr efers q
conversion more slow.
Our people have been much maligned by ennis
saries (called correspondonts) paid to search out
the weakness Of tho land. Every hasty expression,
never mind under what circumstances uttered,
has been promptly manufactured into "disloyal"
sentiments; and great deal OF suca dsoy atty,
we sincerely believe, has been forwarded to the
Radical press, that had its origin In the fertile
and unscrupulous brain OF these correspondent ts
The honest sentiment Of tho country has found no