Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-06-14
A SOUTHERN VIEW OF RECONSTRUCTION.

The Philadelphia Daily Ne,os, whose edl-
tor is an applicant for the Collectorship of
the Port of Philadelphia, has become a
most violent JOHNSON advocate, lauding his
reconstruction measures beyond all reason
able bounds, and abusing Congress to the
full extent of its ability, for daring to act
independent of the President It's merce
nary motives, however, are SO well known,
that it fails to have any effect; and the
vulgar ribaldry it indulges in, when speak
| ing of Messrs. STEVENS and SUMNER, and the
republican press of the country, shows its
bad temper and bad taste, its own weak
ness, and the weakness of its cause.
This journal, in it's issue of June lst,
makes great ado over an editorial article
it extracts from religious paper of the
South, and declares, in substance, that the
republican press will not publish such ar
ticles as this, and others like it, which
give true version of the sentiments and
actions of the Southern people, yet it ad-
mits that the New York Tribune published
this very article, but finds fault because
the Tribune replies to it. The fummery of
the Daily Ne,0s about bigotry and preju-
dice are contemplate.
We give below the whole article, xrba-
tim ct literatim, of the Atlanta (Ga.) Chris
tian Ider, as we find it in the Daily Ne,cS,
proposing, however, to follow it with
statement of some pertinent facts. such as
are necessary to a true understanding of
the averments which the Ilder makes.
Four M1srAKEs-The great obstacle to recon-
struction in Church and State, in fact and in feel
ing lies in mutual misunderstanding of the facts
in regard TO each other by the northern and south
ern people. If the truth were known at the North
as to what is said and done, and thought and felt
in these southern States We believe that control
ling number of the people there would be inclined
to extend to us such treatment desire and as
we think deserve. There four leading par
Uculars in which We think their judgments of US
are entirely wrong, and If they could be correctly
| informed on these points, believe that vast
stride would be made toward real peace. With
sincere desire to do good to our fellow-men and to
| glorify our Father IN Heaven, We proceed to men,
| ton these four things, and to put on record our
solemn testimony in regard to them.
| First. 1t is believed at the North that the peo-
pie here consider the late dispute still unsettled,
! that they are anxious for another opportunity to
resort to arms, and that they ready and ripe to
avail themselves of the first occasion to make an
/ other effort for independence.
In all this our nothern friends are entirely mis-
taken. There is not word Of truth in it. There
may be individuals of whom it is true-of course
| we cannot say that there are none-but can and
do say that we know of none and have heard of
none. The people here are not thinking about
arms nor about independence the ideas for which
the war was fought are considered obsolete and
seldom spoken of The great idea with almost ev-
cry one is to take care of himself and improve his
own condition. Revolution is of all things the
furthest from their wishes or thoughts
Second. 1t is believed at the North that there is
here general disposition to oppress and perse-
cute the negro race and, if possible, to reenslave
them.
Nothing could be further from the truth During
the the slaves for the most part stood by their
masters. labored for them without overseers in
thousands of instances, and sympathized with
them and sustained them in every possible way to
the last. Since the war they have conducted them
selves with degree Of proprlety which, under the
tances is a wonder to the world. These
things have increased the kindness of feelings
which were kind before, and the negro race is held
in higher estimation at the South this day than it
ever has been. The rights of suffrage, of holding
office, and of sitting on juries denied them by
our laws, but in all other respects they Gn
Georgia) precisely on footing with the white peo-
pie, and SO we think it Is in most of the other
States. The people of the North have been Of
ten told that the opposite of all this is true that
they may find it hard to believe what we tell them
but the facts are as we state.
Third. 1t is believed at the North that the mo-
ment the southern people clothed with politi-
cal power, they will use their influence for the re-
pudiation of the national debt
We have never heard this scheme proposed by a
southern man, and it probably would never have
been thought of here if we had not received the
idea from northern newspapers. We have never
heard It spoken OF except with condemnation. -
Most of are wise enough to know that it is to
interest to sustain the government under which
we expect to live.
Fourth. 1t is believed at the North that the
southern people, if invested with political power,
, would endeavor to force upon the government the
assumption OF the debt of the late confederacy.
We do net believe that this idea ever entered in
to the widest dream of the most visionary man in
these southern States. We have never heard the
subject mentioned, except with ridicule. and in
the preceding case, we believe it never would have
been mentioned at all if it had not been thrust up
on our attention by the northern press.
If the people at the North could only h1Ot0 the
truth in regard to the four points above spoken of,
we believe that there would be an immense change
in public opinion, and in the state OF public feeling
there, and that the result would be restoration OF
friendly relations and of material prosperity. Few
of them, perhaps, will these lines of those
who them, some have doubt, will be-
: lieve al We said, for of them know that oul
testimony can be relied on some, we fear, will
say that wilfully fasify. and others will proba
} bly, say that mistaken 10 the facts. We
earnestly entreat those who doubt our evidence tC
tell us what evidence would be satisfactory, and il
: they demand evidence, which the nature of the
/ case admits Of we think pledge ourselves
I in advance to produce it.
This article may be copied by northern news
papers, and it is just possible that some of theil
readers would like to obtain full information
from the same source ii SO, Let them address
letter to the editor of the CristiQn Inder Atlanta
Georgia, and they shall be promptly responded tc
1 publicly Or privately, as they may desire.
L. To the first paragraph of this article
we reply mutual Misunderstanding of the
facts in regard to each other" has little OIL
nothing to do with the question of recon
struction. 1t is not so much what the south.
ern people are now doing, or thinking, as
what they did do and think during the four
years they made war upon the United
States. They did great injury to the gov
ernment, and to the loyal people who de
Tended it in that war, and it is the opinion
of the sufferers that some atonement should
be made for these wrongs. We think they
deserve punishment, whether they desire it
, or not. But the Inder has not told US what