Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-02-02
The Material and Political Status OF the
South.
New ORLEANS, Jan. 10, 1866.

South.
New ORLEANS, jan, 10, 1866.
| To the Editors Union and american, Nash
rqUe-You requested line from me on my
return to the Southwest upon the general
condition of affairs, and upon the prospects
which the future seemed to open. shall en-
deavor briefly to comply.
Everywhere in the interior of the country,
as well as in the towns, there are evidences
of activity, and people, who were reduced to
the greatest extremity, show spirit and de-
termination in graphing with the situation
which is truly astonishing, and every branch
Of business or employment is already crowd
ed. The planters, however, struggle against
thousand difficulties The ruin of estates
is but small part. They are perplexed and
worried by the labor question, and until
few days it seemed as if the freedmen had
abandoned all thought of further occupation
More recently it is said that they are con-
tractors, and on favorable terms, but it must
be admitted that the greatest distrust prevails
of their future. The planters find it impos-
sible to procure advances to work the estates
Capital is too cautious to seek such adven-
lures. Thousands Of estates are in the mar
ket for sale at half or quarter their former
: values, or for rent, but there are few trans
actions. Agents offer the most inviting lists,
but offer in vain The capital and labor
which were to have come from the North or
Europe, have not yet appeared, and the evil
dence SO far is complete that the Southern
crops for another year will be very short,
and that million bales Of cotton will be a
very liberal estimate.
The great activity which prevails and
which is SO imposing to the eye ought not,
however, to deceive. tbs no augury for the
future. The wretched condition of affairs at
the end of the war occasione almost strug-
gle for life among our people, and all the lit
tie savings that had been boarded up or hid
den away were brought forth to replenish
supplies. In the utter exhaustion there was
a demand for everything thus the large
trade which Immediately sprung up. The
cotton which survived the war, and which
was generally diffused over the country, fur
nishes the means Of keeping up this com
mcrce It is an act of Providence that 50
much was saved in the general wreck, blu,
when that is gone, a collapse may reasonably
be expected, unless some great and unexpcct-
ed relief presents itself. The idea generally
prevails and men speak gloomily Of the flu
ture. Certainly there never was such field
for enterprise as that which the South fur.
nishes, but the capital is wanting. So far fol
the material question.
| Now as to the political There is an in.
tense feeling of disappointment and chagrir
| prevailing, and people who 8 few months agl
accepted the situation, and were in good faith
endeavoring to perform its duties, express
themselves with bitterness. They perceive
a disposition in the national councils to hu.
initiate and degrade them. They are required
to max sacrifices from which their man
hood sMinks. Their honest professions are
mistrusted and the magnanimity which might
have been expected from a generous foe. hiss
not been shown. This remark does not ap.
ply to the President, whose noble course il
universally lauaed. Even those who were
called Union men in the past, and those who
were re-constructionists during the war
speak with indignation. It was not for this
they bargained. They predicted generous
policy on the part Of the North "a a.
twittcd by tacir aas1siates w;;h their over con
fdence. Certainly a great change has taker
place in public sentiment, and the radica
party may take credit to themselves for en-
gendering feelings of alienation and hostility
greater than would have resulted from anoth-
er year Of war.
Ninety-nine in the hundred Of the Southern
people were devoted to the Confederacy, glo-
ried in its achievements, doubted not an in
slant Of it's just cause and its eventual tri-
umph, and sacrificed or were willing to sacri-
fee for it all they possessed or expected to
possess of life Or property. When the crash
came they were overwhelmed. The path Of
duty, however, soon opened to them. The
conqueror was entitled to their allegiance.
They would give it freely, openly, unreserv-
eddy, and the fidelity which they had shown
to the extinct governmental owed them to be
faithful and true and loyal people wherever
their allegiance was given. Never in histo-
ry was there more generous effort upon the
part of the conquered to submit themselves
with propriety and decorum. No repining
no sullenness no covert hostility. Their work
was oOAC--ti1CIl CduSC utu 4,
and they acquiesced 1t was practicable to
have worked with the existing elements, and
produced an early restoration ofgood feelings
and a return of the better days Of the repub-
lie. It was the alternative left, and the best
men of the South hoped for such event. The
majority Of the North had it.in their power to
heal up all the ld'wounds, and 50 to recon
struct society as to make one homogeneous
mass out of our people. Have they acted
with wisdom and prudence, moderation and
justice, or from prejudice and passion? Let
them answer.
| For one had confidence that there was a
sentiment i'll the North which would become
the dominant one, and which would sustain
the generous efforts Of the President in the
direction Of reconciliation and reconstruction,
and SO declared myself openly and publicly
| argue it from history and from knowledge
of human nature, and alienated some old
associates in doing So It was the clear die
tate of interest as well as of reason thought.
No one desired more than did to perpetu-