Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-11-20
THE FUTURE OF THE SOUTH.

In what possible way can the South be pro.
tected from the consummation of any plans for
her future determined on by the present Con :
gress' In no conceiyable way short of her
own appearance in Congress with such repre-
sentaton as the proposed amendment Of the
Constitution admits. No one conyersant with
current political affairs doubts the truth of
TINS assertion Messrs. Stevens, Sumner &
Co. are at present masters of the situation, only
through the lack of Southern Congressional
representation. A majority of Congress are
FESTIVE under their dictation, not only because
indisposed TO sustain their harsh purposes to-
wards the South, but also because REALIZING
that most OF that harshness is but a cover nm
der which they are plundering the nation right
and left for the benefit OF Eastern and Penn.
sylvania manufacturing capital, and are other
wise laboring to centralize the Government
for the benefit OF an embryo oligarchy at the
North born of the turmoil and exigencies of
the war. So long as the Solth remains IN
represented by loyal men in Congress, the
power OF Messrs. Stevens, Sumner il Co. can
not be broken, as, 10 break il, as the South asks
will be 10 restore secessionism more yirulent
and pestilenual tnan ever, TO place and pow
er under the Government; and in greater
strength, insomueh as il would be represent
ed BY some two-fifths more members of the
House than before slavery was abolished
The fall elections were but a deliberate cleo
ton OF the people TO rest for the time being
under the disability of the rule of the extreme
radicals, in preference to rehabilitatinp secss
s.onism in Congress in much greater strength
than ever before. II is certain that thus Der
nitted 10 return to Congress, every Southern
district would be represented by the man of
its people most noted for the virulence of his
feelings against the new order of things re-
crrIs F-., . ~ q
or military, IN the late effort to DESTROY the
Union. These classes continue to control Don.
ular opinions throughout the South even more
thoroughly than before they succeeded in fore
ing her into the sacrifices OF the rebellion This
fact Is the natural result of the South's suffer-
Ings and sacrifices in the war, which must
continue 70 rankle in the bosoms of hundreds
OF thousands there for years 10 come. The
moment the South may be permitted 10 appesr
in Congress as she pleases, she will appear
under the influence of those feelings Under
these circumstances IL is futile for the South 70
fancy that the present Congress will consent to
any terms of settlement or compromise that
will amount to resignation Of their master
ship OF the situation in favor OF that of Messrs.
Dick Taylor, Howell Cobb, John SIidell,
Henry A. Wise & Co. He who dreams of
such consummation-of such a lamblike
change on the part OF Congressman easily
be made 10 believe that the moon IL
made Of green cheese. As the 'sUniyersal
Amnesty" now being talked about so uucb
means but the Temperance of the South in
Congress more bitterly hostile to the General
Government than ever before, and with that
hostility strengthened greatly, it cannot he.
come the law of the land by Congressional
sanction. We are not, and never have been.
an advocate for Universal Suffrage. In ,bs
Universal Suffrage of the times, as far as il
prevails, we recognize the opportunities for
the demagogue which have brought our puh.
ic affairs into their current Iamentable condi.
ion. The safety Of the State lies, not in Great.
ing hundreds Of ousands more ignorant and
utterly incompetent voters to be used by thu
secession demagogues Of the South, but in so
reforming matters in the North, as that hereaf.
ter all admitted to vote (as new voters, there.
snail be at least sufficiently intelligent to read
and write, and shall also be identified with the
well being of the State to the extent of paving
some tax or other Tor its support