American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-02-22
Northern Masnanimity and Southern
hatred.

this Government when the highest aim an
object of the whole people, without regar
to section, should be to divest themselves c
all prejudice, passion and animosity, and en-
deayor to inaugurate the " era of good feel
ing" that time is the present. For fou
years both sections were distracted, rent an
torn by civil war, during which time eacl
lost immensely in men and millions o
treasure in each section the widows wal
aud the orphans cry, the sisters shviek anc
the fathers moan, were n perpetual drge
Four years of such dreadful strife, such de
vastation, such extmplfication of all the dir,
horrors of war should have cooled the mac
passions of any people, brought calm reffec
ton to every mind, and produced the univer.
sal conviction that peace was the natura
state of man-that peace alone could secure
happiness and procure prosperity, while wal
brought only in its train the backness Of
misery, ruin and death.
At the close of our late civil war-which,
though it closed adversely to the South,
have been supposed that both parties had
become SO weary of the prolonged and san
culinary conflict that peace upon honorable
terms would have been hailed with Joy by
both parties And so it seemed to be at first
Though the South had been defeated her
people felt the proud consciousness, and
could lay the healing balm to their hearts,
that it was not for the want of valor and
bravery in her sons, or willingness to sac
riGce their lives in defence OF her cause but
it was the result simply of the Overwhelming
preponderauce Of the numbers of the enemy,
their vast navy boekading cur ports and
plying our rivers, and their immense advan-
sAges in manufacturing, importing and trans.
porting all the munitions of war. This was
the Judgment of the civilized world Even
our enemies themselves admitted it. Such
being the case, the Sonth could, and did,
yield gracefully, and only as II brave and
honorable people can.
At the close of the war there was a seem
ing disposition on the part of orr vanquish-
ers to be magnanimous aud generous towards
US. They INDUCED in but few celebrations
Of their triumph over US calculated to mortfy
or wound, Their prominent newspapers gen
orally spoke kindly of us, and their leading
men even complmented the South upon the
ralor Of her soldiers and their power of en-
durance, declaring they were opposed to the
a Il. hi A IL: ~
an inclination on the part Of Southerners to
bury the past, "let bygones be bygones," and
sndeaVor to live in amity and concord with
their Northern brethren" in the future
There was more true loyalty in the South
Immediately on the close of the rebellion than
there is to-day. The reason is obvious. 1t is
patent to every one. The true animus of the
North has been developed. Her emissaries
in the South-corresponde OF newspapers
and attaches of freedmen's bureaus-have
p9rsistently misrepresented and maligned US.
The same devilsh disposition to traduce the
South and interfere in our affairs, which
hatched the war, is still manifested. We are
allowed to form State Governments, to elect
legislatures and pass laws, but if those laws
are not in consonance with the views of thu
% powers that be " at Washington, they are
annuled With the velocity Of lightning. Mis-
sissippi ensets a law after mature delibers-
ton and debate, which is believed to be for
the benefit of society generally, when Gen
Slocum is instructed to declare it null and |
void. Virginia adopts vagrant law, which
is to bear on white men and freedmen alike, |
An exact copy of the law of Pennsylvania, yet |
ness as he would take julep. Amendments
IRE made to the Constitution, the organic |
sw of the land, by the score, all of which
ire intended TO be detrimental to the Sonth, |
With as much Indifference as petit jury
would render q verdict in a case of petit lar
.eny. We are taxed without being allowed
he right Of representation, fragrant viola
ion of a principle that lies at the very fouu
iation of republican government. The lands
If Southerners are csn6scated and given to
he negFoes. Confederate officers who sur
'endered on their parole are arrested and i'm
,risoned. Civilians are arrested and tried
~ Military Commission, which is a direct
'iolation of the Constitution. State legisla-
ures cIamor for the blood of JEFF. Davis, and
petitions pour into Congress for the accom-
'lishment of the same diabolical purpose.
After all this, and more, Northern letter
writer's complain that we still "hate the
Great God what a wonder =
We ought certainly to love them with exceed
ng great love ..
10 what we have said above we have pro-
eeded upon the hypothesis that the people
f the South do hate the people of the North.
his, however, is not true. There is . large
arty at the North whom we regard as our
lends men who are battling for the same