The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-07

IIIIOOTTW0T TUWUWTHV
ment of the freedmen, the testimony of the
Generals is positive and unfavorabe. An idea
has obtained that South Caroline has done itself
honor by the fullness of its provisions for JUS
tice 10 the coored people. General Sickles,
however, reports that in some districts of the
State the freedman Is dependent upon the pre-
sence and protection OF national troops for
security for life, limb, or property A pre-
vailing iDdspositlon to prosecute aud a failure
to punish offenders, when negroes are the suf-
ferers, is imputed TO the local authorities; and
au extraordinary State enactmentis cited, under
which militia officers may "disperse, suppress,
kill, and destroy any company of freedmen or
others who shall be found lurking in any sus-
pected place where they may DO mischief
From Kentucky General Davis reports aa in.
crease OF lawlessness since the triumph of Re0el
candidates at the election. General Wood,
writing from Mississippi shows that laws re-
main in force prohibiting freedmen from pur.
chasing real estate, and that only freed
mitted to bear arms The inferior local autho-
rites, too, are slow to proceed against Rebel
Offenders, who usually escape unpunisbed.
General Sheridan, referring to affairs in Texas
speaks yet more positively, There the General
remarks, "the trial Of white man for the
murder Of freedman would be farce.r And
while great outcry Is raised when single
white settler is killed by Indians, "over the
killing of many freedmen in the settlements
nothing Is done."
Again, Arkansas has been singled out as by
comparison a reconstructed State. 1t sen loyal
seemed to be largely impregnated with North
elm influences Encouraged, probably, by the
position assumed by the President, and the
greater degree OF bodness which distinguishes
the tone of Southern politicians on national
affairs, the Rebel element In Arkansas has
asserted Its right TO rule. Governor Murphy is
not an extreme man, as the manner in which he
presented the Constitutional amendment to the
local Legislature for ratification proved. Apart
from HIM, the State Government is once more
in Rebel hands. The three members of Congress
elect were chosen because of the support they
gave TO the Rebellion; the State officers, with
the exception of the Executive chair, have been
assigned to conspicuous Rebels; a large maio-
rlty OF the Legislature belong to the same
class; and all the counties save three have given
their minor local offices to men who have waged
war againet the Government The Union men
OF the State propose to meet in convention to
petition Congress for grant of the same
powers which were entrusted to them three
years ago, when the work of reconstruction on
its present basis was undertaken. The men
who co-operated with Mr.. Lincoln then ask now
for power to begin anew, with the light of re-
cent experience 10 guide them. The mere issue
OF the call for gathering to petition has
aroused The ire OF the Rebels in the State Legis-
lature, who have talked of legislation to aid the
Governor in suppresslng the movement. Eorci-
bic suppression, after the style in vogue at New
Orleans, is hardly likely TO be attempted. Aud
the Unonists, we presume, Will make them
selves heard at Washington.
North Carolina seems no nearer bona fde re-
construction than other parts OF the South. The
election OF an ultra sece sioDist, Judge Manly, to
the United States Senate, illustrates the pre-
dominant temper OF the Legislature. EX-Gover-
nor Holden of President Johnson's ap-
pointees-declaIes, in The Raleigh Standard, of
which he is the editor, that the Provisional Gov
ernment experiment has been failure; that
"the President was deceived, aud bis Provisional
Goyernors were 0eceived;n that ''all hope that
exls'mg southern organizations will concur in
measures necessary 10 restore the Southern
States to the Union is at an ends" and that
"there is nothing left but to reorganize the
Southern States.n For this conclusion the repre-
sented States may not be fully prepared. But
the expression of such an opinion In such a
quarter is sign OF the times not 10 be over
looked, while the facts we have collated may
Southern position.
That anything short cf the surrender of the
Union party and principle will satisfy the pre-
sent leaders of Southern opinion, we do not
believe. Even President johnson does not
satisfy them; for though opposed to the Consti-
tutional amendment, the language Of his Mes
sage commits him to the support OF the test
oath. But the South will have neither. 1t
refuses TO Iatiiy the amendment, and it demands
the admission to Congress of whomsoever it may
choose to send Rebel or no Rebel "We utterly
reject his test OATH" is the answer of the Rich
mond E1dminer-a journal which, under its
present management, is one OF the most efficient
eXponents of Southern opinion. "We think the
South would rather stay out of Congress indef-
nitely" than be represented by persons who
would swallow the oath, is the statement with
which the Examiner dsposes of Mr.. Johnson's
safeguard. 1t is evident, therefore, that the
amendment is not the obstacle to restoration
The real obstacle is the aversion of the Southern
politicians to everything calculated to insure
the peace and integrity of the nation. They
require that they should dictate terms before
resuming their places in the Union.