The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-06-19
CHAR L e ST N
TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 1s. 1866.
OUR DISABILITIES.


that old Constitution must be to need 80 much
and such constant tnkering. The present Con-
gress, at Washington, has done little else during
! all the many days and endless windage of its de-
liberations, than propose and discuss constitu-
tional amendments. The ruling party we'll merit
the appelations of Radicals,-by which they
please to be oal1ed-for in their estimation moth
ing that is, is right. Restless and meddlin 6 by
4 nature, your genuine down East politician sees
no reason why the organic law of the land should
be more sacred, more stable, or more prote cted
against ssimprovements" than the Nattic cob
4 bler's last years patent for new style OF shoe
|pegs. ssWhy should the Constitution not be
mended?" We fear many Of these legislative
tailors pick holes into the venerable garment for
the special purpose of having the pleasure OF
patching it.
1 A natural remonstrance would retort: What Is
the use of Constitution that can, at any time,
be set aside by trucuent majority? Why amend
it? It is as easy to act counter to it as to pass
those amendments, and far less troublesome.
But the Puritan is great stickler for forms.
i While he has not the least scruple against an
nulling the most solemn compacts, he is strangely
squeamish, and must have an eC-poSttdct0 modl.
fcation of the compact to cover his disregard OF
! the law. The agtation discussion and legisla-
tion of the Republican party during the last few
years, has been entirely consistent with The prin-
ciples and practice of their Puritan ancestors.
An utter want Of reverence for established inst-
tutions, an over-weening assurance and self-rlght
eousness, coupled with narrow.minded bigotry,
and its usual concomitant, g. malignant spirit Of
persecution.
Given these as the guiding principles Of your
Judge, and small your chance ofjustice, none your
hope Of mercy. We regret to be compelled to
come to the conclusion, that this is the COM
plexon Of our present political status. fair
policy of reconstruction was marked out by the
President, supported by all the weight Of his au-
thority and influence Had this course been
adopted the country would now be at peace, old
strfes rapidly healing, and healthy, rapidly dis
appearing cicatrix would cover the many wounds
made during the last few years. The country
would be a unit, politically as we'll as geographi-
cally one in aim and purpose. No internal agl-
tation would be gnawing cancerlike, at its yitals,
| as is now the case retarding tho growth and de-
velopment Of industry, fomenting suspicion, in
spring distrust, and keeping alive the dying en-
bers Of civil and social strife.
All this might have been but for the sordid,
selfish fear entertained by the ruling faction, lest
their lease of power should be shortened. Power
is sweet and Office profitable and to lord it over
their betters is particularly pleasing to the craven
mind of the base born That all this agita tion ls
kept up, and injustice committed, in the name OF
Justice and under the guise of philanthropy, is
only in character with the inherent traits OF this
race of fanatics, who, with the wisdom OF the
serpent, all the while pretend to be as harmless as
doves.
There is, therefore, no prospect for the polltl-
cal recognition Of the Southern States as long as
the present Congress shall shape the legislation
of the country. The elections are close at hand,
and it is to be hoped for the sake OF the peace and
prosperity of the whole country, that the people
of the North will throw off the incubus that has so
long been drag to the nation, and elect new
men to Congress- shall not be committed to
constitutional amendments and pet philanthropic
distractions, shall not spend all the six
working days of the week in discussing the Freed
mems Bureau, and making Pariahs OF the white
men of the South, who shall occasionally at least
consider the interests of the whole cou ntry,- en-
"
the chasm created by the war between tn two
sections. It can be done, and we hope to see it
done.
There is much also for us to do. We believe, as
we have said all along, that the South fully COM
prehends her situation. Certainly il she do not,
it is the fault of neither Provost Marshals or
Freedmen's Bureau). The Confederate armies
were surrendered in April and May, 1866; and the
subject of our disabilities has been constan tly be-
fore our people ever since, so also the require
ments of the Republican party. It is reasonable,
therefore, to suppose that they IRE perfectly cog
nzant of the stuatiOn of the dutios of the hour,
and the further sacrifices to be undergone on their
cheerful submission to the inevitable, and come
up deliberately to an intelligent discharge of their
new duties This should be done soon, and done
thoroughly.
It was not to be supposed that all this could be
brought about instanter, that a failure, such as
ours should forthwith be followed by radical con-
version. few individuals, know, found d no
difficulty in thus hauling down the bars, and in
stanty thereafter unfurling the stripes. We will
not here inquire into their motives, or sem too
closely the question Of their sincerity. Stuff cient
to say, that but few among men are ever found 80
dspassionate, who have their feelings and I'M
pulses so perfectly under tho control Of their
reason. A wise statesman, therefore, pr efers q
conversion more slow.
Our people have been much msligned by ennis
saries (called correspondonts) paid to search out
ptl, ,&