The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-09-13

Had the loyal Senators and Reproscn.
tatives of Tennessee been admitted at
once on the assembling of Congress, and
in moderate succession, Arkansas, Geor-
gia, Alabama, North Carolina and Vir-
ginia, the public mind of the South
would have been far more healthy than
it is, aud those States which fingered on
probation to the last would have been
under more salutary influence to good
conduct than if half o dozen armies
watched over them.
Every month that VIC delay this
healthful step complicatcs the case. The
excluded population, enough unsettled |
before, grow more irritable; the army
becomes indispensable to local govern
ment, and supercedes it; the Govern
mont at Washington is called to inter
fere in one and another difficulty, aud
this will be done inaptly, and sometimes
with great iniusticc-lor our Govern
ment, wisely adapted to its own proper
functions, is utterly devoid Of those
habits and unoquippcd with the instru-
ments which fit centralized Govern
ment to exercise in remote States over
local affairs Every attempt to perform
such duties has resulted in mistakes
which have excited the nation. But,
whatever imprudence there may be in
the method, the real criticism should be
against the rcquisition of such duties OF
the General Government,
The Federal Government is unfit to
exercise minor police and local govern
mont, and will inevitably blunder when
it attempts it. To keep half a score OF
States under Federal authority, but
, without national ties aud responsibilities
to oblige the central authority to gov.
ern half the territory of the United
States by Federal civil officers and BY
the army, is policy not only unconge
NAL to our ideas and principles, bu
prominently dangerous to the spirit o
d our government. However human'
the ends sought and the motives, it is
c in fact, a course Of instruction, prepar
r. ing our government to be dcspOtic, ant
familarizing the people to a stretch c
i authority which can never be othe
than dangerous to liberty.
&c am aware that good men are with
held from advocating the prompt an
successive Omission of the exile
} States by the fear, chiefly, Of its ciIe'
upon the parties, and upon the ireel
io men.
N 1t is said that, If admitted to Coz
v aress, the Southern Senators and Rel
lie resentatives will coalesce with Norther
as Democrats and rule the country.
C, this nation, then, to remain di5membe C
ht cd to serve the ends of parties? ? Hay
IN we learned no wisdom by the history
ty the past ten years, in which jnst tn
O. course of sacrificing the nation to II
b. exigcncics of parties has plunged us
H. to rebellion aud war?
'n !l Even admit that the power wou
" pass into the hands of party made u
~ Of Southern men, and the hitherto d
honored and misled Democracy Of Il
Hu North, that power could not be US
~ =. just as they want, The war has change
III not alone institutions, but ideas. II
oI whole country has advanced. Pub
no sentiment is exalted far beyond what
"0 has been at any former period. A nj
'ih party would, like a river, be obliged
on seek out its channels in the already c
,S7 isling slopes and forms Of the contine
We have entered a new era Of liber
" The style of thought is freer and mo
'oa noble. The young men Of our tin
- are regeneratei. The great army |
,ou been a school, and hundreds of tho
to ands of men are gone home to preacl
Of truer and nobler view Of human righ
at All the industrial interests Of sociC
l are moving with increasing wisdom
en-. ward intelligence and liberty, Eve
,ss, where, in churches, in literature, in
all cial questions, in natural sciences,
ed physical industries, as well as in politi
the Nation feels that the winter is oy
no ana a new Spring hangs in the hOriz
on. aud works through all the elements.
the In this happily changed and advanc
in condition of things no party of the
ical rograde can MAINTAIN itself. Eve
on. thing marches aud parties must mar'
Ioo, nth yynoIar and Chanp a