The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-01-05
Letter from the SOalth.--NO. 8.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER STEAMER RUTH"
Dec 2. 1865.

the things have seen and heard for the
last few weeks, and / cannot take leave Of
your readers without word or two as tc
the result of my observations.
I The true method of reconstruction is the
theme that has occupied my thoughts and
been near my heart every day. came
south hopeful, with malice toward none,
and with charity for ALL" but l return
north bearing a burden, and convinced
that much of our charity is thrown away.
The steamer is 500 miles above New Or
leans, and | begin to feel the bracing air
Of the north, and to be thrilled by the
spirit of its liberty and industry. l am as
one come to the light. But ! leave be-
hind HE land darkened by error, desolat-
ed by war, and still hugging the idol that
has proved her ruin The south is con-
quered, and purposes to fight no more ;
but on all the great questions that concern
us as nation, she stands in direct antag-
Onism
As to loyalty among the masses of the
southern people, there is none. They
fear the national government, but there is
no love for it whatever. They propose to
submit just as far as they must, but with
no heartincss or cordiality. They stay in
the Union because they are compelled to
and in electing state officers and congress-
men, the men who have done the most to
destroy the nation get the most votes and
the most sympathy. They do sullenly
what President Johnson says they must do
to get back into the Union, and no more
1t is such a kind of loyalty as persecutes
all true Union men in their midst.
AS to the idea of a National Union they
do not believe in it. They are still we'd
ded to the principle of estate rights" l
have pictured the grandeur, beauty and
utility of a national government to them,
but have never been able to meet with the
least response The idea is hateful to
them. They believe in the state, and love
it only. The old starry flag to them is
but a rag, the emblem of oppresslon.-
They accept the union and propose to act
in good faith, simply because of our bayo-
nets.
In the matter of education, the contrast
is equally marked. The people of the
north believe III cducatin" the masses. and
Of lifting up every child in the scale of be-
inc. The people OF the south as a whole
hate education for the masses, and are in
different to it for themselves Our school
houses are the subject of ridicule, and
teachers are held in diScSteem. The men,
ton of a negro school will make the plant
er curl his lip in supremest contempt.
Again, pursuing the contrast ; the
north hold strictly to the foundation prin-
riples Of our government, that all men
should be alike free before the law. The
south hold that such freedom belongs only
to the few. The black belongs to an in
lerior race, and shall never stand on the
same civil equality. They believe that
society and religion and all civil govern
nent should be organized with reference
10 this spirit of caste God, they say,
made some to serve and some to be served. |
This conviction is as deeply seated in the
,Outh. as the AIleghanips.
Tie views of the two sections on the
subject of labor are equally divergent. In
he north it is believed that labor should
'e free, and the marvellous thrift and pro-
yre>S of this section of our country are be-
ieved to be attributable TO the varied in
ere>ts which spring from this system. In
he south, the whole system is repelled and
is fruits are offensive The southern peo-
bic love slavery and most pertinaciouSlv
assert that no other system will do for
hem. "The Niger won't work and must
&c compelled to-" have heard this
hundred times ad day, all the
way from Richmond round to Memphis.
The people of the south accept the fact
hat slavery is dead in form, but are say
!gely determined to have it back in spirit.
The laws OF the recent legislatures all look
oward this. For instance, some of them
nave passed laws that the negroes shall all
make contracts for another year, by the
lr>t OF january next, and if they do not
hen they will be compelled to. Others
propose to pass "vagrant laws" SO that all
Who are not found at work shall be taken
Up and put to service. Others still. pro-
'ose to make certain acts crimes, and as
rhine may be punished by involuntary
ervitnde, these criminals, so-called, may
'e sold into bondage. l find all these
chemes rife south of Virginia, and if
congress does not protect the freedman
lis case is lamentable indeed. In the
IL