Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-11
Cannot Trust the South.

| The dominant party has, or affects to have,
great distrust of the South. That distrust re-
ters mainly to the future treatment of the
| freedmen by their former owners, and is made
the cause or the pretext for denying to the
Southern States, that have complied with the
! Presidents requirements, rehabilitation in the
Union and representation in Congress, To 60
directly to the bottom ofthis matter, We believe
that this fuss about the negroes is 4 mere pre-
text and sham, by which they seek 10 staye oil
reconstruction as long as possible, so that they
may retain and maintain their organization and
their political asceudancy, mouopoliSe the
powers of the Government, enjoy the offices
and rewards, make their arrangements for the
Presidential succession, and stamp upon, and
incorporate into the Constitution the peculiar
features and dogmSs of their party, SO as to
prolong and perpetuate that party. When we
saw this, and add that they further desire to
humilate and punish the South, and to post
pone its re-admission into the Union until the
Constitution shall he completely changed,
shaped aud moulded in the interests of the
North, we give in a few plain words what VIC
believe to be the wishes, purposes and motives
OF this party.
There is one man who knows the South BET
ter than they do who knows both the whites
and the blacks, and the relations between them,
better than they do; who has more interest IN
guarding the country against dangers, in pre-
i serving its constitution and institutions, and
| in handing il over to his successor unimpaired
1 who la
Information as to the condition of public af-
fairs than they can possibly have; who IS
| bound by more solemn Oaths, and held TO
higher responsibilities, than apply 10 them, and
who is lifted farther above party, with its igno-
] be aims aud corrupting Influences, than they
are. or can pretend to be-who says that he is
| satisfied rs 10 the loyalty of the South. lie
has repeatedly declared his willingness to
trust the South" Under the polite name of
| philanthropy" he, in his message, rebuked
that intoleraut spirit of fanaticism which " IS
earnest for the immediate realization of its re-
hottest aims, " adding that {" time is always an
| element OF reform" He also said" In all
| that relates to the destiny of the freedmen, We
| need not be too anxious to read the future !;
many incidents which, from a speculative point
OF view, might raise alarm, will quietly settle
themselves" Such is his confidence in the in
tegrty and justice of the Southern people and
States, that, after saying that the settlement of
the question of the elective franchise is left by
the constitution to the several States, he adds
that if the freedmen Shew patience and
/ manly virtues" they will "sooner obtain a
| participation in the elective franchise hro,tyh
, the States than through the General Government,
ereR II It had the po1eer to Intervene" and fur
= | ther, says the President When the tumult
r ct emotions that have been raised by the sud-
denuess of the social change shall have sub.
, sided, it may prove that they will receive the
r. | kindliest usage from some of those on whom
I they have heretofore most closely depended
, There is another eminent man, far above thu
y striles and the paltry seliShness Of party, WHIT
It believes in Southern loyalty, and WHO'S Willing
to trust the Southern people-General GRANT
He SAYS that they are in earnest in wishing
l' to do what they think is required by the Go
u yernment-nOt humiliating tothem as citizens-
to and that if such course was pointed out the.
ie would pursue it in good faith"
N Here are two men who move in the atmos
n phere Of exalted station, high above the i'm
- pure currents in which mere politicians liv
y and move and have their being-who are il
o. positions to see clearly, to judge candidly, an
t. TO act without prejudice, who are willing t
d. trust the South with self-government Itispro
ut posed to impeaeh the one, and to refuse to pa
or the other the compliment which his services
at from national stand point, entitle him to, q
E. confering upon him the title of General.
US So eminently patriotic, so immaculate, S
r wise, so sOlicitOus for the honor and safety
e the country, are now these men who, in tn
ly hour of danger risked nothing and did nOthin
at for its safety, that they cannot think of dOiu
what President JOHNSON and General GRAN
OF have cheerfully done. When they were con