The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-20

The IncurabIe Southern Fire Eaters
and their Folly.
From the Herald
The kings evil or hereditary gout can be easier
cured than the impracticable theories and here
sizes of an old southern polit cian OF the seces'
sion school, To use an often repeated but per-
iectly applicable simie, tney are like the old
BourboLs--they never ioreet or learn anything
We have had several striking examples of this
lately.
Wade Hampton delivered speech in South
Carolina few days ago which isvery much Tue
same Ia tone and sentiment as those uttered
just previous TO the war. He still holds 10 tue
right of secession, and MAKES martyrs OF tnose nose
who plunged the country INTO the most te.I ItpIe @
civil war on record. We might not notCe tntse
exploited tallacies If the evil results OF nodlng
them dld not extend beyond Mr.. Hampton. DuI
he ie prominent man, and MS Jangudge Is car
culated 10 do q great deal OF mlschlel TO the
SoWth It vii lend to keep alive sectional hatred
10 oiuculcate erroneous views among the Sourhern
neople as to their condition aud rights, to irri-
tale the North, and 70 eiye tne radicals a pow
tion. Wade Hampton, and those like him, are
pract cally the worst enemies of the South.
Another OF this old State rights secession
school. MIR Humphreys, the Governor of Missis-
sipp, IN message to the Legislature takes very
decided ground aga INST the North with regard
to the Constitutional amendment He tells the
LpHlbidIuI6 lUdl ne DfpSuIDcS Jue IutiG ACe'uinS
of that amenoment will be sufficient to cause it's
rejection. This attempt to forestall ana ln-
huence the action of that body deserves the Sc
verest condemnation. 1t is wicked attempt
to array the people of Mississippi against the
sentiment OF the North-against those who have
absolute power over the destiny of the South.
Such conduct is reckless and suicidal in the eX-
treme.
Tue same foolish and destructive course is
pursued by other prominent Southornors OF
that class, and by the remains OF the stup fire.
eating press We see the old leaven at work in
the RlchmCn md papers, and now and then in
those of Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee; of
New Orleans, Mobile, and of other sections OF
the South. South Carolina which was the most
extreme secession State, is no " more moderate
than any of tie others, notwithstanding the in
Hammatory harangues OF few such men as
Wade Hampton.
These ola politicians and editors seem to forget
that there has been tremendous revolution,
and that they are conquered peo pie, entirely
at the mercy OF their conquerOrs. Hair split
ting quibbes and arguments about political
rights are all out of place. The right OF the
case. Nominaliy they are in the Union, but
practically Congress has excluded them from
being united politically with the North, and it
has The power to exclude them indefinitely if
the people sustain its action. 1t is no use to
app al 10 the Constitution, TO the law, to the
terms of surrender, to the pardonIng power of
the President to their reconstruction under the
acton OF gthe Executive, or to anything else
against this fact. Tney cannot be 1ully restored
till Congress thinks proper TO restore them.
Why, then, resist? Why destroy themselves by
q hopeless conflict with BODY that has their
destiny in Its hands?
There was but one other power left to which
they could appeal on the question of imme.
dlate restoration without further conditions, or
restoration with the conditions of Congress,
and that was the people OF the North. The
appeal has been made, and the elections show
beS ond all doubt that public sentiment has
decided that they can only come back to their
NOlts. s.anl l.N.
the Constitutional amendment, as laid down
by Congress. That is the sum and end OF the
whole argument.
But some may say Let us wait; there may
be change OF public opinion, and Congress
may be elected more favorable to us. This is
very dangerous ground to stand upon. The
longer they are kept out the more chronic
Their case becomes and the more difficult to
treat. The politicians of the North, or even
the people, might find out that they could
govern ana keep the South in subsection, and
hold all the political power OF the republic
without admitting that section at all, or tor
or any future Congress is likely to offer the
Southerners more ia gorable terms than are now
offered in the Constitutional amendment, and
tue chances are that If these be rejected more
disagreeabe ones Will be required
Certain short-sighted and lmpraCtiCable men
say, wei, let US remain out if We cannot get
in without accepting these conditions" What,
we ask, VIII you sacrldce your interests, keep
yourselves IN state OF political slavery, aud
perhaps ruin your magnificent country, through
false plide and holding to an untenable theory
OF light which does not practically exist? We
cannot believe the mass Of the Southern people
will take such a ruinous position. They had
better throw overheard the Jonahs-their old
political leaders, who have done so much mis-
chlet already, and save themselves and their
country.
This is the question of the time for the South.
II we mistake not it is going to create great
agitation and new parties there. The old lea 1ers
OF the Secession stamp, such as Wade Hampton
and Humphreys, who are excluded, for time
at least, from political privileges by the Consti-
tutiona amendment will oppose its adoption
with all their Ilffeht A large portion of the
sensible and conservative people will see that
their interests do not lie in sucn a course. The
coming conflict in the South will be between
these parties, and ii may become a very sharp
one. Iu that case political excitement on the
question will be transferred from the North to
the South.
But whatever the extreme Southern States
may do, the Constitutional amendment will
surely be accepted by sufficient NUMBER of all
the States. They cannot prevent it. We advise
them, therefore, ii even the conditions the
amendment imposes be unpaatable, to make
virtue OF necessity and accept it at once. &c
restored by all means and without delay. Al
OF her difficulties can be adjusted afterwards.