Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-09-27
RUTLAND HERALD.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1866.
The Spirit of the southern Press.

The Southern press is not satisfied
with the johnson platform constructed
at Philadelphia, and is not entirely salts
fed with johnson himself. 1t demands
the release of that Christian hero and
natrio.ic statesman, JEFF. Davis, before
according fui, and unreserved support to
the President.
The Augusta Constitutionalist, refer
ring to the possibility Of visit from
the President to that city, gave him a
gentle hint by saying che may count on
respectful-did he bring Mr., Davis with
him we would say an enthusiastic-re-
ception." Returning to the same sub
ject day later the same paper urges
that the people of Georgia demand a
guaranty OF the immediate release of
Jefferson Davis before giving their sup
port to Mr.. Johnson's political schemes.
1t says -
"Will you do it? Will you, In mad
scramble for selfish advantage, throw
yourselves headlong into party without
one single effort to rescue a man you
once loved and trusted from the jaws OF
death? Heed them not who tell you
you can do nothing. The weapon is in
your own hands, for ifthe moral influence
of your support has value, the moral influ-
ence of your demand will have force.
Things are at that juncture now that a
united, straightforward, unflinching APP
peal for Mr.. Davis will secure his release.
And shame, shame upon us if we do not
make it,"
The Presidents papers in the North
sometimes claim General Grant as among
his supporters. The Southern papers are
more truthful, acknowledge that there is
no hope of securing his apostacy from
the principles for which he fought, and
abuse him roundly,-as the Richmond
Examiner, thus
'If tyrant needed tool, he would
find him in Grant. Grant is a fool, but
he is vicious one who is cunning for
mischief. He is as vain as he is foolish,
and cruel as he is vain. His hopes and
wishes do not care bawbee for the
masses whether loyal or otherwise. All
he knows of masses is of masses OF SOL
diers that are to be hurled against each
other for destruction, Heaven grant us
some respite from Grant"
OF course, the Southern press is not
satisfied with the constitutional amend
ment proposed by Congress. The Rich
mond Examiner thus alludes to it.
"This amendment proposes first to cur
tail our representation unless we snail
do what many Northern States have not
done,-extend suffrage to the negroes ;
and it proscribes all the best and most
competent Southern citizens from public
trust. AS the Chronicle appeals to our
calm reason we ask it to consult its
own, and to say whether it is decent to
require of US to enact our own dishonor!
If the North choose by the strong arm
to impose tyrannical terms upon us, thai
will be the North's disgrace; if we con
sent and concur in it the disgrace viii
be ours. If we vote to prescribe oul
most yirtuous and competent citizen:
merely for doing our will, in order tina
the rest of US may escape proscriptlon
we tappeal to the calm reason OF TIT
Chronicle, whether we should not be in
famous p
In short, the press of the South Nigh
be pronounced in a state of general dis
satisfaction with all things here below
were it not for single CLEAN of hope
which just now brightens its gloominess
That hope arises from the threats OF CIV
war made by President Johnson and III
friends. The lesson of the late wal
terrible as it was the promises mad
before it's outbreak, by Northern Demo
Gratis, that the streets of Northern cite
should run with fratricidal blood If a
attempt were made to thwart the scheme
of the seeding traitors; the utter fai
ure of these promises, and the substar
tial unity and overwhelming enthusiasm
with which the loyal people uprose
fight down-not each other-but South
ern treason and rebellion this terribl
lesson, we say, seems to have taught tn
Southern editors little or nothing, If W
may judge by the following extract frol
the Richmond Times. That paper SEE
in the renewed Democratic threats
civil war at the North, a prospect
carrying fire and sword through the To-
al States and welcomes it thus
at may be considered that we ha'
already had enough to chasten our pc
pie. But the Christening has been parti
and one-sided. One storm is often /
sufficient to purify the atmosphere, al
the North has not had such deluge
would cleanse all her cutters. Her tu
is vet to come, and the rash folly al
mad action of her malignant spiri
NAV be the selected instruments of Hea
en- for her publication"
The Southern rebels ought to ha
learned better by this time, than to p
their faith in the bloody threats Of t
Northern sham Democracy. Those thres
are now renewed only for political ent
on our State elections. But If anotf
war should be attempted, there would
O nonular uprising of the North Su