The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-12-01
oUR OBLIGATIONS TO THE GOVERN
AfENT

IN recent uttcranccs upon the attitude and
actions OF our adyersarics at the North, it
| might appear, perhaps, that VIC have not been
sufficiently respectful of the conduct and char
acter of our present Government towards us.
That it has been the purpose Of the Govern
Inent 10 restore the States to what there is vet
possible of constitutional relations, and to
spare the States and people Of the South of rs
much as possible Of The consequences of defeat,
and Of the acquisitions Of impcrions and
malignant nssailants, there is little question
The course of the Government might, perhaps,
have been more elevated. In granting amnesty,
1t might, perhaps, as we'll have been unqualified
by clauses against those distinguished in posi-
tlon, and thosc, d; least, possessing moderate
share ~ wealth. The effect of that, and it
would seem to have been its purpose, has
merely been to dcmoralSc the country. II was
calculated to inspire but selfish feeling of
sclf-prcservntion, which was of no advantage
| to the Government. 1t was not of interest to
the Government TO suppress sentiment of
manhood. If the South were to be available to
the Government in sustaining itself against the
current Of aggression which, sweeping down
! from the North, rolled well against that
| Government itself as against us, it was emi-
nently important that the spirit of the South
| should not be broken that its sense of integrity
should be sustained, and that it should stand
with consciousness that it was still fit for some
thing-and for just relations with an indc-
pendent people in the political association, it
was its purpose to establish.
Nor was it of advantage to the Government in
its necessary contest with aggressive spirits at
the North. AS measure of propitiation, it was
weak and spirtless invention. They might
love the treason, but detest the traitor-bc will
ing, at least, to receive that concession to exac-
tions. But that was not enough. 1t should have
been clear to the Government that they want ed
but nn instrument, that no compliance was of
merit while there was anything reserved, and it
was imperative upon the Government, at the be-
ginnir- ofthc present controversy, to determine
sharply and at once, whether it would be with
the aggressive party or against it; whether it
would be their ready instrument or stand firm
ly against them upon the straning timbers of
the Constitution. That it did not do so-that
it yielded thus far, we have said, to the cx-
actions Of that party, and inflicted 30 much of
unnecessary humiliation upon the South-is to
say the least, to be regretted. It tonded to dis
turb the counsel and paralyze the spirit of the
South. 1t stirred them up to an impotcnt ac-
tivity, when there was no possible prospect of
profitable action, and the very concession to
what was presumed to be popular taste at the
North, while inefficient to propitintc favora-
bic feeling, but tended, in the weakness it i'm
piled, to encourage the aggressive feeling of
that section.
Apart from this, however, and whatever msy
he the further action of the Government under
the pressure of it's necessities it is but fair to
confess that, through it's better policy, we have
been spared many of the sufferings of subju-
CATION. With our every foot of territory under
the tread of hostile forces; with garrisons in
towns and villages with military courts to
superscde the civil law, and men turned loose
to stir up whatever of evil there was in the na-
lures of colored population-wc suffered much,
and might have suffered more. Seldom has
country been so overrun, and rarely has there
been country 30 subject to suffcrings from mill
tary occupation. That these troops have been
withdrawn; that civil law has been restored
with the ordinary functions of self government.
and that the arm Of executive authority has
been extended TO reprcss the further eruptions
ready TO be made upon us, is attributable to the
Government; and though that protection may
not continue; though the Government NAV bo
forced to accept the situaton,-to acknowledge
the fact of preponderating political powers in
the North, nor challenge fate upon political
issue to the great question now pending
whether tho Government can long continue an
independent power, or must abdicate its office
and take service at the hands of the Republi-
licans; yet, we must confess, il has dono its
best, through oil its ordinary and legal forms,
to protect us; and neither of its own motion.
or ut the dictation of the Radical party, has it
claimed n single victim of the many who stood
in armed opposition to its authority In that
there has been humanity. There has been in
that one ray rs it sets, If it be about to set
in the glory of it's meridian splendor, tri-
butte, memorable, it is to be hoped, in after
years, to the real greatness of that genius
through which our political system was inau
gurated.
NEW ORLEANS WRoHERTL1cHE DEursoHE Zpr-
TUNa.-Thig staunch and faithful Southern manor |
hOlda Wa houa 1oko Is.