Randolph journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1865-186?, 1866-11-22
The Lesson which the Election Gives
the South.


The Lesson which the Election Gives
the South.
The result Of the election on Tues
day affords an impressive lesson Ia the
South. The people OF that section
must now see that there + but one way
10 put IN end 10 their difficulties, and
to restore them 70 their former status
i'm the Union. 1t is evident that the
I Constitutional Amendment will be
adopted by the Northern States, and
that the people OF the North require
; this guarantee as a condition Of the
full restoration Of the South in admit
ting It's Representatives To Congress.
The issue is clearly defined: there is
no doGging or getting round II. Thr
! fate OF the South is i'm the hands Of the
North, aad the North has pronounced
/ irrevocably the conditions. Ii the
Southern States should refuse 20 ac-
cept the Constitutional Amendment.
/ it will become part of the Constitu-
: ton in spite of them; while by their
resistance, they gain nothing, and on
! ~ injure themselves.
The great obstacle in the South to
restoration is in the old political and
secession leaders. Such men rs Wade
Hampton, Governor Orr and Perry, Of
South Carolina, Stephens of Georgia,
Patton of Alabama, Humphreys of
Mississippi, Worth of North Carolina,
and Wise of Virginia, arc the real en-
emics of the SOUTH They lead the
people astray; they do not seem to un-
derstand the real issue; they are still
sccessionists practically; they are, i'm
fact, in a state Of secession though not
armed in rebellion. They refuse Ia be
united with the North on the condition
laid down, and advise the people Of
their States to act in the same way.
They are speaking for themselves on
ly, and either lose sight OF or 10 not
care about the interests ofthcir section
of the country. They are enarTow-mind-
ed and want patriotism. If they did
not they would be ready to accept any
sacrifice personally for the welfare Of
the South. BY the Constitutional
Amendment the tails of those old Sc
cession leaders are cut of, and in their /.
agony from this operation they turn
round to the people and say, Look,
friends and fellow-citizens, we have I
lost our tails; pray sympathizc with us
and refuse to hold communion with 4
those who have mutilatcd us"
In this way they excite sympathy in Il
class of people who do not look to the
general question and consequences.
But this can not last long. There is
large portion Of the Southern people /
who have intelligence enough to sec
the evils these same old secession poll (
titions have brought upon them, and I
there is a new generation growing up
who will utterly ignore them.
Now, Our advice TO the South is to
throw overheard these Jonahs who /
threaten to oycrwhelm their country in
ruin. Let the mass of the people and 1
the young men who want TO restore
their beautiful and productive section
of the republic meet together, call pub
lie meetings and take immediate ac-
ton to accept the Constitutional
Amendment. Let them no longer be
guided by the men who led them into
secession and ruin, and who would
still hold them in state OF secession.
The North has spoken emphatically
on the subject Of their restoration; the
conditions are laid down and there is I
no escape from this alternative. Tkeif
salvation is i'm their own power. Let I
them lay on the shelf all the old poli-
ticianS whose tails are cut off by the |
Constitutional Amendment, take the |
matter into their own hands and get /
represented in Congress by a new and /
set of men. This will /
be the end of their troubles; but if they /
do not take the course we advise gre I /
er evils will come upon them.-M u /
JIsrdld.