The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-10-29
The Political Prospect.

There is no denying the fact that the pros
pect before us is gloomy and discouraging.
1t is certainly so with the Southland by
consequence with the entire country-for the
prosperity of the South is involved with that
of the North, if we are to live together as one
people. Separation has already been admit
ted, by the North to be disastrous beyond
endurance, by her successful effort to pre-
vent it. We have, already, and long ago,
given utterance TO our conviction that the
restoration of the South was necessary to the
prosperity of the country, simply because tho
contribution of the South to that prosperity
cannot we'll be dispensed with. And, as
that contribution is dependent upon her
osperity-upon the untrammeled develop
ment of her resourees-which cannot be eff
fectually attained in state of continued So
cial and political strife, because capital will
not venture in such a state of social and po-
litical instability, her restoration assumes an
Importance which appeals with material
emphasis to the sense, the Judgment and the
self-nterest of the Northern people. If we
are to be kept out of the Union, in the name
of God, why was the war made to keep us
in? Why the sacrifice of so many lives !?
Why the desolaton of so many homes Why
the expenditure of so much treasure? Why,
in the name of the widows and orphans who
fill the land, were we not permitted to depart
in u,it1 Il, i Ii
erring sisters? These questions indicate the
disqualification of those who now seek to
effect that by political measures, which, by
military force, they essayed to prevent In
our present condition we are powerless to
furnish political aid to either the Radicals or
the Conservatives. We have already admit
ted that our present political destiny was in
the control of the Northern people. And we
have urged upon the Conservative element,
which had proiessed to be actuated by a
spirit of reconciliation which favored full
restoration of the South to her Just rights
under a common government, that union and
concentration of political force which could
alone effect the views which were professed
Accounts however, indicate that this Union
on concentration does not exist This want
of concentration, however disastrous, as we
believe, if it be real cannot be justly charga-
BILE to the South, no matter how often un-
founded and prejudicial statements may be
iterated by the radical press. She has done all
she has been required to do, and her course
has been Indicative Of desire for real peace
and n return to the industrial pursuits of life
which indeed she now really and unfeignedly
entertains
II, therefore, social, political and industrial,
disaster is to flow to her and the country. as
we believe, by the triumph of radicalsm and
the defeat of what we regard as the wise and
constitutional policy Of the President, her
skirts at least, by reason other political impo-
tency, will be clear, and no CORY locks can be
shaken at her with the rebukefu and crimi-
mating tauIts, "thou has done it," If other
wise, she can hurl back the taunt with the
dogma made familiar at the North ''the Con-
stitution as it is''-and rest in that as her
abiding place" The inestimable and ina
ienable right of autonomy demands no
further political Or social sacrifices at her
hands