The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-02-27
THE REASON.

: IdE REASON.
Many United States army officers and gov
ernment officials, who either at present reside
amongst us or are transient visitors, form their
opinions and make their reports upon Southern
loyalty from a social standpoint. Because thew
are not eagerly sought after, welcomed and
toasted everywhere; because the doors of South
ern society do not open wide aud joyously upon
we'll oiled hinges to receive them; because our
men do not fawn and fatter, and our women do
not smirk and smile upon them in the gay and
giddy maZes~ OF the dance, and at the festive
board, the South iorscoth is STILL in their esti-
nation, disloyal. and disaffected And they
really believe SO, ard think it very singular that
men and women who have "taken the OATH
and been the ipients of Executive cemency,
should behave so. They lose sight of the fact
that man may faithfully support the Constitu-.
tion of the Union, be thoroughly loyal to the
government, obey the President and all the laws,
and still accord to the military and civil officers
of the government nothing more than the CON-
mon civility and distan. intercourse, These
officials who pronounce against Southern loyalty
because they are ostracized from the privileges
and enjoyment of Southern society, commit o.
grave and radical error in confounding Meas-
stl0es with the Constitution, the Government
and the laws, (to which our loyalty is due aad
is given,) of which they are u nowise part
The matters of which they complain quos-
tions of taste and not of loyalty; they should
recoect that "therc is no accounting for TASTE"
land it they are not freely admitted within the
precincts of our social circles it is because per-
haps, of a perverted taste on the part OF our
people, and according to the manaer in which
they have been raised, 1t is not the fashion
yet awhile for our people to be "hail fellow,
we'll met" in halls and around fresides, with
those whose bullets and swords have draped
them with mourning and made these very halls
and heasthstones. sad and desolate We are
neither more nor less than human beings, and,
because we cannot help it, army officers, Fede-
raj civil officials and the mousing and smelling
committee must forgive US. "To err is human,
to forgive, divine"
We think it very strange that Northern men
should expect to be received with outbursts of
joy into the folds of Southern society. They
should esteem it wonderful triumph Of charity
and christianity that they should be treated
with uniform respect, courtesy and good breed
lug by our people. Having constantly before
their eyes the evidences of our recent great suf-
ferings; knowing that ouI country has been
laid waste by their fire and sword, and our cities
levelled by their shot and shell, how can they
expect to be treated as bosom friends and ad-
vaneed to the highest seats in oar social syna-
gogues! Fashion Is despotlc, and fashion has
not accorded to them the highest eujoyments of
Southern society. While conGscation and dis
irarchisement hang over US; while armies of
occupation darken our land, and the edicts of
military chieltains overthrow the maturey con-
sidered laws of our legislatures; while our re-
prescntatives are excluded from Congress, and
bitter pens and tongues impugn our motives,
make light of our sufferings and sacrifices, and
are clamorous for our further punishment, in
the name of heaven and humanity, can they ex--
pect US to eat, drink and sleep with them in
places yet warm aud sacred with the memories
of our dead heroes? They should recollect that
We still smart under the pain of failure, and that
the voices Of their triumphant rejoicings still
ring in our ears; that we are still treated as un-
subdued s'rebels," to be kept under by sword
and bayonet. They must recollect that our
are not shorter than other mems, nor
our feelings more obtuse. The children of nei- :
ther their forefathers nor ours were reared to
kiss and fawn upon the rod that smote them
Richmond Times.