The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-05-16

The FUTURE OF THE SOuTH.-lt could
haye been an easy task to write the mes
sage just brought from the New World. A
CHASTITY wound yet unhea!ed is not to be
laid open. The flowing lava and burning
ash were to be lightly trodden on; but it
was impossible to forget wholly the four
most terrible years in the worlds history.
So the shade is present though nnarmed,
like one who was at the table or the fire.
side yesterday, and will never be again.
From its beginning to its end the war is a
horrid chasm in the Presidents message,
to the brink of which he must approach
again and again, ifonly to turn away. He
finds necessary relief in the dreamy aspir-
atoms and hazy commonplaces. which we
can only say were never excusable.
President johnson, while crying down the
notion of State sovereignty, points out that
it was expressly provided no State should
levy duties to clog the transit or check the
prosperity Of the neighboring States. But
no political formula, no deed of special
compact whatever, could prevent one State
from being SO differently circumstanced
from another that the same Union tax and
the same tariff might enrich one and i'm
poverish the other, aud even aggrandize
one at the cost Of all the rest. Before the
war is many months over, the President
boasts that the revenue already paid by the
loyal States exceeds by many millions that
ever paid before the war by the whole
Union. But let any body glance over the
immense and very irregular area covered
by the States and say whether it will ever
be easy to devise fiscal system which will
press equally on all, from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, from the st. Lawrence to the
Rio Grlnde.
For the present the American Govern
ment looks with neighborly pity on the
internal troubles Of Mexico, but it invites
all nations to take refuge in its charmed
circle, and Mexico, we presume, is an ex-
pected guest. But what system Of Taxation
or even Of government, will serve equally
for New England and the ancient Empire
par " Spanish partly Indian, under trop
ical cline? The further the Union pushes
from it's centre, the more will it encounter
that vast variety Of conditions which ta1
the utmost skill Of States craft, and def
Constitution mongers. When the materia
is widely different, and the circumstances
are still more 80 the arrangement can neve
be symmetrical, the Union perfect, or thu
working quite smooth Nor can anythin.
be done for all time. when the materials ar
everchanging. The President breaches tt
the States a homily upon union disinteres
tedness ard mutual forgiveness. They ar
to acknowledge only one sovereign, ant
that is the Constitution Of the whole Union
They had better listen, for they must
The condemned felon will never hear anoth
er sermon, SO he may we'll attend to this
1t is the only plan Of life left. With al
our hearts we advise the Southern State
to accommodate themselves to their har
circumstances. But their utmost submis
sion will not use and assimilate all the race
and conditions ofthe New World, or Civ
eternal and universal efficacy to pape
constitution. We have seen it once of gea
and we do not ourselves see in that misfo
tune and it's temporary cure d perfect secl
ity against another London Times.