The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-09-20
RestitutiOn.

The Richmond Times discusses this sub-
ject as follows:
1t is said that many Of tho fine blood cd
horses Of the South might be recogniZ ed
and identified by their owners, on any fine
evening, when there is 4 large turnout of
vehicles and equestrians at Central Park
And it Is also stated that many of our
ladies' might find their lost jcwelry, if they
attended some of the fashionable churches
OF the Northern towns and cities. Indeed,
Southern lady did find ont and-rccovcr,
on recent occasion, very valuable shawl
and set OF earrings, brcast-pin and brace
let's, In tho manner wo have indicated.
There lS good reason to believe that Il
very wholesome Reaction is transpirinG in
the North with reference to this very ques-
ton of Southern spoiiation which We arc
now discussing. We have always felt as
surcd, and have SO expressed ourselves,
that the day would come when the decent
people of the North, who mould public
sentiment and represent the honor and
Scntiity OF their section, would bc heartily
ashamed Of the Wholesale plundcr Of 4
people whose wCalt h was taken III violation
OF every rule Of civilized warfare Our po-
vcrty-strickcn condition, the suffering of
our people, the utter prostration of all our
resources, constitute IL standing rcproac
to those whose acts, outside tho channels
or leSltlnatc war, have contributed very
largely to our destit,Ition.
When war has been waScd by land and
sea, as II the fruits of robbery and piracy
were tho chief incentives to hostilitics. his
tory has not dealt lightly with a people
whose triumphs were obscured by such
stains. When, on one occasion, Roman
consul returned loaded with the plumber
OF conquered people, and his soldiers
dcckcd with the jewels and apparal of non
combatants, he was met with the scorn
and contempt of the virtuous old Romans
The august assembly of Conscript Fathers
haStcncu tH pass 4 burning resolution Of
ccnsnrc, and it was considered that the
Roman namc had been disgraccd This
was before tho virtues OF the republic had
become qucnchcd i'll the vices and currup-
tions of tho empire.
Public condemnation OF those officers
and soldiers whose robbcrics have caused
almost starvation in many Southern house
holds, will increase with each revolving
year, until it shall attain such strength,
that tho finger of public scorn will point
out and the hissings of public contempt
VIII follow every one whose acts have iil-
tllctcd such disgrace upon his people.
Even now, the men who We're most conspi-
cuous IN dcspolllnS our wives and daugl,-
tcrs OF their plate, pianos and jcwclry, are
becoming by-word and jccr with all
honorable men and women. This feeling
has crossed the Atlantic, and every eX-
| officer or military tourist who airs himself
and his fiy-Dlown reputation i'll Europe,
finds that there is an unpleasant oaor
! about those people who have grown ricl,
by ''trophies' which excludes them from
refined and polished society.
Not long ago, an eminent Northern di-
vine, i'll co commenting upon great awaken
ing. upon the subject of religion, which pre-
vailed in certain localities in New En- gland
uttered this sentiment, in connection Will,
the religious manifestations that wer,
transpirinS, that there would never be a
true, genuine, sincere and permanent rcli-
gious reformation at the North, until res
titutlon had been. made to the South
ern people, whose private goods had
been taken from them. We should think
there could be no rcposo for Northern CON
science until such restitution has been
made. AS each father shall hand down to
his son some watch, or each mother to hel
daughter somc rich jewel, snatchcu from
the Southern planter or his dame, All heir
loom OF shame will be transmitted, which
will carry the taint of infamy to the latcs,
| generations of those whose ancestors were
robDcr- warriors in the South. n