The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-06-25
The Exclusiveness of the South.

A recent article in the Boston Eueninq
Transcript calls attention to an important,
though much overlooked and constantly mis-
represented fact, namely, that all the section
alism by which the country has been troubled
and distracted has been originated and foster
ed in the South. From the very first it was
the effort of those who ruled that section to
infame and keep alive aspirit of jealousy and
hostility, to speak of themselves as distinct
people, and of Mason and Dixon's line as the
boundary between them and an alien race. To
denounce and hate and misrepresent the
Yankee, Gin short, in every possible way to
treat the Yankee as more of foreigner to
their hearts, and their good will, than any
other mortal, has been the purpose of the
chivalry. We quote the concluding portion
of the article referred to:
Claiming the lions share of political pow
er, paying the smallest portion Of the national
taxes, represented in Congress by gen.
erous but unequally operating compromise, en-
joying all the privileges of the republic, whilst
ever disturbing the peace of the republic with
new claims fol spoils and fresh manifestations
OF arrogance, the dominant class at the South,
as far as practicable, refused all intercourse
with the people of the free States, unless they
consented to honor them as lords and mas
tiers, accept their local theories, and worship
their pet social system.
As 1t has been, SO it is now. One would sup
pose, on reading the journals in the interest of
the late rebels, or on listening to the speeches
of the late prominent conspirators, that the
South alone had grievances, that the South
alone had been patient and forbearing, and
consequently that the wishes and demands of
the South alone-the sectional, slave-power
South in temper still-were to be consulted in
reconstruction, since that South has failed in
its effort to destroy our nationality by force of
arms.
NOW contrast with this disposition and at
titude of the South, what has ever been. and
to-day is, the disposition and attitude of the
North. There has never been any sectional
ism whatever at the North. The free States
have had no doors barred against immigration
for business or any other purposes from the
late slave States. The free States have been
ready by capital, by their votes, by their adj
ministration of the general government, to
give to the South all the internal improve
ments, and let it enjoy its full proportion of all
the prosperity and progress OF the country.
There has never been a moment since the
Union was formed, when the North was not
prompt, willing and eager to be practically fra
ternal with South, accepting Republican and
Democratic institutions, and reaping the mea-
sureless benefits they confer.
Is this truth to be put out of sight Is it
to be denied by the frothy declarations and the
passionate utterances OF clique of aristo-
traffic politicians-men without sympathy with
the people, and without any regard for the
rights of humanity? Are they to be permit
ted to ostracise any citizens of this great coun-
try; allowed to disturb its. trade and COM
merce, and perpetuate disastrous alterations
only to crafty their barbaric pride and their
class spite !? Certainly not. The never sec
tional North has right to annihilate the al
ways sectional South, and insist upon the Gre
alton of a new South, prosperous in itself,
and in harmony with all the rest of the
Union.