The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-02-27
thinks hear the Saviour say, Loose

thinks I hear the Saviour say, Loose
her and let her CO.
8 ''On the other hand, look for one
moment at the effects of prolonged
exclusion of the Southern States. 1t
.is weaving the citizens of thoseStates
more and more from the National
Government. For five years they
have not thought of Washington, ,ex-
scept to curse her. They have not
felt the need of it. They have not
felt any blood running through them
that came from the national heart.
It is proposed to make them live five
years more out of the Union. Is that
the way to make then love Is? Is
that the way to make them feel their
need Of the Government.
81 viii now glance at the state of
feeling in the South. When we con-
sidered what they suffered; who they
were that suffered; when L consider
where they started from nnd where
they brought up; when Iconsider the
whole history of the case, the state of
public feeling Soutliis far more peace
full than we could expect. It IS bad
enough, but it is far better than we
could expect Letter writer's, ira
velers, say a. reconstructed South,
a nice condition the South is in to be
reconstructed. They Gre our bitter
enemies; they gnash their teeth and
all. I wonder if you think that after
you soundly whip a man that he is
going to thank you for it? Do you
suppose that Gen. Lee, when he sur
rendered, should have thrown his
hands round Gen. Grants neck, and
thanked him for whipping him and
compelling him to surrender? or that
Gen. johnson should have regarded
Sherman as his benefactor? And
should the South go upon its knees
when it sees q Yankee, and say, God
bless you, Yankee, for ali you have
done for me?' These men that talk
thus do not like the state of feeling at
the South. The Yankees tell us that
the South is not fit to be reconstruct
ed. If you do not take the South in
till she heals of her wounds, you will
not take her in for long time to
come. Human nature does not run
this way. It is not question of ab-
stract Justice; it is a practical ques-
ton, and you must decide according
to known law and to human nature.
[ know the South will feel sore. They
believed in their cause; they were de-
feated; and a greater disaster could
not befall them. They lost every
thing-money, fame, ambition, cha
racter and all; deep gloom overhangs
them, and profound sorrow oppresses
them, and they are expected to give
evidences of thankfulness and joy.
They must first have the hand OF
kindness stretched to them. You must
give them new hopes. New business
will lead them to forget old graves;
new thorghls will check old tears.
Kindness and business that is what
they want. I hold no community
can do better than to take the exam
pie of Christ in this matter, who,
though pure and just, was the object
OF all offence, the most forgiving and
forbearing, and who suffered rathe,
than that we should suffer; and as he
was to us, let us be to others. There
is a Christian magnanimity in it fol-
wounds and woe that no other medi-
cine will touch. Applause 1t is
asked, why not leave them out till
they learn better? For the same rea.
son that the father and the mothe,
do not throw the rebellious son out o1
doors and expel him till he learns
No; but by kindness and love and pa
tience, they endeavor to re-inspire
him with hope; they open anew the
spent fountains of virtue, and he is
again taken into the family. I an
asked if would take man into my
church knowing him to be a sinner.
If [ didn't take them in while they
were still sinners, I wouldn't have
enough in the church to say we.
Laughter. [ take the sinner in tc
reform him. If they do not want
forgiveness and patience, I don't
know what need they would have fol
church at all. I would let them
walk on their own legs-throw away
the crutches and ordinances of the
church. The South wants kindness
words of graciousness and truth.
They need no patronizing, but they
need fraternal sympathy, and that,
with them, will go farther and bring
them better mind than any denun-
Citations you can utter. I have made
war for thirty years against slavery,
and wherever [ saw the serpent, with
out hesitation smote him. I thank
God the work is done The Consti-
tuition stands now as the summer sky
stands-advancing and advancing
and though no daisies blossom MOI
sun warns, do we not know that
euet.y adyannino month brixo. o.. ,,S