Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-10-25
From the New Orleans Com. Bulletin.
True Course OF the south.

/ f
The result of the late Federal elections
demonstrates that the radical party Of The
North still holds control of the national
legislation. Their declarations render IL
probable that they will add to the condi-
tions of restoration already proposed. 9th
ers still more Objectionable to the Southern
States. We apprehend the summary of
these conditions to be the concession to
the few Southern whites who agree wifi
the radicals, and to the negroes, of the sole
right to vote and hold Office under the Fed
eral or State Governments This condi-
ton not only flows, logically, from the rad
ical doctrine, that the ''life of the nation"
cannot be safely intrusted to any other than
radical hands, but results from the natural
tendency of all revolutions to run extreme
measures.
We shall not anticipate the discussion
which must arise when this act of recanta-
ton and abdication shall be presented for
Southern signature. Sufficient unto the
day are the issues thereof We NAV saw
that this radical victory has not taken us
so absolutely by surprise that we had not
meditated its consequences and the meas
ures necessary to counterfeit them as far as
may be possible upon the part of q con-
quered people. We did not think the re-
fusal to disband an old political organiza-
ton, and accept one based on existing is
sues, argued well for the cordially of the
conservative Union. It was question
about the skin of the wolf before he had
been exactly caught. This is generally re-
garded as unwise by hunters The aid fur
nished by Southern orators and writer's was
of very little advantage to our friends
Plans of party reorganization were attribu-
ted to the South, which were unfounded,
while the bombardment of radical positions
with long range explosives, most of which
exploded in mid-air or fell short of their
object, were harmless to our enemies if
they were not hurtful to our cause.
But while we are no partisans, the mag
nitude of the interests at stake make it
the duty of every patriot to present his
counsels for the welfare of his country in
an hour of anticipated calamity. Upon
this subject our convictions of duty and
policy are perfectly clear.
l. We should take no active part in Fed
eral politics. Like the State prisoner who
represents her acts and her misfortunes, the
South should be digniied, silent and re-
signed to whatever fate even the treachery
of oppression may inf1ict upon her. Moth
ing should be done to exasperate the North
nothing to degrade ourselves. The South
should await the terms of restoration Of
fered her, submit them to. domestic decis-
ion, andsignify her acceptance, rejection or
modifca ton of them.
2. The South should apply itself earnest
ly to preparing for any possible future
which may befall it. This should be done
by pacific and domestic agencies. 1t has
the productive monopoly of great staples
Let it secure the capitalization and control
of the specie which these staples authorize
us to import The South is IN immense
consumer of the merchandise of the world.
Let it organize in those quarters where such
enterprises may be established manufac-
turing interest which shall supply this great
home market. The South holds the key to
the commercial intercourse between the
great and growing Northwest and Southern
oceans. Let her open, organize and con
1uct this commerce with her own sons and
her own shipping. The South has cast
lpon her three millions of persons unfit for
social or political equality; let her, by en-
,ouraging appropriate immigration and de-
yeloping new elements of, and substitutes
or, physical force render the white popu-
alton the protectors and directors of the
blacks. The Southern States-the South
I'm social standard of courage and virtue
must be perpetual Let the South adopt
he means which modern civilization de-
nonstrates to be essential to the preserva-
ion of moral as well as political institu-
ions.
Such, in our opinion, is the course of du-
y to be pursued by the Southern people.
t should be impressed upon the country
" the united press of the South.
The Southern Legislators have q high
Luty to perform. They should at once ma
ionalize each State by adopting q system
f State administration and State develop
1ent. They should not lay on the table
ills for raising money to maintain the
oor, to take up and discuss resolutions
an abject loyalty-resolution to
e thrown back in their faces as insincere
nd reasonable.
To nationalize the separate States, or
reserve their separate identity, system
f State organization is Indispensable
his can alone counteract the fact OF cen
and prevent our local govern
lent by distant majorities.
Each State should organize systems of
ducation, industrial and material develop
pment. There should be in each State,
ureaus of l. Education, literary, scienti-
c, and political. 2. Manufactures. 3.
commerce. 4. Minerals. Inquiry should
e made into the propriety and practical
ihty of aiding, by State credit or capital,
ach of these departments of State pros
Gritty. By such a policy the Southern
eople would live at home, cultivate do
lestic harmony, cease to disturb the sensi-
ilities of the political god-fathers and god
lothers now so much exercised by the
loral responsibility undertaken on behalf
the South. The result of this pacific and
nobjectionable policy would be this il
le Union shall endure in its present form,
nd in spite of the lawless indications at
le North, the South will enjoy inestima-
le advantages from its protection if from
lescapacitY of Northern parties to enjoy
vii liberty themselves, or let others enjoy
, except according to dictation, the Union
lould be broken up, the Southern States
Ill not be unprepared for the calamity,
nd will not be held as an appanage of an
majority, or transferred from
and to hand with the varying fortunes Of
vii war.