The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-06-13
An English Opinion.

The London Times, speaking Of General
Lees examination before the Reconstruction
Committee" says:
1t woud be SuperAuous to expatiate on the
spirit and temper revealed by such inquiries
as these If the South is not to be readmit-
led into the Union untilquestions of this kind
can be answered to the satisfaction OF the ttad-
ical party, it is manifest las the Union will
never be reconstructed at all. The utmost
can reasonably be expected from people sit,
uated like the irginians in such political
conformity as General Lee declared to exist.
, 1t is barely twelve months since these men
were engaged in one of the most desperate
wars Of modern timcs-a war fought out TO
''the bitter end" with every circumstance and
passion and fury. To expect that they should
now look with positive affection on their con-
querors, condemn their most eminent country
men as traitors, and rcpudiate as abomlnabte
the principles for which they sacrificed their
fortunes and staked their lives, is beyond al!
reason.
1t is enough if they know themselves beat
en-, if they accept the result without reserve
if thew cherish no idea Of deferred rebellion,
and if they are prepared to return to their
former position with a resolution to perform
ali their duties as citizens, and with readl-
ness to receive the warning impressions which
time and intercourse may bring. These are
actually the feelings with which General Lee
describes them as now animated. More, 1t
must be evident, could not be expected, but
if more is desired it is manifest that the result
can only be secured by the very policy which
the President has avowed, and which the Radl-
Gals are so franticully opposing. lfsonlething
is still to be done-need deny-betore plr-
cinian can look upon the Union as ne looked
ten years ago, it can be accomplished, as Gen
eral Lee affirmed, by liberal and conciiiatory
conduct on the part Of the Government
If passive acquiescence is to be converted
into cordial sympathy, it must be kind and
generous treatment. The policy of the Radi-
calls is stultifcd by their own professions.
They pretend to desire more sympathizing
South than they have already got, and then
in order to improve Southern feeling, they
propose to inflict political disgrace and hu-
initiation on the Southern people. They pro-
nounce them to be still disaflected, or not suf-
iciently we'll affected, and by way of conci-
ating them would condemn them to alienation
and outlav-y. Such policy stands self-con-
victed, for its only result must be to make
bad worse.
is not probable that Virgnian looks up
on the Government Of the Union exactly like
New Englander; no reasonable person would
expect that he should do so. 1t is enough tor
the purposes of prudent reconstruction II the
States lately in secession have abandoned all
ideas Of independence, and are prepared to
make the best Of their position as members OF
tue Union once more. The rest must neces'
sarily be work Of time, but it viii be accom-
plished most speedily, as we'll as most surely,
Through such policy as the President acVo-
Gates. He does not desire to swamp the
South with a swarm of black voters, nor to
place the negro in a position Of inVidlous or
periIous antagonism toward the while man.
He asks only for civil professions of political
honesty. He stipulates that the Southern
States shall forcgo their views Of secession, ac'
knowledge and confirm the abolition OF slave
ry now and forever, deal fairly with the entran-
chised slaves, and repudiate the debt contract
ed for the purpose Of the rebellion. 10 these
conditions they are willing to assent, and the
President would open the doors OF Congress
to them and so restore the Union. What his
opponents desire, or profess to desire, we may
collect from the examination to which Gene
raj Lee was subjected.
They demand im9ossibilities, for it is simply
absurd to require that The South should hum
bly and thankfully kiss the rod after the fash
ion they prescribe The policy of the Presl-
dent, on the other hand, is policy not only
Of moderation, but of promise. It bids fair to
bring back the South to those sentiments Of
perfect concord which the Radicals pretend to
demand. It is General Lees opinion that
such policy, aided by the indispensable CO.
operation of time, will really produce this ef-
feet, bat it needs NO argument to show that
policy of provocation and oppression contin-
ued after victory must intensity and perpetu-
ate that very hostility which it is intended to
extinguiSh. 49,