The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-11-20
TIE EFFECT OF THE LATE ELECTIONS
ON THE SOUTH

There ls, we believe, general disposition to
admit at the North that the people of the South
have abandoned the hope of vindicating their
own rights and fortunes in the country; and
this commendable condition they attribute to
the results of late elections in that section. In
the fact, we presume, they ere not mistaken.
We believe that the people of the South arc
utterly without the purpose of resistance
further. But there is error in supposing that
this state of apathy and acquiescence has result
ed from the late elections. There were some,
perhaps, who believed that the Union was
stronger than the party that sssailed it, and
shat q sentiment of fidelity to that Union,
even at the North, would be sufficient to resist
the Radical movement to overturn it. But the
number, we believe, was small. Our delegates
to the Philadelphia Convention, under the ex-
eitements, of that occasion, exhibited, if they
did not feel the hope of some available reac-
tion; but that hope was shared by very few
who stayed at home. 1t was evident that the
one party would offer TO popular action the in
ducements only which consists in the pcr
formance of an act of justice the other, the
more potent inducements, which consist in the
promises of plunder; and it could scarcely
have been q question which of these would have
the most effect. The result, therefore, was a
foregOne conclusion; and the apathy and ac-
quiesoencc at the South is not now more pro-
found than it has been at any period since the
termination Of the war.
We have had hopes, it is true, that the better
policy of the Presidents will prevail, and that
no further sacrifice than the loss of our negro
property will be necessary to the restoration of
the Union. 1t seemed important to the we'll
being Of whites and blacks that States charged
with large uneducated population, just free
OF the only restraints it had ever known, should
have the powers of self-government; and it
seemed, also, that there was yet much of
promise in the Union, and the hope was enter
tanned that sense of common right or of COM
mon interest would sustain that policy, and we
could not therefore, be unmoved spectators of
the contest between the Government and the
Radical party; and naturally and necessarily,
therefore, there have been expressions in
appreciation of tho course the Government, in
vindication of its policy, has had occasion to
pursue. In these expressions, however, there
has been no utterance of the purpose to inter-
vene in the proceeding. We knew too well
that our aid would be unavailing, and that our
utteranoes even would but pcrplex the for
tunes of the Government. It was in its tenden-
cy to protect the people of the South that the
task Of the Government to restore the Union
was rendered onerous. Even rndicalism would
have accepted the Union, if in that there had
been no necessary abandonment of the material
acquisition of the war. This we knew as we'll
then as we know it now. The purpose of inter-
vening then was not more entertained than it is
now; and if it be pleasure to the people at
the North to know that VIC aoquiesce, now at
last, in facts accomplished it is n pleasure they
might have enjoyed at any time since hostilitics
were ended.
1t is said, however, that, inasmuch as wc
have the good sense, at present, to accept the
situation, it were but further exercise of that
good sense to anticipate the purposes of that
party with respect to us, and disarm it by in
flicting its policy upon ourselves. This deduc-
tion, however, is not logical, and tho suggestion
we cannot accept. We. cannot know, nor
do they themselves, what that policy is, OF
what compliance will content them. That
party must antagonize tho South. Our condi-
tion, however changed, will present as many
objects Of exception; and if there were no other
reasons for repose, it were at least moro con.
ve 1ient to await results than by impotent ac-
tiVity, to fatigue ourselves with unavailing ef-
: forts to appease them.