The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-01-05
The Darkest .SpOt.

he darkest spot on the face of the
whole problem OF reconstruction Is the per-
verted disposition of the whites of the
south. We are told. for instance. by
Gen Scliurz. that. with inconsiderable
exceptions. they deSpi>e the negro and are
determined 10 keep him from the full
rights OF a freeman. that they have no loy-
ally IN the true scn>c OF the word. but
that they submit 10 the government only
% Tar IL necessity requires. and will avail
themselves ot stale legislation. al the first
opportunity. la manifest their alienation
much more plainly than ii NOW appears.
Allowing that this representation Is some
what coiorel. we are Vet warranted. We
tear. IN admitting that loyalty and fairness
toward the freedmen do not Vet exist i'm
The south 10 anything like the extent
deemed desirable. and even safe. by the
great majority OF northern people
We call this truly dark spot. for LET
lis glance at the difficulties of lis removal
or mitigation Ii ours was a monarchical
government. we could keep the south I'M
der military rule for years and wears. until
she came 10 her right mind: and If the
expenses became too heavy for the treasu-
rIv. they could be betrayed out of some
system of coniiscaiinn or similar measures
Bui such a method Is entirely foreign TO
our institutions We could not bear the
expense. the public mind would be kept in
a diseased state over the question. and if
Is very doubtful if the process would ever
induce ANY Improvement in the feelings of
the southern people. Shall we try emf
grafton 1t will not 20 there under the
present stale OF things. 80 lonr as tbe
bounlle>> weSi still extends It's welcome for
men and money, unhampered by preiudices.
injurious customs. stay laws, &c. Shall
We obtain guarantees before we clothe the
southern whites with stale prerocatiress
Alas . what would they be worth with
the present disposition Mr.. Summers
five ''irrever>ible guarantees as he calls
them, might all be as>ented TO in one
month, and all broken the next. when the
should have been Withdrawn and
we had retained no power of correction.
We see. then, the difficulties of whi,en-
ING out this dark spot. But the thing can
be done lime, acknowledge of human
nature, good sense and Christian charity
are too strong for the most obstinate cases |
OF human persersity. a great part of the
way wardneSs of the southern mind arises |
from the terrible ordeal of the last four
years, and we ought to calculate upon il
Just as much as we should expect a man
recovered from fever TO be weak for lonc
time, or 4 restored maniac not to he ouite
right for considerable period, either in
mind or body If we get the virus of trea-
son and slavery combined out of the soutb-
ern body polite during this generation. we
shall do well. The leading points of the
'emedy we conceive TO be as follows: lst
occurring the utmost possible degree of
ioer'y TO the freedmen, under
he second section of the constitutional
second, throwing the whole
influence OF the government upon the re-
preston of bad influences at the soutb and
IN lavor, support and stimulation of the
'oou anu loyal elements and third, SET