The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-05-08
General Lees Testimony-The True
Policy to be Pursued Toward the

The utmost that can reasonably be
expected from q people situated like
the Virginians is such political con-
formity as Gen. Lee declared to exist.
1t is barely twelve months since these
men were engaged in one of the most
desperate wars of modern times-a
war fought out to ''the bitter end"
with every circumstance of passion
and fury. To expect that they should
now look with positive affection on
their conquerors, condemn their most
eminent countrymen as traitors, and
repudiate as abominable the princi-
pies for which they sacrificed their
fortunes and staked their lives, is be-
yond all reason. 1t is enough if they
know themselves beaten, if they
accept the results without reserve, if
they cherish no idea of deferred re-
bellion, and if they are prepared to
return to their former position with
a resolution to perform all their
duties as citizens, and with a readi-
ness to receive the warmer impress
sions which time and intercourse may
bring. These are actually the feel
ings with which Gen. Lee describes
them as now animated More, it
must be evident, could not be expect
ed; but if more is des;red, it is mani
fest that the result can only be secured
by that very policy which the Presi-
dent has avowed, and which the radi-
calls are so fanatically opposing. If
something is still to be done-as no.
body need deny-before q Virginian
can look upon the Union as he looked
ten years ago, it can only be accom-
plished, as Gen. Lee affirmed, by
liberal and conciliatory conduct on
the part of the Government If pas
sive acquiescence is to be converted
into cordial sympathy, it must be by
kind and generNus treatment. The
policy of the l. reals is stultifed by
their own profC ions. They pretend
to desire moro sympathizing South
than they have already got, and then,
to improve the Southern feeling, they
propose to inflict political disgrace
on the Southern people. They pro-
nounce them to be still disaffccted, or
not sufficiently we'll affected, and by
way of conciliating them would con
denim them to alienation and out
lawry. Such a policy stands self
convicted, for its only result must be
to make bad worse
1t is not probable that Virginian
looks upon the Government of the
Union exactly like New Englander;
no reasonable person would expect
that he should do So 1t is enough
for the purposes Of prudent recon
struction, if the States lately in Sc
cession have abandoned all ideas Of
Independence, and are prepared to
make the best of their position as
members of the Union once more.
The rest vmust necessarily be work
of time; but it will be accomplished
most speedily, as well as most surely,
through such policy as the presi-
dent now advocates. He does not de-
sire to swamp the South with a
swarm Of black voters, nor to place
the negro in position of invidious
and perllous antagonism toward the
white man. He asks only for simple
professions of political honesty. He
stipulates that the Southern States
shall forego their views of secession,
acknowledge and confirm the aboli-
ton Of slavery now and forever, deal
fairly with the enfranchised slaves,
and repudiate the debt contracted for
the purpose of the rebellion. To
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 op-
ponents desire, or profess to desire,
we may collect from the examination
to which Gen. Lee was subjected.
They demand impossibilities; for it is
simply absurd to require that the
South should humbly and thankfully
kiss the rod after the fashion they
prescribe. The policy Of the Presi-
dent, on the other hand, is policy
not only Of moderation, but of pro-
mise. It bids fair to bring back the
South to those sentiments of perfect
concord which the radicals pretend
to demand. 1t is Gen. Lees opinion
that such q policy, aided by the in
dispensable cooperation Of time, will
really produce this effect; but it needs
no argument to show that policy of
provocation and oppression, CONT
nued after victory, must intensity
and perpetuate that very hostility
which it is intended to entinguish.
London Times, Apra 10.
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