Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-23
Hopeful Views.

hOpeIu views.
Notwithstanding the vigorous efforts Of pro-
minent Radicals to reyolutionize the Govern
ment by constitutional amendments, and to
pass laws in co~ntraVention Of the Constitution
oishOut amending it, yet, if We look at the con-
ficting political element from a quiet stand
point, we may easily reason ourselves into the
hope, if not conviction, that the reign Of insan-
ity must soon end, and wisdom, right and a
better feeling succeed.
Ambitious leaders, who succeed in changing
the fundamental law, or in fastening a tyranny
upon the people, generally ride into power up
on some popular d~elusiOn, or assume to be
champions Of the rights OF the people when they
are really oppressed and, after being entrusted
with power, abuse it for their own Selt-ad-
vancement. But this is not a very favorable
time for ambitious refOrmerS to effect such
changes in the organic law as will permanently
endanger the liberties of the South. There
must be a general grieyance-the people OF the
North must be sore, OF it must be greatly 10
their interest to Cypress the South-eetore they
can be made willing to submit to great cOnsu-
tutional changes at the dictation Of their lead
ers. The North is not oppressed-certainly
not by the South. The slave, who had been
used by selfish politicians to stir up a tanatlcal
element. has been liberated. The Union
question is at an end, by q resumption OF
allegiance on the part of the South to
the Federal Constitution. The only mate
rial for disorganizing politicians to work
upon is the effort to keep alive the oldlSSueSi oy
declaring that the South is refractory and
dangerous, and that the negro is not treated as
a freedman. Upon these p~retexts they base
their efforts to subvert the organic law OF a re-
publican government, by depriying the South
of representation, by quartering soldiers IN
the South in time OF peace, and by violating
the first principles Of constitutional freedom by
blending legislative, executive and judiciary
powers in a political Bureau, the central power
OF which is in a great monarchical head, held
in check by no coordinate department, but
with rami6cationS Of subordinate officers eX-
tending to every town and village in the land.
Blu We do not think that an excitement on
these issues can be long kept up with the
masses of the North. The cheat, that the
South is still in a state Of rebellion, is too trans
parent to last. The great bulk OF the Northern
soldiers are satisfied with victory. They know
that the South was honest in her convictions OF
the right to resist, however unjuStidable and
impOlitic they regarded it themselves. The
Northern soldiers know that the Southern sol
diers fought like brave men, and they will at
test their own title to bravery, by indicating
the great principle Of humanity, never to de-
grade and insult a brave foe powerless to re-
sist.
The classes engaged in commercial and in
dustrial pursuits at the North have no motive
to support their leaders in an unjust and uue-
DUAL reconstruction. They are greatly inter
ested in the prosperity Of the South. They
know that political tyranny is Incompatible with
material advancement. They know, by a pleas
ant experience in the past, that developed agri
culture and developed mines build palaces anC
cities in the North. And wise politicians know
with u~nsrring certainty, that the only hope o
keeping this great COnfederacy together, is by
the bond Of love and respect and equal laws
They know that even under a despOtic rul,
the capabilities Of the South are such that
under q very partial development, it will in
crease in numbers-and that the time MAJ
come when the ligament Of force will be as in
e~fectual to bind the two great sections togethe
an the green withs were to bind the man of GAIA
Ye, the wisest of the Northern politician
know that the only cement Of a republic, cover
ing such an immense area, is respect and ven
Grafton for a free constitution, and mutual es
TEEN between the two great sections, and "hie
can nsver exist if the States are reconstruct
on degrading conditions and unjust consut'
tional restrictions.
We cannot think the Northern masses can
much longer excited on the negro question
and the effort to abuse the Northern mind
to the present condition Of the slave, and to dl
satisfy the slave himself, will fail. History flu
nlshes no paTallel-where absolute slavery ha
previously existed-to the kind and thOughtfl
treatment Of the freedman by his former ma;
ter OF TO the quiet and satisfied demeanor Ofth
HeeumAh himself. The Northern soldiers, s
least Ah0" that the negro has now as much iii
erty d NC wants, or as his present eapacity ca
take IN He would not euiov more tn
great bulk ofthe Southern ield-bands - .h.;
present ~unedueated condition. feel NO ~
greet or degradation at being deprived or ~
right Of voting or Of sitting on juries than wonI
the widest Indian. 1t would be diaicul, - -
plain to thousands Of them what these nj.
mean. And it would be a mOekery Of liberty !