The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-02-27
The Southern Proposition--A Northern View.

;
and consultation have taken place recently IN VAS
inptop between the President and Governors OF IL
Southern States The object OF their conference wi
to agree upon some plan whereby the North would
4 satisfied with the position in the Union OF the Sout
and the South obtain their just representation in Coz
gress. The article agreed upon by them to be pr
posed additional amendment to the Constltuto
has already found its way into the public prints. III
it seems it was privately understood that these Coy
errors should consult with their respective State III
gslatures, and suggest to them to propose furthe
/ amendment, DISTINGUISHING from holding Federal o
fees those who were prominent Confederate leaders
| civil and military, in the late war.
The motives for the late efforts lie On the surface.
! 1t is we'll known that many Radicals, desiring peac
and harmony to be restored to all sections of the Ur
ion, would readily acquiesce in any measure whic
might be made appear reasonable to their constitu
ents. But it is well known at the same time that 9th
ers, the more rabid, will oppose any offer that ma
| come from year secten of the republic. There ar
men who gain prominence and profit in seasons oft
buence and strife the stormy petrol gains strength
of wing il. furious winds and can only sustain them
selves on the political surface while agitation is 70
mented who agitate for that purpose, and who snl
into obscury and oblivion when the troubled water
subside.
The conservatives, meanwhile, are believed to b.
increasing in the country, and if the South acte'
promptly and discreety, fair prospect was though
to open for most happy and peaceful ISOLATION Of GU
difficulties.
The points, however. Of disagreement with tho
North must be fairly met and first Of ALL it must be
fairly stated be clearly understood and to speed
time the parties might approach each other. do no
believe the issue in the last election was presented
properly. The consequence mfstriul the
merits and another canvass, another discussion, and
another verdict of the people must come off before
the public sentiment can be interpreted.
Two measures, entirely distinct in their object, were
proposed for their consideration. One for the
South to grant universal suffrage to its black pepua
ton, on pain of restricted Federal representation the
other was to choose between the DISTINGUISHING of
leading Confederaes from holding Federal and State
Offices the having of no Federal representation at
ALL Unfortunately these distinct measures were not
propounded separately both had to be accepted; or
both had to be rejected person who was averse to
negro SUFFRAGE and to Confederate franchise could not
give expression to his wishes and person who de-
sired political equality alike to the white and to the
black population, in the same dilemma The
mode in which public opinion Intercepted ran
thus: VIII you have leading Confederates disfran-
chsed with the right OF negro suffrage, will you
not? But practically the questions assumed another
aspect thus Is it better tc dstianchise leading Con-
federatcs, deny suffrage to negroes? And it was
upon this statement of the case that the elections
turned.
Conservatives opposed the amendment because it
political preponderance in certain States to the
most degraded ignorant and viscous portions of the
it deprived, of political influence, those who had made
war on the United States. The conservatives ap-
peaed to the prejudice against the Confederates. But
neither noticed the arguments of the other.
The mass of the conservatives did not resort to os-
racism Of leading Confederates The mass of the
Radicals were indifferent to negro voting and not
Indifferent to negro equality, for like the conserva-
ives} they were averse to it. The amendment sub
nitted, therefore, not submitted in form where
y the expression of popular opinion could be ascer
aimed for in truth the amendment was not designed
or an honest purpose. 1t partisan in its incep.
ION, heterogeneous IN its parts and not patriotic in
IS object Without joining its two dissi1ar subjects
one proposition the Radicals would not have united
n its support. One faction frantic to punish reb-
Is; another faction fanatical for the political and
ocial preponderance of the negro. But those who
most ardent to dsfrancbise the rebels were the
rost moderate in their wishes to enfranchse the
rcedman while the zealots for elevating the black
the least disposed to deprcss their late mas
ers
Had the two measures been proposed each BY it.
elf viz one to punish the leading Confederates and
lie other comforting universal equality on the blac
1ere is no doubt the first would have been carried by
large majority and the other by large majority
ould have been rejected. Let the South bear this
| mind if 1t have the proposing of an amendment TO
eet the present emergency. Let them also remen-
ar not to embarrass their offer with more than
ne object. The rest would be extraneaus substance
duplicating the issue and retarding the solution of
&c controversy. The more simple the proposition
e more acceptable and successful will be the result ,
liking up the negro with purer matter will produce
Fbrid offspring which the masses at the North will
ahe to lock upon
Massachusetts, is perhaps the only State where love
the negro preponderates over rage at the rebels
I'd you will perceive that Massachusetts alone hest J.
ties to ratly, and probay will reject the constitu
'nal amendment for the reason that the amendment
res not 60 far enough to guarantee perfect equality
the Africans, while in the neighborng State of Con y
ctlcut proposition recently to allow negro SUFFRAGE
IS voted down by large majority The Maine Ie. :,
stature, moreover at its present session. has refused
tie vote, to repeal old law which forbids the n
erlnarrlage OF black and white inhabitants Thus on
IN borders OF Massachusetts the intense antpathv |,
SADIE race SUN prevails as it prevails in all the S;
udle and Western States. 1t may be taken for
'ned that the Northern portion of the Union No :,
callE care nothing for the negro 1t is only rnc
OF the RADICALS that feel tenderness for him r
the larger portion of the parity however canlor u,
they may be in public to please their tender alice
IN trut as they are Ill private, Indifferent on the lis
}lect, except for party purposes to secure fanat Y;
vote which could not otherwise be retained On C.
other hand, the great mass, the great majority ce
ulu oe supremacy happy if they never heard more
The freedman in our national troubles p.
any proposition from the South with the negro in dc
VII not be received favorably at the North. excen.
Boston, Tor it will be- beside the main issue an ar
renee to lrutste and annoy. But if it be true ths,
hern leaders of the Coniederacy have voluntarily q,
posed to De politically buried with their lost cause Vi
an amendment to that effect the heart of the dis wi
e. pure and simple, may have teen reached If for M;
sake OF perpetual peace, for present and prospect
welfare the South shall offer up as holocaust the thu
It distinguished and influential of her citizens to Gr
ease sectional appfehensions and animositv tho ~,
ihce would be great Whether too great or not 10
them to decide, but it would be efectual Do not ~
ever, suppose that any amendment comino from ~,
South will be acceptable to the Radicals II vii l.,
'eeo In spite OF them They will oppose it, as
y, because 1t cometh out of q country whence saw
plousiy believe no good can come Yet, to the ord
DE at largo it will not present the same forbidding
c. While the Radical party may comprise one,
OF the voting population, and the conservative
y as many, another third the floating mass NAV wol
id to belong to neither being Influenced at each the
ion according to the principles in agitation il to
IS third which command the maorities and rive :,
ohderance to one or to the other party as tho hc'
incline. OF late the larger portion of them haTs OF
with the Radicals for the exclusion of Conra all
leaders from office. But if an opportunity were
IheF would Jon the conservatives against negro te
MY: whenever the political platform is con. lnsE
teo TO conform to their Wishes all political noe rep
lepart from the hands of these tanatical five
APPS Ten states may reject the Southern amend. APO
out the majority of the Northern votes mean- 3
would soon he with the conservatives in CON- pay
ana the restoration Of Southern rerrcsentatisns
then be obtained, even if the amendment were the
aifcd. p nu''eh' were his
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