The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-02-15
RADICAL POLICY.


schemes of revenge, which they call
Reconstruction" the Southern people
are devoting their energies to the mate
rial regeneration Of their communities.
If wise counsels shall continue to be
followed, it cannot be long until the
declailners in Congress themselves will
be brought to perceive the utter folly OF
their course. The dignity of the South
ern people, in the midst of overwhelm-
ing calamities, is in proud but painful
contrast with the arrogant and unmanly
bearing of their enemies in Congress
When the rebel armies were van
quished, and, under the mild and con-
ciliatory course of Lincoln and his sue
cessor, not only the submission of the
entire Southern people to constitution
al law was accomplished, but good will
and confidence restored, Northern cap
ital lost no time in seeking Southern
investments. Northern and Southern
merchants at once resumed the rela-
tions which had been interrupted by a
long war; and numerous are the in
stances of prompt payment of debts
by Southern men, as soon as OppOrtuni-
ty came, Notwithstanding their release
by a Confederate law. Mineral and
other lands, which under slave labor,
had been disadvantageously worked,
came rapidly into market, and compa-
nies were being rapidly formed through
out the country for the purpose of buy
ing, settling and cultivating the wasted
acres of the South. The intercourse
between the two sections became so
lively, that the commercial world JOY
fully yielded to the hope that in very
short time, all material traces of des-
olating war would be Obliterated. The
spontaneous and generous efforts of the
people in the work kofregeneration were
accomplishing more than the most san
guine could hope from the best inten-
toned craftsmanship.
This joyful state of things suffered no
interruption until a radical Congress,
to perpetuate its power, changed the
policy of forgetfulnesS and forgiveness
inaugurated by Lincoln, and inherited
by his successor, into policy of rage,
revenge and hate. The radical press
and the orators of the party at once
came to the support Of the new policy.
They pretended to doubt the good in
tentions of the Southern people, to sus-
pect the sincerity of their submission,
and to call into question all their pro-
fessions of loyalty. The more reckless
grew the conduct of the majority in
Congress, the more necessary did it be-
come toinvent preteXts to justify their
violence; and anonymous scribblers
spread themselves through the South,
and although enjoying the fullest secu-
rity of person, caused the press to TEEN
with accounts of the lawless and rebel
lious spirit actuating the Southern peo-
pie. Political Bohemians, like Jack
Hamilton and ParsOn Brownlow, were
hired to traverse the country, and fill
the air with their clamors about the
wrongs done to Union men; while
presenting in themselves living exam
pies of the moderation of the Southern
people. Under the training the ne
groes have had for two years it was not
hard to provoke ruptures between the
races; the Radicals, in every disturb
ance that arose, according to preconcer-
ted purpose, taking the ground that the
white man must be in the wrong.
Thus, in a very short time, have the
Radical leaders and their press succeed
ed in completely frustrating all the
good that the magnanimous and wise
policy of Lincoln and Johnson accom-
plished. There is no longer demand
for Southern lands, and many indus
trial projects, that We're Fastening to
accomplishment, have been abandoned.
The business between the two sections
is confined TO the merest articles of ne
cessity, and the intercourse is almost
as infrequent as twas during the years
of the war. And yet, every day we
witness the introduction of some meas
ure in Congress, to irritate, or still fur
ther hlimiIiate, the Southern people.
We look to the end of all this with m
feiqne,l anxiety. ..s