Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-04-12
The Southern Press on Reoonstruotior

The Southern Press on Reconstruction
The Augusta (Gs) C6nstitutionaiist says
the South must of necessity obey the Mill
tary bill SO long as it has authority, bu
no opportunity should be abandoned tC
contest its validity before the law.
The Jackson (Mississipp) Clarion says
We would not have the people Of the
South deluded into the belief that they
can adopt any line of policy by which
to ward off the scheme of negro suffrage
The Griffin (Ga) Union says:
We understand that ex-Hon. Howell
Cobb passed through Griffin a few days
ago, and while the cars stopped for an ex.
change of mail bags and to take on water
he delivered to our people the news that
general con6scation OF Southern proper
~ is certain We suppose from this thai
Mr. Cobb and his rebel friends intend to
array themselves against the Sherman bill
so as to make further legislation by Con-
gress necessary. If confscation does
come, the people may justly blame Mr.
Cobb and his rebel friends for it,
They set out TO "rule or ruin the coun.
try, and as they cannot rule. they may be
determined to ruin, and now oppose the
Sherman bill that conGscation may come
1t adds
The Constitutional Amendment exolud.
ing the leaders from Office il was believed
at FIRST would be sufficient to conquer them
but as that failed TO make them give up,
the Sherman bill disfranchising some and
enfranchising negroes has been passed
If this conquers them, no more radical
4eeisl lption need be expected. But ii the
reoplt will still listen to the syren song
-overpowered but not conquered" as sung
BY some editors even now, a sweeping
disGanchisement Of the rebels and a tolera.
bic sxtensiys confiscation ofrebel property
will be very apt to teach them that tae diff
ference between. 'overpowcred' and "con
;queredv is about the same as between
txeedledum aud tweedledee. If the febsl'
are not conquered now they viii be beior,
Cougrc-s is done with them. They ma,
be sure of that.
The Austin (Texas) 1ateiligsseer says.
We suppose the provisional goMnmen
created by this bill will be Esa;xce
promptly. andE&-oceed With lie Ftgisfrs
ton of voters, slecties .cf aela' ses TIC
State conventions. forif.ss znss.J fstifica
tion of State corstitu5f ;. Election q
State Legislaiuref saS< ~ .ors to Con.
gress, with the dis, tfeh which the spterost,
of the country and the political engcncics
Of the times require. OF course this bill
will not prove satisfactory in. .seccs sof its
details TO May OF oar pcOpss, my . =
simply impossible, in the present condition
of the country, that any measure of recon.
struction should meet the appreciation
of all.
The Charleston Mercury says
The military law is the law for us; and
until the law is repealed or modified il is
the law which the people Of the South
must obey. Nothing but additional troub.
le and additional misfortune can result
from resistance OF factious agitation. Pru.
dence. good sense, aud our every interest
alike condemn course which could only
aggravate our evils and make our position
moie uncomfortable. What else, then, i,
left but obedience 10 the law aud an ac
ceptance of tho obligations which il i'm
poses upon us2
The Lynchburg Tiyiaian says
Unjust as the terms imposed upon ui
are, aud impossible as Il may be for us e
swear attachment" TO the men who make
"might right" there is no alternative lef
US but that Of choice Of evils. We cat
only counteract in part the evils that were
intended for us by tho majority Of Con.
gress. by putting forth all the means IL
our power 10 control them. The Prcsi
dent is powercss, the Supreme Court Is
nullity, aud Congress is omnipotont. What
then. shall We do but make the best Of oul
situation?
The Fort Smith (Arkansas) Ne1 Erc
says;
II Ia about timo for the loyal Arknnsian
10 look about them, and prepare 10 tax,
their Legitimate position as part and par
eel Of tho governing power of our glori
GUS Union, from which through the mach
nations Of traitorous leaders we hay,
been so long withheld.
Tho Wilmington { North carolina) Jour
nal says:
"rhere Is nothing left TO tho Southern
whites but TO vote with their former slaves
who, upheld and strengthened by thoil
example, will be encouraged to pursue III,
right course aud act in conformity with
the dictates Of reason. To leave the color,
ed race to the mercy Of designing and
mercenary men would DO unjust and will
affect us in no little degree"
Tho Wilmington N. CD Dcpatch ad
vises its readers to "refuse any participa.
ton in the conventions to be called in tn,
different States, quietly yielding the insig
nificant POLITICAL privileges that they pro
pose to grant us, by letting the negroes
and albinoes take entire charge Of tho re
construction business, and relinquish al
political aspirations and desires for com
mercial independence so long as our con
nection with the Federal Government shal
continue"
But it significantly adds:
We are not unaware that We are in th
minority while entertaining these views
Indeed We have been made TO feel that W
fight the battle fer Southern honor an,
interest almost single handed, so general
ly has our position been assailed.
The Mobile Advertiser is alarmed at
meeting held in Selma, at which it wa
Il