The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-19
A SURVEY OF THE FIELD.

SURVEY OF THE FIELD.
Reconstruction, under The Congressional
programme, hns been in progress since Marcel,
last, und there has been ample time for even
| the slowest intellect 10 arrive at q conclusion
in reference to the limo Of policy TO be pursued
under its provisions. Accordingly, wo find
that the leading men all over the South have
taken their positions, and in most cases have
mnde known the same through tlic public
prints.
Upon a survey Of the field we find that much
South havc accepted the Congressional plan Of
reconstruction, and have constantly and enrn-
csily urged ills adoption on the part Of those
who they might have reason 10 believe would be
swaycd by their opinions. And there is in
this nothing surprising. When we reflect upon
the nature Of tho qualities that inspire tho
people with confidence, and mako them de-
light in comforting offices of honor and cmolu-
ment upon the men who possess, OF are sup
posed to possess, those qualities, We cannot
wonder that these should be tho foremost mon
to lead the wny in tho effort for tho successful
rehabilitation Of the country. On the roll Of
those we find very few of the half-and half
men, who never affiliate with their fellows, who
nro always s'misunderstood;" who were aunsi
Union men when these States seeded, stpoliti-
cal philosophers" rs they arc pleased 10 cnll
happy consciousness that the future historian
will award Tint meed Of praise denied them by
short-sighted contemporary interest.
So also those whom opposition forced, nm
consciously perhaps on their part, to taking
extreme ground on tho subject of slavery; who
bad persuaded themselves that slavery was a
''diyinc institution" "blossing 10 both
races" and that without II no snto of society
or civilization was perfect. This class Of the
secession leaders" for the most pnrt have not
given in their adhesion to the inevitable logic of
facts. They still hold fast to the ssConstitution
Of our Fathers" wilfully blind to the fact that
the events of tho past seven years have effected
a revolutionary change in the Government of
the United States. They ore mol safo guides;
indeed we do not think they over were. Events
have proved them blind leaders of the blind;
and it becomes matter Of vital Importance
now for the people 10 consider how much
credence is to be attached to their vaticina-
tions-how much reliance upon their judg-
mcnt- They have led us astray before, and
and there is every appearance TINT their pres
ont course has no better issue in prospect.
The sacacious men everywhera. thnaa oh =
terized by their practical good sense, and the
promptness with which they know how TO
adapt themselves to the circumstances and re-
quirements of the hour, have almost every
where advised the people 10 accept the pro-
posed schome of reconstruction. Among these
we have the satisfaction of being able to name
General RoDRRr E. LEE, General JOSEPH E..
JOHNSTON, General B. T. BEAURraAnp, Gene
raj HApDEE, General J. D. Hoop, General
WADE HAMPTON, General JAMES LosasrBERr,
General HUMPHREYS, and many others of the
late military leaders, not SO widely known.
So likewise Hon. W. W. BoYox Of this State,
to whom Is due the credit Of having been one
of the frat to see the inevitable troubles of the
future. His advice very carly was to bow be-
fore the storm. Gov. Oar has on several oc-
cnsions made known his views on the subject
Ex-Goy. MhoRArH, an able counsellor, and
.'one Of the Judges CT the people," is under
stood to be in favor Of accepting the PROPOSE
tions of Congress, though he has never made
his opinions public; So also Er-Gov. AIKEN
There are other leading men in the State, who
wo know hold the same views; some of them
have openly advised this course, others, while
protesting the same sentiments in private
from false shame, o fear, of being charged
with political baoksliding, have not yet made
public profession of their faith.
In Georgia wo find Ex-Governor JOSEPH E..
Baows"a bold, Independent, and far-sighted
leader of the people. He stepped forth prompt
ly. almost upon the very day of the publica-
tion of the Act, and oounselled its acceptance,
showing TINT he had well considered tho sub
ject during the Two years Of it's preliminary
agitation. Ho is one Of the few public mel, of
the South who have part in The history Of the
past, fully equal to the demands Of tho pre-
sent who sees that The issues for which we
went to war:are gone, have been swept entire
ly out of existence : that the world has moved
onward during those siI or seven years, not
withstandinS the blockade Of the Southern cot
ton ports. Governor Brown is abreast with
the times; and one Of those men who compre
hends that when the times change '' people
should change with them. !, i..y "a, Il.
III The other side finds very largo representa-
tion in Georgia, much larger than in South
Carolina. Here we only have Mr.. d. r. PranY
openly and decidedly. pronounced against re-
construction, and perhaps one or. two newspa-
pers Of circulation and influence. In
Georgia the" greater part Of tho press; and
somo Of The bost papers in tho state, are in The
,opposition. OF public men, Governor JENKINS,
ex-senator B. II. HILL, and Ex-Governor HER
soHRL v. Jonsson aro known to b.; on that
side 90 also the Hon, ALrxaspRR H.. ,srs.-
PHRas, who, however, has studiously avoided
giving any public expression of his views.
Messfs JoHssoS and HIII have written iin much,
and their arguments have. been extensively
copied, not In Georgia only, bu. by papers IA:
voring 'passivismps Oil over the sonth In
our next, we propose to examine some OF The
views; advanced by these two leaders, The re-.
suit OF their teaching is seen In the small num-
Der Of whites who register. :s True, they' all
'PxRnT, JssKINs, HILL and JOHNSON os-adyise
every ono qualified to register; but, as IS we we
predicted, when We frat saw. their vlows pub
liBhed, their influence mu.t sbas dtrnotlv ,ba