The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-01

toms letter of 1866 is certainly the
correct one. Had there been no
divergence from his then opinions,
the problem of reconstruction would
to-day be less complicated.
Nor can 1 agree with the General,
that Congress seeks to enforce the
Reconstruction Acts upon the South
ern people through an appeal to their
fear. Confscation has never been a
Congressional policy, nor do I think
it can be in the future. Were it sought
to impose severe terms upon the
South, other measures, more effective
than the confscation of land, could
be devised.
If, by an appeal to the cupidity of
the South, it is meant that tho Re-
construction Acts appeal for their
support to the natural interests of
men, which no society can ignore,
then, in his other statement, General
Hampton is correct. The Recon
struction Acts tlo make their most
powerful appeal to the interests of
the Southern people. It is quite pro-
bable that republican governments
for these States, modelled upon the
basis of these Acts, will not restore
the entire power in these States to
the hands Of those who formerly con-
trolled them; and this, doubtless, is
the whole secret of their opposition
to these measures. After January 1,
1868, when the slaves were emanci-
pated, the war for and against "South-
ern rights" became revolution; and
from that time, it was impossible to
receive the Southern States into the
Union, with certain of their former
rights ''unimpaired. This fact,
moro than any other, seems difficult
for certain former leaders of the
South to realize. These men COM
plain of the oath which disables them
for Office, and refuse to recognize it as
the logical result of having staked
and lost everything in the attempt to
dismember the Government. 1t is
true that the National Congress has
laid disabilities upon certain classes,
for the very purpose of preventing
government in the South from be-
coming what it was before-a feudal
system. If the Government did not
thus render powerless, for q time at
least, those who have attempted it's
dismemberment, it would forfeit its
own self-respect. No nation deserves
to live, that can sanctify an attempt
against its own life.
But if these leaders really seek the
good of their country. it is unworthy
of their talents to employ them in
appeals to the prejudices of their fell
low citizens, to dissuade them from
the benefits which they might receive
by the speedy restoration of these
States. What is it that they advise
the Southern people? To prefer to
remain under military governments
rather than to restore themselves to
the Union under the Congressional
policy! AS if the South will be less
under the control of this policy and
the radical rule" while or because
she remains under military rule!
Military rule is itself, and must con-
tinue to be, that very policy. The
military commanders merely execute
the laws enacted by Congress, and
none Others. The people, thus adcised,
aoiH not escape these ld,pS by defeating
Tie conventions, and it can hardly be
presumed that these laws will become
less rigorous by such opposition.
1t would not be at all surprising, if
men holding opinions with Gen.
Hampton and Mr.. Hill, already prayed
for the advent of 'the American
Caesar" But if the American peo-
pie at large have taken the true
warming from the experience of the
past two years, think that they will
choose that the present Caesar shall
be the last in this nation to occupy
the chair of dictator.
In summing up what seems to me
to be the illogical conclusions of
Gen. Hampton, what is the result?
Plainly that, like Mr.. Hill, of Geor-
gia, ho advises his fellow-c citizens of
the South to maintain toward the
Government an opposition which can
be maintained successfully only by
the force of arms. The Southern
people must decide for themselves
whether they arc prepared to accept
such advice and such result. 1 be-
lieve that they are not.
am happy to be able to cordially
agree with Gen. Hampton in his
counsel to all classes of citizens to
maintain amicable relations. and to
cultivate harmony and forbearance,
as am happy to know that he ac-