The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-06-13
Admiral semmes on Reconstruction,

But aside from this evidence, that the
Northern people intend TO keep faith with
ne. what other course is open to usf Since
the Bulletin first took ground upon this
question. which was when the Supplement-
ary Bill was passed. which left the South.
ern people no option, almost all our prom.
inept men have spoken. We have carefully
read their letters and speeches and We find
IN no one of them any plan proposed by
which we can better ourselves. Some of
them denounce the reconstruction Acts as
unconstitutional, and from the Northern
stand point they are SO. But we, as high.
toned Southern men, mindful Of our honor
and our past history, must occupy our own
stand point, and not that OF our late enemy,
If we would not stultify ourselves. To re-
peat former arguments used in these col
did secede we established what we claim
ed to be, a foreign Government, and we
waged four years war in support Of that
Government. We were beaten in that war
and are to- day conquered people-con.
quered In foreign war. proclaimed by
ourselves, and not merely subdued in do
mestic insurrection. Shall we turn round
now aud proclaim ourselves liars2 Shall
we say that none Of these things occurred ?
Shall We not only admit ourselves TO be
liars. but shall we, in addition, proclaim
init that we induced our people to with.
draw from the Union under false pretences.
and that we invited the officers OF the old
army and navy to become rebels and trai-
tors. instead OF rallying to the defence of a
legally constituted Government Is 1.-THE
code OF honor the passivists now propose
for our acceptance? Yes, it is; and,
strange to say, sensible men. honorable
men, commend this code to us To such an
extent do mems wishes and interests, and
politics blind them. But to lay this ques
tion Of honor aside and look at expedit ncy.
How are We to help ourselves2 Has not
Gen Pore told Gov. Jenkins that the re
construction law must be executed like any
other law and do we not know that Il will
be executed in spite Of anything we can
doP lf the people OF Mississippi, or any
other of the ten conquered States, should
register themselves, aud vote against call.
ing convention, the convention would be
called, nevertheless. The negro vote, and
the vote of the radical whites would ont.
number the passivists; or, if il did not. the
reconstruction Act would he so amended ut
the next session Of Congress as TO accom-
plish the object, with, doubtIe %, further
and more stringent determinations agaiust
those who have participated in the war
Gov. Perry, of South Carolina, in particular,
must be mad, when he recommends the
people oil that State to vote against con-
ventioh, for he knows that the blacks alone
IN That State are more numerous th~a, the
whites. Gov. Perry talks of hor or and the
constitution, and at the same time recon-.
mends his people to put their necks quietly
under the foot Of the black man. II there
were any free choice left us. we might or
might not accept the terms IL we might or
might not take our respective States back
into the Union on the conditions named,
the case would be different. But IL we do
not re.organize the ten States oui uiselves,
they will as certainly be re organized by
the negroes and radicals, as that the sun
shines, and that Is the choice, and the only
choice, left us. Choose for yourselves, bre.
thren OF the ten States-Me,nphis Bulletin.