The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-12
RcconstruotIon-1vn1 1t Ever Come,

Rcconstruction-HvnI It Ever Comet
About four years were expended iu
the effort to compel the people of The
Sohths by force of arms, to- remain
in. the Union. AT the end OF that
periods exhausted, ruined and beaten;
the Confederates laid down their
arms, and accepted the terms of their
conquerors. Since that. Time. nearly
two years and half have elapsed,
and from present appearances, sfhose
States are no nearer the. Union than
on the day when the last gun was
fired. The party in power have not
had the will or the wisdom; to form d
practicable plan by which the origi-
nal design of the waraawhicll. was
| the restoration of the Union-could
I be brought about. They haee tim
kered aud trifed with the subject
until they have given serious canse
for the belief that they are better sa-
tisfied- that the. South should be out
Of the Union than in it, at least
until after the next Presidential cleo
ton, in which they hope and expect
to obtain another four years lease Of
power. Certainly, the process Of
reconstruction could have been car-
ried to o successful result in much
less time than has already been con-
sumed, and at fraction of the ex.
pense that has been incurred. There
was no occasion and no reasonable
pretext for delay. Every necessary
or unnecessary condition which the
victors thought proper to impose,
might have been, applied, and the
States returned to their places within
six months of the termination Of
hostiiities. There was nothing to
prevent it, and it was q, a,result llni-.
yersally desired But the subject
was too great for the shallow dema-
gogues into whose hands the reins o
power had unfortunately fallen, and
the consequence, is that in the third
year of peace we find the country
discovered, the future full of doubt
and uncertainty, the prosperity of
every section of the country checked,
q financial crisis looming up, and in
Vulnerable evils threatened. :, And all
this that corrupt party, controlled
by men still more unworthy and cor
rupt, may administer our national
affairs.
Is it possible that the great mass of
the American people ever refectupon
this state of things, and that they
are satisfied with themp. It would
seem Incredible We incline to the
opinion that in the North passion
has obscured the judgments of the
people, and that they believe that all
the evils which affliot them-the
high price of living and the crushing
weight of taxation-are the legiti-
mate consequences of the war, when,
if they would cast. their prejudices
aside, they would see that much Of
what they attribute to this canse
might have been avoided by judi
cious administration of the Govern
ment since the close of the war.
If the Union had been promptly
restored, as every one believed it
would be, aud MS every one knew
that it ought to be, confidence would
have been inspired, trade would haye
resumed its wonted courses, industry
would have been stimulated, capital
which has lain dormant would have
been invested, and the general pros
perity of the nation would have re-
ceiyed tremendous impulse, which
would have placed us beyond the
reach of the contingencies and
dangers which. now impend. The
capital and labor which the South has
so much needed would have poured
in upon her and repaired the wastes
and devastations of the war; her pro-
ducts would have been multiplied,
her wealth increased, her ability to
pay her proportionate share of taxa
tion extended, and the ratio of taxa
ton upon both sections would have
been reduced.
We cannot believe that the people
will much longer tolerate this mex
cusable trifiing and stupidity. Re-
action must come, and, we think,
cannot long be deferred. The popu-
lar voice will soon be raised, and will
be given forth in such terms as will
not fail to make themselves under
stood.-LouiSUiNe Courier.