Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-10-11

exploring a scene of despair, says: "The
sentiment that attends the sudden revela-
ton that all is lost is silently gathered up
into the heart. It is too deep for gestures
or for words. The voice perishes, the ges-
lures are frozen, and the spirit of man flies
back upon It's own centre"
From the New York Herald.
demonstrating the south.
Reconstruction What a misapplied word
What an abuse Of the term to call the pro-
cess now going on in the South under the
acts of Congress and the five military die
tators reconstru ction It should be called
destruction That is the proper word
The so-called reconstruction acts of Con-
gress are fast destroying that fairest pOr-
ton of our country, and unless thorough
change be made in the policy of the gov
eminent the South will be destroyed more
completely than San Domingo or Jamaica
was by similar radical legislation. But
that is not all, fearful as such state of
things must be. The North, the loyal
States, will also suffer. Our liberties will
be endangered by maintaining military
government oyer SO large portion of the
republic, and a military government will
become chronic necessity under the policy
pursued by the radicals. We shall lose the
valuable productions and trade of the
South. The expenses of the government
will be enormous and the public debt will
become burdensome beyond endurance.
Let us look at the present condition of
the Southern States. The negroes in nearly
all of them, if not in ALL have the political
power in their hands, and though they are
too ignorant to use it lat least for any good,
it will be used under the direction of white
demagogues and political knaves for evil.
The greater part of the intelligent white
people are excluded from the exercise of pol
itical privileges But few of those to whom
these privileges are allowed are capable
of making laws. The highest legislative
ability is required in framing organic laws );
yet we see the forming of new State consti-
tutions committed 10 mass of poor, Igno-
rant negroes, who hardly know their right
hand from their left, and to the lowest and
least cultivated portion of the whites. Even
the few intelligent whites who are permitted
to vote take no part in political matters,
because they see they would be powerless to
do any good. If, therefore, sufficient num-
Der of votes can be obtained under the pro-
visions Of hereconstructio acts of Congress
to hold constituent conventions and to form
State constitutions, these new governments
will be made by the ignorance and not the
intelligence of the South. It seems, how
ever, looking at the vote in Louisiana, that
the negroes have not sense enough to know
what voting means or what they are voting
for. With all the radical machinery put
to work, with all the speeches of radical
emissaries and with all the promises of con-
tiscation and power, it is doubtful whether
| the mass of these poor creatures know yet
where they stand or what to do. 1t would
be strange indeed if these millions of be-
nighted blacks, who were slaves year or
two ago, did know anything about using
the elective franchise or making a govern
ment The radicals may say that the ne
groes not voting, as in Louisiana, arises
from apathy; but it is evident that utter
| ignorance of what to do is its real cause.
But suppose q sufficient number of votes
sholld be given-that is, the maj ority Of
those registered, for holding conventions,
the negroes would have the political power.
Would Congress approve the State constitu-
tons formed thus and admit the States to
representation under these circumstances :?
Is Congress prepared to admit negro SUI
premacy in the South, negro conventions,
negro representatives to Washington, a
negro balance Of power in the republic,
and, may be, negroes to hold the highest
Offices IN the government Yet such would
be the consequences of recOnstructing the
South under the present acts of Congress
and the military dictators. We hardly +tink
this radical Congress is radical enough
for such a revolution. Certainly the
people of the North are not prepared for it.
Reckless as the present Congress is, it will
hardly risk the everlasting infamy of turn
ing the government of this great republic
into negro government. Should the
Southern States be reconstructed by the
benighted and degraded negroes, as they
would be under the present arrangement
Congress would find some excuse, proba-
bly,, to still keep them out. Thus, in what
ever point of view we look at the matter, it
IS clear that we shallhave to support mill
tary government over the South unless the
radicals be driven from power by the voice
of an indignant people,
The alternative is, then, negro supremacy
IN the South with negro balance Of power
IN the republic, if the Southern States be
reconstructed under the present radical
plan, or continued exclusion from repre-
sentation in Congress with despotic mill
tary government over that entire section
of our country. Who can contemplate the
fearful consequences of such a state of
things without alarm We should be dis
graced in the eyes of the whole world.
Republican institutions would be despised.
The South would become depopulated and
ruined, as San Domingo was ruined. The
white population would fly from it and the
negroes become depraved, idle, and die
out. The North would soon lose it's iber-
ties under the use and influence of military
government over so large portion of the
republic. Our burdens would become un-
bearable and reputation would follow.
Such are some of the evils we have every
reason to fear from radical rule. Such will
be the inevitable results of the so.called
reconstruction acts of Congress unless the
people elect other and better men to har-
monte and save the country.
A case is pending in the st. Louis courts
intended to test the constitutionality of
the Internal Revenue laws. 1t is to go to
the Supreme Court before it is surrendered.