Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-04-30
SIS s INSTRUMENTATION!

In discussing the plan of reconstruction en-
braced in the Stevens-S herman-Shellabarg
bill, the Louisville, (Ky,) Courier gives the
argument advanced by those who favor compli-
ance with it, and then forcibly replies to it as
follows: ut is argued that the adoption of
this scheme is not left to the option of the South
ern people, but that it will necessarily, and from
the very nature of the plan itself, be forced up
on them, and that if they refuse to participate
in the reorganization ofthe State governments,
the work will be done for them by the negroes
and the worst class of the white population, and
that they cannot afford to take this risk. They
can better afford to take it, as We conceive, than
they can afford to lend their sanction to and put
their Endorsement upon such proceedings. In
fnitely better would it be to let even the mill
tary authorities do the detestable work than for
the Southern people to cut themselves off from
all hope of future relief from the injustice now
being practiced upon them by acquiescing in
what all of them condemn and abhor. The
reign of radicalism cannot be perpetuated. =
The irritation and the exasperations which orig
mated in the war will be modified and amelio-
rated by time. A returning sense of magma
nimity and justice in the Northern mind will
correct the errors of the present. and then,
when the wretches, who are now triumphing in
Southern weakness and exulting over its ina
bility to resent or resist their oppression, shall
be swept from the places which they now dis
grace in whirlwind of popular indignation,
then, if those people have been true to them
selves, they can make their appeal for justice
with confidence and hope. But, if they have
themselves voluntarily run their wrists into the
handouts and placed the chains upon their own
limbs, they will have no alternative but to en-
dure the evils they have brought upon them
selves.
Suppose that the negroes framed the govern
ments and carried them on, does any sane man
believe that sufficient number ofpeople in the
North would not be disguised and shamed by
such spectacle to bring about revolution in
the Government, and at once remove such a re-
proach to republican institutions? Most assu-
redly such would be the consequence. There
are enough right-thinking men in the North
who would not tolerate such state of things to
make, with the Democratic party, such ma
jority as would put an end to radicalism prompt
ly and forever. Common sense teaches that no
such outrage upon decency, no such perversion
of the purposes of government would be per-
mitted to endure.
It is the apprehension that the remedy sug
gested would be too long delayed, and that in
the meantime all would be doubt, uncertainty
and degradation, which is now driving the
Southern people to accept the reconstruction
plan proposed. But, on the other hand there
is not the slightest assurance or guaranty that
when they have complied with all of these on
erous and insulting conditions, when they have
made the negro their political equal, admitted
him to assist in passing their laws and constitu-
tons, when they have placed the brand Of
shame and inferiority on thousands Of their no.
blest men, that they will have found any relief
or advanced one step in the road ofrestoration.
Under no possible circumstances will they be
admitted until after another Presidential cleo
ton, and every humiliating concession they
make will dispirit their Northern friends, de-
prive them of their sympathy, and result in the
election of Radical candidate for the Presi
dency."