The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-09-04

down our arms, and making no concessions
beyond those embraced in the terms upon
which we surrendered. I held that the
United States Government had not only
offered terms to the South, but that Ice faith
was pledged to the Observance Of those
terms. Every official act of every depart
ment Of that Government, during the war,
declared thai the Southern States were still
members Of the Union, and Congress, by an
almost unanimous vote, 10 the most solemn
manner,
Resolved, That this war is not waged
on our part. in any spirit Of oppression, nor
for any purpose Of conquest or subjugation.
nor purpose Of overihrowing or interfering
with the rights or established Institutions
Of the States. but to defend and maintain
the supremacy Of the Constitution, and TO
preserve the Union with all the dignity.
equality aud righte OF the several States
unimpaired. That rs soon as these objects
arc accomplished, the war ought to ccaee.'
The Same body gave the strongest cvi
dence that they regarded the Union un-
broken. even during the war, by their
recognition Of Mr.. Carlisle as Senator from
yirginia-I mean the noble "Old Denim.
ion," and not her illegitimate and degener.
ate child, West Yirginia-and allowing him
to retain his seat until near the close Of the
war. The very paroles given TO the South
ern soldiers promised the protection Of the
United States Government to those holding
them, so long as they obeyed the laws OF
"the States wherein they resided :" thus
recognizing, not only the Southern States
as States, but the la,os of those States. We
had every reason, as far ss we could trust
to the faith Of our opponents, to believe
that the Southern States would be received
into the Union with all their " dignity,
equaiity and rights animpahred," as soon as
they renewed their allegiance 10 the Gene
raj Government aud acknowledged its su-
premscy.
II would be foreign to the purpose OF this
communication to discuss what faith has
been kept with the South-mankind has
already affixed to that sotf Of faith the name
Of Punic only touch on these points to
show ihe mistakes committed by the South,
"
North which were interpolated into the
conditions, after our surrender. Our State
Conventions were mistakes; 90 were the
changes Of our Constitutions; greater than
all others, was the legislation ratifying the
amendment Of the United States Constitu.
that the action Of the Southern people, At
that time, was dictated by an hone desire
to secure the blessings of peace, and by q
high sense Of honor. which prompted them
to show that they were sincere in their
wish to do everything that would tend TO
terms / have no hesitation In asserting
that the Southern States would then have
been brought back to abe Union with more
| of loyalty ITO use q favorite expression
| Of the North-than had existed amongst
them for forty years past. had the North
proved itself to be as msgnanimous as II
had shown itself to be powerful. But Il
was the misfortune, not only Of the South
but Of the whole country, that the party
which had obtained possession Of the Gov.
ernment was more intent on securing its
own power than OF restoring ths Union 70
Its own pristine glory. Af.er acquiring
power, on the sole ground Of bringing back
1 the Southern States to the common fold
with all their dignity, equality and right,
unimPaired," they bassiy betrayed the peo'
pie Of the North, by subordinatiug the in
terests and rights Of ten States to the effor
to perpetuats the power Of their party
fslsiying, while they did so. every pledg,
which they had made during the continu
ance of the war. The war, which wa
4 professsdly waged solely for the restoration
Of the Union, in lie progress, degeneratet
into the open attempt. on the part Of IL
authors, to consolidate and Perpetuats rad
ical rule. and Government, which wa
founded on the noble maxim, that Govern
ments derive their just powers from tn,
consent Of the governed" has been rervert
ed to the base ends Of subjecting ten mil
lions Of its people 10 military despotism.
That may not be accused OF stating Chi
proposition In stronger language than
warranted by the facts Of the case, beg 3
call your attention to the following extrac
from an article which emanated from Massa
chusetts. Bearing the impyimaf~ Of Boz
, ton, its Language. which. had IL been uttere,
, here, might have smacked Of treason, ca
be regarded only as loyal:
"The principle" says this writer. o
] which the war was waged by the NORTH
l was simply this: That men may rightfull
8 be compelled TO submit TO and support
s Government that they do not want; an
: that resistance on their part makes then
o traitors and criminals No principle ths