Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-03-29
The Southern view of the Re-
construction Bill.

ern papers in denouncing the Reconstruc-
ton bill In their estimation it is cruel, |
infamous, incredible, de-
grading, black, devilish. Yet they are
quite unanimous in the declaration that
forcible resistance is useless, and they there
fore advise the hopelessly oppressed and
utterly subiugated South" to remember in
this hour of fearful agony that all is lost
but honor. to be dignifed in misfortune,
patient under insult, calm amidst ruthless
injustice, and to leave the issue to Him who
maketh the wrath OF man to praise him
The papers exhort the people OF the
South" to take the attitude Of a magnanl-
nous nation which has heroically but
unsuccessfully fought for the noblest cause
against a fierce and remorseless tyranny;
not to forget that the renown, honor, great
ness, and glory of the ''South" rest upon a
foundation which is indestructiblc and inn
mortal, and TO cOnfide themselves to the
sure justice of mankind and of the ages.
All this belongs to that absurd melodrama
TO which ''the South" is so fanatically de-
voted. This cheap tinsel seems to be its
natural wear, and this melancholy rhodo-
montade its easiest expression. Does it
really impose upon any sensible man in
the rebel States? If any such, as is very
probable, should chance to see these lines,
let us remind him the actual state of the
case.
Nobody denies the desperation and hero
ism with which the rebels fought, nor is
there any doubt of the sincerity of their
declaration of faith in their cause. But in
no point of view was il noble cause.
They rose against a Government which
they had always controlled, and which
they confessed had never oppressed
them. They tried TO destroy it because
they thought it might Cypress them here
after Do they suppose that mankind,
with its experience of war, will justify
them for such a theory Of forcible revolu-
ton: And what was the oppression they
feared? Simply the lawful limitation OF
the area of human slavery. Do they
appeal to the judgement of mankind upon
that possible and prospective oppression.
But, waving this, they claim, perhaps,
TO have wished merely to exercise a re-
served constitutional right TO secede peace
ably from the Union. Such q secession, OF
course, would have resulted in the fall of
the Government and the disappearance of
the United States as a national power. Do
they ask mankind to consider the dissolu-
ton of great nation, against which no
accusation of oppression is urged, and to-
ward which the eyes and hearts of the
oppressed every where were turned in
hope, as a glorious event? Was the sub
stitution of thirty-seven feeble and jarring
States for one commanding power SO impo-
sing an advantage to human welfare as TO
be sure of enlisting the gratitude and adj
miration of the world? Or do they rely
for that final justification upon the object
for which this national dissolution was
sought? That object was the foundation
of an empire upon ignorance and crime;
upon political principles which civilization
rcpudiates and upon n social system which
the conscience of the enlightened world
a5hors. Wasth an object for which to
summon piously the contemplation and APP
pIause of the ages?
No rhetoric about liberty can hide the
fact that the rebel States sought merely the
liberty to Cypress: no indignant assertion
of the right of State sovereignty can con-
ceal the unimaginable crime for the I'M
challenged preparation of which that
sovereignty was invoked. Whether ''the
South" presents the .slost cause" to history
and the conscience of mankind as that of
slavery or Of State rights, is equally in
defensible. The sole decent and tolerable
point in it is the bravery with which il was
the honesty of tens of thousands who
fought tor it, but neither can we, in the
same sense, deny the sincerity ofthe priests
who burned other men of equal sincerity
for their opinions. Shall the InquiSition
therefore hope for the admiration of man
kind? When the Richmond Times talks to
world which fully understands the
terrible and damning truths of the rebcll-
ion, of 'Finis Potomac" and traditions
bright and shining with classic glory" of
''garnered fame." and of the ark of our
honor floating safe and sPotless,' it merely
compels the contempt of every generous
mind. There is no spotless honor in
claiming the right, constitutional or I'M
constitutional, TO trample upon other men.
There was 10 fame garnered at Salisbury:
nor is Andersonville very bright and shining
with classic glory.
And what is this wicked and unprece-
dented tyranny TO which the States in
question must now submit? Having for
the purpose which we have described. and
which nobody will deny, waged a war for
the destruction of the nation, which, at
cost of four years fearful struggle, of three
thousand millions of dollars, and of count
less precious lives, has succeeded in saving
its life. what is the proposed doom of the
offending States? Is it the kind of Justice
which they would have melted had the case
been reversed? Is it the policy ofEngland
toward Ireland, and of every historic
power after a subdued rebellion? Is il
cOnfiscatiOn. exile, and death? Ii is simply
that the anarchy which the war has pro
duced in those States, and the evidence of
which is incontestible, shall be controlled
by the military force of the nation until all
of the people exceptii.g-as the Richmond
Times itself grants, in the case of Virginia
about three per cent. of the worst rebels,
have adopted Constitution which recog-
nizes the equal rights of all citizens; while
the Acknowledgement of the three per cent
is not perpetual but at the pleasure of.
Congress. This is the disgrace" 'humili-
alton, degradation, destruction" lin
justice, persecution" prescription
wrong ''ruin,' "outlawry." ''monstrous
iniquity, Calamity" '.fanatical tyranny
infamous madness, ''the bitferest cup ever
cOncocted by ingenuity and vindictive-
ness, to which the rebel States are DOOM
ed
The people in the Southern States are
greatly mistaken who suppose that there is
any vindictivenoss among loyal citizens.
Revenge would take a very different form
from that of the Reconstruction bill. In
common with the civilized world the
loyal pcop'e Ofthis country have a very
hearty contempt for the theory and the
purpose of The ''lost cause;" but they
hope that its adherents vii,
presently see that the cause is lost-that the
theory of sovereignty is overthrown-that
slavery IS abolished: and that the Union
must be reorganized upon the original
American principle of equal rights and
fair play for all men. If that be the ''Finis
Poloni;e," the end of Poland. who will not
thank God that Poland is ended.-Ha rper's
Weekly.