The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-05-01
Editorial Pennings and Clippings.
of the South.

Reconstruction OF the Soutn-
Certain editors affect great deal Of surprise at
the action of the Southern people with reference to
the question OF reconstruction under the recent
acts of Congress; and some IF them pretend to see
in that action "a vital and fundamental change in
Southern sentiment. ; Not one of these batant
Journalists believes, however, that any real
change has been affected n'the Southern mind
as to the justice, constitutionaty or proprety of
the Congressional legislation to which we refer,
and their affecting to do so is most gross and ar
rant hypocrisy.
When the bills establishing military despotism
over ten States were first enacted, there was uni
versal expression of condemnation on the part of
the people Immediately affected by their provis-
ions They saw in such legislation elimination
of the oppressive aud vindictive policy which has
governed the conduct of the dominant party ever
since the close of The war; but being in no condi-
ton to offer resistance to any measures which the
ungenerous yicors might choose to enforce against
them, the FIRST and general disposition was to re-
main entirely passive, taking no part whatever in
public affairs They knew the whole thing to be
usurpation and IN outrageous violation Of the very
principles lying at the foundation of the old Gov
ernment-; and in their despair and indignation
they naturally exclaimed, "Let Them work
out their own pleasure for we have no part
in it!' This was natural, and under any other
circumstances would have continued the settled
purpose of the oppressed people of the South
But upon calm review of the situation, it struck
some of the leading minds of the South that this
passive suferance was precisely what the enemies
of the South expected and desired and they con-
tended that if the policy of inacton prevailed the
Jacobins would not only have e7erything their
own way, in the formation of the conventions pro-
vided for by the reconstruction bills, but the very
failure of those not dsfranchised to take any part
in reorganization would be construed into an eyi.
dence of contumacy, and made the pretext for i'm
posing terms still moro severe 1t was therefore
urged that such rs were accorded the privilege of
partcipancy should exercise it freely in order to
mitigate the evil as far as possible.
Whether this view of the case was the correct
one or not, it has been very generally adopted by
unselfshness of motive must be accorded to the
gentlemen insisting upon it: They have, without
exception, given in the past the most unmistakea-
Bile proofs of devotion to the welfare of the people
and it is worthy of remark, that they are them
selves banned and prescribed by the arrangements
in which they propose their friends shall partic-
patio.
The people of the South do not 'accept" the
terms contained in the military bills. They have
no option in the case. BY taking pnrt in the
action under these bills they merely trying to
make the best of bad business. Many of-those
who expect to assist in the selection Of delegates
we're at one time or another during the wnr IN
mates of Northern prisons. Then when, as was
too often the case, guards threw the scanty and
miserable rations ut them with IN oath, they did
not disdain to receive and make the most Of it, for
it was necessary to,life. Now that The Jacobns of
Congress have .cnst at these same mon, an odious
and tyrannical method Demonstration, in which
they are permitted limited participation, they
propose to avail themselves of it. In the case
they by no means ndorscd the inhumanity and
bruta! conduct of their keepers; in the other they
are just as far from indorsing usurpation and ty
ranny of Congress- Courier.
Il Republican Party South.
Referring to the statement made by the Jackson
(Miss.) Clarion, that the Republican party sis
rapidly extending its ramifcations throughout the
Southern States" the New York Times says:
..In some of the States, it is true the movement
has not yet attained to very formidable proper
tons. In others-as in North Carolina, Alabama,
Louisiana, and Arkanses-it is sufficiently strong
to be aggressive. And wherever il is demonstra-
tive it is of the Radical type. The men who man.
age it are not content with the submission of the
South to the law. They insist thas.the South shnl
applaud the magnanimity and wisdom of the law
makers. It follows, necessarily, that party or
ganzation originating under these auspices and
controlled by these influences will range itself on
the side of the Radicals in Congress, and will be
repelant to the great body Of the Southern people
We require them to respect and obey the statute,
unpalaabe as it is J; we have no.rigbt to ask them
to abase themselves by singing to the glory Of its
authors or by declaring themselves delighted with
the military rule to which they subjected"
The rebuke embraced in slhe foregoing coming
as it does from an influential Republican press, is
well timed, and merited by those Southern men
who affect to be delighted with the military rule
to which the South lis subjected and with those re-
cent congressional enacmenta which have pro.
duced that result. Such men, in the main, are not
sincere, but have "a1es of their own, 70 grind,
and will not deceive the military authorities unde,
whose direction these congressional enactnents ere
to be enforced. The great body of -the Southern
people-nincty nine out of every hundred of them
accept the political situation" in good faith
not TINT they rejoice att, or are ''dehghted" with
it, but because it is the result of terms dictated by
the conqueror TO the conquered, which they may