The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-03-06
The Inevitable Drift of Events.

called "Democratic minority" in the
House of Representatives, Thaddcus Ste.
vens succeeded in adding new features OF
outrage to the SHERMAN amendment"
and when it was then pressed through
both Houses Of Congress, we hoped tor
some indications of commiscration and
Justice in the. Northern States. We trust
ed that the frightful wounds inflicted on
the Constitution by this most iniquitous
bill would have produced some revolution
in Northern sentiment which ITe might
have hailed as evidence CT the subsidence
of that radical flood which now menaces
speedy confscation and the almost total
disfranchisenlcnt of tho Southern whites,
if there is not some Immediate settlement
of the question of reconstruction.
But for this change we have looked in
vain, and nothing has alarmed us more
than the acceptance of the Sherman
amendment" by the whole Republican
party as q most humane, mild and merci-
ful concession Of the extreme Radicals to
the conservative portion Of that party,
and if the declarations OF the leading CT
gans Of the less cruel portion Of the DOM
inant party mean anything, the Sherman
bill will be passed over the veto of the
President by an overwhelming majority;
and, if such is the case, and the recent
conversation of President johnson with
General IIalpne has been .truthfully re-
ported, the Sherman bill. if it becomes .
law in spite Of his veto, will be most
strictly enforced.
The monstrous detection of Rcverdy
Johnson, and the repeated atliliation Of
the so-cillcd Democratic minority" in
the House Of Representatives with Thad-
deus Stevens, while it has united the Re
publican party, seems to have hopclessly
demoralized our Northern friends. We
find fearful evidences of this in the last
number Of the New York World, paper
heretofore consistent in its cXhortations
to the South to oppose firm, unyiclding
and stubborn resistance TO all Radical
outragcs and insults, which are hurled at
us in the form Of unconstitutional laws.
In q long and carefully weighed leader,
in view of theprcsent condition ofaffairs,
that paper earnestly urges the Southern
people " if they have any reason to dis
trust their own frnlness, to yield in 1867
rather than at some future timc."
To show how rapidly the work of de-
moraization is going on among our
friends at the North, we make the follow
ting extracts from tile leading organ Of
The Northern Democracy:
"Thc interest involved are Of such mo-
mcntous magnitude, that it would be Il
fatal bIundcr for the Southern people to
mistake transient wi,fulncss for i'm
movable determination. If the South is
ever to accept of negro suffrage; if it is
ever to rcorganizc its State Governments
under Federal dictation; if it is ever TO
ratify the pending constitutional amend
ment rs n condition Of restoration, there
are manifest advantages in not postpon-
ing until another year what they may be
brought to do last. We arc tar enough
frora advising that the South should vol
thtarily submit to fragrant injustice and
humilating subjugation. On the 1nes-
ton whether they will give in or stand
out, we will at present say nothing. But
rs between submission now and sudmis-
sion at some future time (supposing fu-
turc submission to be pcssibie) our views
are SO clear, and rest upon grounds thai
seem to lis SO solid, that we should fail in
our duty if we withheld them.
"Whatcver may BE the ultimate basis
on which this great controversy is set
tied, there must be advantages in the car
Iy adoption of that basis The crippled
business interests Of the South ought to
be lifted out of the stagnation caused by
the existing uncertainty To postpone
reconstruction under Sherman's bill for
the sake Of restoration under the simple,
unamendcd constitution, would be wise
ard reasonable delay. But to postpone
reconstruction on the new plan to adopt
tie same or some similar plan three or
five years hence, would be short-sighted,
passionate folly Every year of military
government puts back the recuperation
of the South and (what is worse) accus-
toms the Federal government and the
Northern people to the dangerous prac-
tce of doinitation. The losses and dan
gers thus cntailed may be reasonably ac-
ccptcd in the persistent pursuit Of COM
pensating ends; but not gratuitously-
not as II halting place at which the South
only loses time, property and quiet, to
enter ut last on the same rcpudiatcd path.
As between the Sherman bill pure and
simple, and tho Sherman bill plus several
additional! years of distraction: a reasona-
bic people should not hesitate.
eff the Southern States are ever 10 re-
organize under the Sherman bill, they
should do SO this year and thereby gain
the advantage of participating in the
Presidential election. If they form new
State constitutions during the summer
and autumn and present them to Con-
gress for acceptance at next winters ses-
sion, their sixty or seventy votes may
determine tic result. But postponement
till next year will shut them out COM
pleteIy, and might be the means of subicc-