The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-16
ssUnder which King, Bezonian ~

''Under which King, BezOnian 2"
SNoR the adoption of the Military RecOnstruc-
tion bill, we have watched with anxiety the
course of the public men of the South, and
have published in The EVENING TELEGRAPH,
from time to time, such speeches and letters
as express their views ON the duty of the
Southern States under the new condition of
affairs. Those who have paid attention to the
subject will have noticed that, without excep-
tion, every leading statesman in the late Rebel
section has advocated the acceptance Of the law
in good faith by the people, and the immediate
reorganization of their Commonwealths under
its provisions. This advice coming as it does
with such unanimity, has been considered a
most encouraging sign of reconstruction, and
that the leaders have thus boldly declared in
favor of the course dictated by reason and
necessity, is a proof that they have the best
interests of the South at heart. In opposition,
however, to the unanimous voice of the
educated men of the South, comes the utter
ance of that tried and esteemed patriot
Clement L. Vallandigham, of Ohio. We pub
Hshed his letter in full yesterday
No advice comes from him to the South to
adopt the plan of reconstruction dictated and
regain their rights by repentance. On the
contrary, stold opposition is inculcated. He
declares that "If the men of the South UU but
consent to be patient, learning to remain passive
and to endure, all may get be weH. Submission
to tyrannic force, to military coercion, is one
thing, voluntary servitude quite another"
1t may be very well for Mr.. Vallandigham,
who lives in luxuriance off the proceeds of
"ten-cent subscription purse presented him
by his admirers, to talk to the impoverished
people of the South of "remaining passive and
enduring" The utter hypocrisy of such ad-
vice must make any sensible Southern man
recoil in contempt from the man who utters it.
To advise the South to remain stationary,
with all capital excluded, with energies unde
veloped, and military force ON every hand
with no prospect, for six years at least, of any
change for the better is to advise social suicide,
sectional destruction, and domestic desolation.
And what is to be gained after this passive
resistance for an indefinite space Any i'm
provement in the condition of the South when
it is admitted None whatever, On the con-
trary, Northern capital will show distrust
when reason is subservient to passion. Dis
trust on the part of the North, hatred on the
part of the blacks, and political insignifcance,
and all this to aid the Northern Democracy of
the ultra peace school! If.there was required
anything to show the utter worthlessness and
the entire selfshness of Mr.. Vallandigham,
the letter we have published would furnish
the required proof.
Mr.. Vallandigham thinks he sees dawn in
the East, because Of two things-frst, the Con
necticut election; and second the failure of Con
gress to impeach the President. If, with all
his optimism, these are the only grounds fol
! hope visible, we do not think that the South
will hesitate in it's march towards just re
construction because of the advice of Vallan
digham. The people of the late Rebel section
must choose between the advice of the leaders
of the radicals or of the Peace Democracy o.
the North. 1t is for them to determine whom
they will follow. The old question recurs tC
them, "Under which king, Bezonian"