The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-03-19

things that were, looking back instead or for.
ward, unmndfui Of the golden opportunities Of the
present and the drefn destruction 70 which they
being swept BY the swirl moving uds Of eventa They
ciingng firmly obstlnatsy 70 the ruined past in
preference 70 hewing out for themselves with man ly
ture, appearing fresh farer edAcss ON the ruins
Of the old Society here has also liz burned DISTRICT
blows OF var: and this q the unh mimi soubrium
between things material and spiritual which at present
maintains the people Of ihis locality in Qussoencs 50
should have at heart Society h indeed sadly disorgan
lied and unsettled The place is by means what Il
tive. s ways 20 demonstratve or 50 noisy. It's
hreeaters arc no longer blatant brawling heroes or
nuile nor is leaders strong and arrogant moaldsn OF
the political destiny Of the Staa From their high po-
sition they have faenthe 70 thug like prowler,
seeking conceament In tho shadows OF the ruins be
has caused; the other wrinkle browed scowler who
with bitter thoughts The baooms arc no longer noisy
sin powerful in Maintaining the present state Of ar
although from certain Indications Is judged that the
mass OF the citizens weary OF the troubles OF this pro
bative state would willingly agree TO any reasonable
proposition advanced by Congress for the purpose Of
bringing back the normal conditions Of peace and bus
still the stumbling block In the way Of reoonstruc
tion and what with tho poison they nsti in whispers
into the OF the blinded and unhappy citizens, and
the Misrepresentation they make Southern sentiment
by their ranting and mouthing the people are likely 70
AS far as can learned from careful inquiry and per-
attempts at "drawina out the private opinions
OF all classes except the politicians 1t seems certain that
the people OF this city in the main anxious to submit
TO tho DEGREES Of Congress in order TO bring
about . permanent settlement Of the difficult
ties and mrseres consequent on the war; but
this their politicians are plotting to prevent with, it
must be said prospect OF the most complete success
The tactics Of the latte, have parssn greatly OF caution
be occasionally seen OF an evening, gathered In
confidential knots in the gloom Of the hotel porches
in some remote corner OF one Of the many drinking
saloons throughout the city They all look Northern
men with suspicion and ali classes of citizens hold aoof
word or two Of the whispered conversations OF such
assemblages which 60 far toward putting the difficulty
Last evening the gloomy porch OF the Charleston
House quite well filled with ounging politicians and
coated citizens whose custom is to enjoy the cool
breezes OF the evening from their seats the rough
and uncomfortable iron settee which runs along
the entire front Of the house. on q level with
meeting snOund mos q se small fry
politicians whose secret influence maintains the present
uncomfortable state OF affairs Last vening on one
going travel to and from the hotel there assembled Ave
or six individuals whose conversation though conducted
in low tonc was heard by several guests who were
seated Ave or six feet distant in the semi obscurity
The party composed Of stout planter from Char
clothing and old felt hat which had been white,
but had at timed neutral tint His face was round
aord specklsd Al over with deep red spots on back
ancs full and fat but his cheeks were fabby and the
entire lacked hardine seeming lift but
bones Added to these facial characteristics was mouth
which, from the peculiarly Of deep, rolling wrinkle
extending from either corner seemed 70 spread over the
jaw bone TO point somewhere beneath the chin, whore
the wrinkle lost itself in wry growth Of grizzly beard
like hall worn kilt from the waist Of Highlander
Another loading figure OF the small circle was
younger man. clad In Confederate uniform coat black
and cadaverous his figure lean gaunt and awkward the
more apparently from attempt at jaunty style In
Individual had dark hair. not over long and q nous
tache and goatee dressed most hsrcey Ia mitdre
nS S
legal gentleman The third party in the conversation
nose sharp chin. small eyes and sunken checks and
attired In complete suit of black Northern made
Quoted In whispers and ceased altogether whenever any
Of the promsnsdeu appvnrched, was political in IL
The planter explained a. some length and with draw
ing proixity and circumiocuton exactly how he stood
seshns, no began, and b'Iievo in the right yet
but We were beat mighty bad, reckon, and now I'm
had mighty lot but always tended we'll FOR 'em, but
I'm sorry for Of em that can't support their
selves Beings we've got licked think though !. i
best to take that constitutional mendment and adopt
just 70 give capital an opening in the South"
The military legal gentleman objected to this he con:
under foot II useless he said TO hope for anything
from tho radical party for tho more tho South conceded
% 10 a.
came and let those In the North do their worst which
would DO better he thought than bringing and fawning
whore nothing could be gained by IL
The planter .houshi twas mighty hard everybody
but probably the politicians knew best about IT, although
for hts part, he wanted to sec the thing settled
The young man In tho clothes hero nterpolaed
in his indcscbable South Carolina draw few words 70
=: that be- IN q Ss adoption s4 Sn Of
black scowl Of enmity from the Quixotc military in
divdua, who tragcaly demanded 70 know how such an
action would benefit the people Of the South.
The youth IN the store clothes" answered :-"I
reckon I'm about Is well KNOWN 70 affairs yereabouts Is
the war at wilmington have been,p this yere rebel
lion about ~ deep - anybody hereabou and have got
out Of again about as clean as could be- reckon ana
know that the why capital don't come into the
so'th is because can't give anythin to secure the
cause there's sword hangin' over our heads in the
shape Of connscaon and its bound to In the end,
"wsen !. comes TO that" said the military man wav
ing his left hand In graceful oraorical gesture and
pulling nercely at his gummcd mnsache when It comes
to that know what will be done, by God, sirthere'L
be hight"
"wc've triod ngh,In' for a spell, reckon and u was
mighty hard pulling through and here's where We fetch
up ia the end" remarked the rusty old buttcrnutclad
planter, with prolonged clearing OF his throat and
final grunt OF dissatisfaction.
HBut this time the war is going to begin at the NORTH
said the individual OF the forensic graces striking an at
ttudc with his hands supporting his coatas and swing
ing himself backward and forward his heels and toes
at the time bestowing most udicrous stare, ndi
cative Of self compacency his attentive hearers The
speaker after having satisnsd his vanity continued
1.-THE North more dissatisfied to-day al tho action OF
Congress than the South itself, and when things
are carried with too high hand then there win come
Congress and President johnson far apart just
that either must give In, and then impeachment will
follow, and then-we just you look out"
The young man In the store clothes' answered the
orscuar individual BY reminding him OF tho promises Of
assistance from England and France which the South
had relied In opening the rebellion. The young man de-
clared that he had enough fighting and all he
wanted now was chance TO make money IN Charleston
The military man was going on 70 explain how the
south could afford 70 await It's opportunity, when the
s<dsce broken up By the arrival Of party OF North
men, who broke through the semiobscurty Of the
place and sealed themselves In the vicinity, whercupon
the discontinued spirits In gray, together with the youth
In the "sore clothes 'meed into thin air' and
ished.
The foregoing conversation Is repeated frequently be-
the people and the loud voiced politicians, who
are struggling hold the over the eyes Of the c
who begin 10 see for themselves where their inter-
est LEA
l. OUtS A Ma.
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