The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-05-22
Editorial Pennings and Clippings.
rho F;nalitv of Reconstruction.

ton of the Radical partyto adhere to the measures
of reconstruction fnaliiy. I'VE commend
careful perusal of this article and vouch for the
Radicalism of the source from whence it emanates
Senator Wilson, if his speeches in the South
have been correctly reported, has intmated to his
hearers that if reconstruction under the act of Con-
gress was not accepted, con6scation might follow.
Mr. Thaddeus Stevens not content with this
statement of the matter, and went so far as to
write letter, in which is expressed the belief that
a smild confiscation," in any event, was rather o
desirable proceeding Not satisfied with the sup
plemcnting of the Reconstruction Act, he would
like to add postscript to the supplement, and OBJ
jecs to the resting of the case at this point.
Itdoes seem to ordinary comprehension that the
time for proposing new bases of settlement new
conditions of restoration, and new penalties for
the crime of rebellion, has pretty nearly gone by.
The crime of Confederate treason has never been
punished, it is true; and the blood of many-vic-
Tins cries from the ground for retalaory justice.
But it has long since become apparent, and every
day confirms the assurance that anything like
penal chastisement will never be bestowed upon
numbers, their social condition and political
strength, their submission to the will of the victo-
rious government all tend to remission of their
penalty, and oblivion, if that be possible, of their
great offense Excluded, in some degree, from con-
trolling influence in the politics of their respect
i've sections and of the country, they arc neverihe
less on the virtual footing of American citizens,
enjoying their former privileges and immunities;
and it is hardly possible that any successful move
mcnt can now take place for their prescription and
outawry. The time for rigid justice, We repeat,
has long since gone by.
Such propositions as that of Mr.. Stevens. there
FORE can serve no Useful purpose at this stage of
our affairs. 1t is BETTER on all accounts, that the
Reconstruction Act should be recognized as q f.
nalty, and that no attempt should be made at in
tcrfering with its peaceful enforcement, either by
Injunction on the one hand or revolutionary con-
fiscaton on the other. The South, at present, is
doing well enough; and Mr.. Stevens will oblige
the country by letting well enough alone.
Shall we leave the Land we Love.
Nothing can be more saddening than the in
creasng tendency of many of the best people of
the South to seek refuge in foreign lands from the
military despotism established by the ruling power
in this once "free country" From all the South
ern States expeditions are being organized to form
colonies in Mexico, in Brazil, or in Central Ameri-
ca. This tendency has been greatly increased
since the passage of the net for the military gov
ernment of the Southern States. The latest move
;mcnt we have heard of is expedition from Lou
isana to British Honduras All the advantages of
soil and climate offered in Brazil and parts Of
Mexico arc also offered in British Honduras, with
the additional advantage of permanent and free
government. We once fought the British to obtain
freedom now many of our people are trying to
escape to British colonies in order to enjoy free
dom, and 10 avoid tyranny which George Ill and
his Ministers never dreamed of inhcting upon the
American Colonics What sad commentary upon
the history of republicauism in this greatest and
most favored country upon earth!
Nevertheless, we are opposed to all these schemes
of self-cxilc They will be injurious to 'ihc land we
love-" will not be productive Of happiness to those
who engage in them. and will please and strcngl hen
our enem es This is our country, and no other
ever can be- This is home and We can never make
foreign home as happy. Here are our individual
ife-hisories, our public history the graves of our
ancestral and fraternal kindred, the ashes of our
heroes ard great men. our immortal batllc-felds,
all that l.. memorable and glorious in the past ten
der and inspiring in the present. and, parado1ca!
as it may sound, really hopeful in the future All
this life-xcallh we can never replace if We cast it
away. Ii is also our duty TO stand by our dear
country in adversely as well as in prosperity, aud
lay down our bones ia her sacred SOIL. The time
of her chastcnng will pass away, and we shall. IN
the end, become a grander and a hnppier people
than if We had never been purified and ennobled
by those great tribulations Now is the time for
the real nobility and grandeur of the Southern
character to manifest itself. One phase of it was
manifested during the war, the other phase is
proyidertialy demanded now. Let not the faith
of our noble dead, nor the unborn trust of our
postcritv be in vain.
The Battle Of shiloh---why it Was Delayed.
.Mack,, the correspondent of the Cincinnati
Commercial has met in Nashville n Colonel MOI
gan, who represents himself as, during the war, n
prominent officer of the Confederate secret service
andfrom him he gets the following cause of General
.Johns,ons delay in bringing on the battle of
Shiloh:
When General A. S. Johnston was forced to
evacuatc Nashville, and was about to concentrate
for the battle of Shiloh lie sent Colonel Morgan to
Huntsville 10 watch the movements Of Buell., and
10 let him know in time so that hccoud strike
Grant before BUELL. joined him. few days before
the battle of Shiloh, Morgan telegrnphed TO john
ston Mt Corinth that Buell. had crossed Duck river
with 38,4UOmcn that he had lost 400 men by
sickness and exposure on the succeeding twenty
miles march, and that he would reach Pittsburgh
Landing at furihcst on Saturday night. He con
cluded the dispatch ny urging Johnston to
s-L. 81, Er;dnr nr SaturGny Inhnstnn renlied.