The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-05-08
Reconstruction and its Effects,
From the Chicago Times

FROM the CnlcaSo 1lmes.l
Al The telegraph brings the following information
regard to the later effects of the reconstruction plan
81 The administration is in constant receipt OF lette
from all parts OF the South from various public me,
relatIreto the progress of the reconstruction NOV
ment. One writer says that from all that he has see
and heard there is much less difficulty to recor
struction than had been expected. ~
Letters received from prominent citizens of Sout
Carolina also that reorganization under the act
ofCongress will be carried out by common consent
and full hope of beneficial results in Virginia is ger
orally INDUCED Adviees to the effect fror
North Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansa
/ have already been chroncled. The speech of Her
schel Y. Johnson in Georgia, is concatory in ton
and expresses the sentiment of the influential citizen
of that State. Indeed, the reports from the entir
South indicate that there is general acquiescence IL
the final plan submitted and that there is desire t.
postpone the work of Reorganization in the expectancy
of decision by the United States Supreme Court ii
favor of the injunction applied Tor.
These facts leave no room to doubt that the con
gressiona plan Of reconstruction will be adopted by
the Southern people, and its results unquestionably
depend upon the spirit in which the change of sent
ment has been effected. The explanation is to be
| found in the political necessity of the situation.
| When, some few motifs SINCE the Times announced
its intention of advocating the doctrine of impartial
suffrage, there was variety OF opinions concerning
the coup about equal in number and diversity. The
extremists of the South inveighed against it de-
SeftiOn OF tnef rights ana SUBMISSION 10 the tyranny
of the Northern radicals. The radicals generally took
advantage of it declare that the Times had betrayed
its party, and used this hobby weapon against the
influence OF the paper. Even some of the Northern
Democracy were unprepared for the declarations, and
for time, refused to acquiesce. But all of the oppo
ston concurred in condemning the motives which
prompted the action The results are already sufi-
GENTLY numerous and Of such nature to indorse it
as wise forecast. The South, in which the movement
encountered the most bitter denunciaton, is following
exactly the way prepared for them at that time, and
acquiescng in the necessity Of events first predicted
by The South accepts the situation. It not
ly accepts the situation bat it accepts it in the same
spirit, namely, that Of necessity
Nothing can be more absurd than the attempt by
Northern radicals and the Northern radical press to
fix upon the South the stigma Of adopting the princi
pies of the republican party voluntarily. It would be
an anomaly in the nature of things to think of the
Southern people being abolitionsed. Instead of
the present action at the South indicating the promul
CATION Of radical ideas, it affords proof positive of the
first step in advance toward the resusctation and
organisation Of the old Democratic party, and it is just
prophetic of the speedy disruption Of the Northern
Radical faction.
As Herschel Johnson, in his late speech advised
bis hearers that the speedest towards the main
enance of their rg hts was to be found in constu-
onanal government, SO the leading and thinking men
of the entire community the earnest consdera
Ion OF the reconstruction plan with view to adop-
ion not account Of its original business, nor on
recount of its present accepabeness, but because it is
he only way to attain position for successfully
erting their rights. The republican party and its rad
cal principles obnoxious to-day in the South as
hey ever have been, and will be equally obnoxious in
he event of reconstruction planned by Congress-
he Republican Central Committee at Washington
no whose charge the diffusion of radical sentiments
throughout the South has been confded, have not {
cen able to refrain from the endeavor iLculcate high
lrif notions than which nothing can be uncoil-
email to Southern interests. They have moi contented
themselves with the task of securing Southern acoui-
scence to the reconstruction plan alone. They have
cen fully as anxious to secure among whites and G
lacks, an Endorsement of all the Jacobin tenets of il
1er radical orthodoxy The result of such endeavor
IN be imagined The object of the Southern people
merely to be reinsated in the Union for our own o
elfare, and they adopt the only afforded them
Of IT. from choice but from necessity We hear of
Ideal publications from the South no expression of S
latitude from the Southern people to the Northern II
ideal party, but only universal desire to return to
constitutional form Of government q
We have said above that the effect of reconstruct tt
on would be- not merely the thorough reorganization
the Democratic party but the contemporaneous n
ssouton of the radical party. The Northern De- p
ocracy and the Southern Democracy combined again 3
unity OF purpose and unity of power will pre- al
mt an Irresistible front. The radical party be at it
cked IN the The squabbes of its prominent tt
embers for office and spoil are already premonitory
mPtoms OF speedy collapse. The treatment which m
soldiers Of the late have received at the hands
the party, III national, State and municipal cleo
ms has already accomplished much personal injury in
only required reorgansed Democracy to finish the 81
,rk. fr
Reconstruction in its acceptance by the Sonth OF
cans merely readmsslon of the Southern States Il
o the onion The plan is one of necessity, not of in
oce The results will be the supremacy Of Demo. &C
atic principles and the downfall of the republican pt
rty organisation. N