The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-05
when sIAan wo Iravo ryaoe,

= The first interest of the American
people is justice; but the second-
hardly less important and more pal
pably urgent-is peace. We need to
build, and repair, and restore, and
replant. Vast regions. lately devas-
tated by civil war, still lie waste; mul-
titudes of widows and orphans of the
war, in spite of returning abundance,
are thin-clad and famishing. There
is much capital at the North which
should be transferred to the South,
and there invested in draining
swamps, civilizing wilds, erecting
factories, and making al manner Of
useful wares and fabrics. Something
is being done in the right direction !;
but immensely more awaits the ad-
vent of assured peace.
How long must that be still
awaited?
Had President Johnson called the
late Congress directly on his acces-
sion to power, and said to it, "The
rebellion is ended; the work of recon-
struction should begin at once. I
propose such and such bases; consi-
der and modify them as you shall
see fit, all would have been ended
ere this. Those who had been rebels
were then ready and anxious for re-
construction, and prepared to accept
any terms that did not threaten their
property or their lives.
Mr.. johnson did not call Congress:
he devised and promulgated q pro-
gramme of his own. It had all the
faults which are attributed to the
plan of Congress, differing from that
only in putting the Southern blacks,
who were mainly loyal, under the
feet of the whites, who had nearly all
been rebels.
If the Southern States shall
promptly comply with the require
ments of Congress, the work of re-
construction may soon be completed.
The machinery is in motion; the re-
gistrations are nearly completed; !;
every State may be organized as Con-
gress prescribes before this year
closes. But if, on the contrary, the
South shall reject the terms of Con-
gress, we are all at sea for no one
knows how long. Meantime, militia
ry rule must be maintained at the
South at heavy cost, while peace, Sc
curlty and thrift cannot return. The
present Congress holds till March 3,
1869; and no one imagines that it
will meantime abandon the course
which it has already marked out.
The South may have reconstruction
and peace by accepting the terms
dictated by Congress; it may reject
these, and cling to Johnson if it will;
but, If it should, oil must await in
doubt and feud the issue of the next
Presidential contest.
Who wishes thus to protract a
fruitless strife, u pernicious uncer-
tainty? What is to be gained there
by, and who will gain it?
If the South should now refuse to
reconstruct her States as Congress
has prescribed, she cannot think so
badly as she has talked of military
despotism. She will virtually say
that her position is quite tolerable,
when contrasted with q form of self
government which recognizes and
treats blacks rs men. 70 reject the
terms of Congress, would he to defy
that body to do its worst.
Let us have peace-not some time
nor perhaps-but surely and soon.
Industry and business are weary of
waiting, while politicians play out
their little game. Let us have none
other than real peace, but let us
have this surely and soon.
Neto York: T'iJnne.