The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-21
TIE REvULsIoN OF EEELrNt..

'oN''hS 10 ~ tHclH rs ulll Hum-tlrtlm
peace. They are ''spoiing for fight" and
IL the conditions of combat are too unequal for
fair hnttc, they court the crown of mnriyr-
dom These men he found at the North
and nt the Souilt--nmong Radicals nnd South
| ern obstructives. But for this clnss Of poll
ticians and agitators, the Southern Stntes might
| ere this have been restored, and once more in
| the full enjoyment of cqunl rights with the re-
mninng States Of the Union. As it is, we hnyc
had nrnrly three years of painful and booiless
ngiintion, and there is grent danger in conse-
ruence Of this continued opposition 10 recon-
s'ruclion, that the end mny bo far of yet,
though this, We are glnd 10 say, we do not be-
| lievc.
The grounds for opposition have vnried from
time TO timr. Now il wns because the measures
proposed were alleged to be unconstitutional;
| again, because their requirements were con-
trnry 10 The behcsts of honor, or contrary TO
reason; nnd, lastly, because by holding off md
practising Fnbiun policy we shnll strengthen
the hands Of the Conservatives at the North,
and be ready 10 profit by the 'rcvusion Of
feeling" now said 10 be in progress nj the
North. As of the proofs Of the existence
Of the Inter, we are told TINT the tone of the
Northern press is ''more moderate than il Inns
ever been before. II dcprccatcs harsh OF Sc
we're measures, it advocates n restoration of The
Union, and it shows plainly enough that, al
though it is not ready 10 brcnk with the Radi-
cal party, it does feel that The continuance Of
Radical dominion is the continuance Of dis
cord and dsunion, the encouragement Of rcyo-
luton, and the continued decline of political
power and commercial prosperity"
This declaration is clearly based upon the
late gymnastic fent Of the Herald; for The i'm
putaion is promptly disowncd by the Conscr
vative Republican papers. How much reliance
| is to be placed in the political opinions Of the
Herald we hnve already seen. y few weeks
| ago il was The most Radical of NIL the Northern
| press; The Tribune even was lectureh by WES-
DELL PHILLrs and others Of his creed, and
| told TO takc tho Herald ns n model for n truly
loyal paper. newspaper that is ultra Radi-
| cal one lny, lauding BUTLER, ASHLEY md
| TuAppEus STEVENS, and bounding them on TO
| the impeachment Of tho President can scarcely
lny cluim 10 high authority as political
preacher or prophet, if, on the very next day, il
turns Oh IFS Radical friends. praises the Presi-
ucult hpuSSs SoHS1 hhu tHc HcSIOcs, es-
| pccally when We consider that nll this wonder
ful change of sentiment appears to have been
effected i'll the twinkliug of mn eye, aud with
out any corresponding change in tho conditions
upon which it might bo supposed 10 depend.
The Herald is thoroughly unprncipled and un-
Trustworthy; and they who steer their craft by
its light may find themselves lurcd into danger
Gus reefs If not dashed against the rocks, in
| which event the demon Of the Herald would be
| the first 10 commiscraic in scornfn laughter
with their misfortuncs.
y much more reliable pnper, one Tint has
been always conservative, the New York Tn'rs,
in recent article on this "Southcrn Blunder'
of the expected "Rcvnlsion of Feeling" is en-
denvoring to correct this mistake. II says:
"'Tho leading Radical members have been over
borno by more moderate Ropublicahs because tho |
feeling predominant in the party is adverse to
greater severity than is essential 10 tho compile
ton of thorough rcconstrurtion. Let it bo gene
rally understood however, that other and severcr
penalties arc necessary to perfect tho work, aud
| cxtingush rebol resistance, and these penalties
will bo promptly onscted and sternly enforced II
conHscation of tho estates OF rebel landowners be
found necessary, confiscntion will be carried. II
not appeared indispensable. Tho samo spirit
| which led Congress to supplement tho very mild
constitutional amendment with tho cxisting laws,
will compel tho adoption Of moro Radical schemes,
so soon tho failure OF the present law shall be-
come apparent.
"Tho more friendly tono OF tho Northern press
admits OF similar interpretation. Tint which
tho Chnreaton Mercury hnils proof Of change,
tho result OF fcar is tho effsct of belief that de-
spite all opposition, tho loyal eiomonts in tho
South, black and whito combined, will prove strong
enough 10 ensure compliance with tho law. This
boliof is predicated observations and reports
akin to those Of Senator WILSON, touching the
rapid growth at Tho South Of ndisposition to abide
by the law in good faith. Wo hnzard nothing in
saying that II this belof thus fostercd bo not veri
ned-if tho nnticipations OF reconstruction which
have grown up within the last few months bo not
fulhed-"tho public press Of tho North" will, un-
| der the twin impulses OF duty md solf-nterest,
quickly dispol tho dousions cherished by those
who imagine that they may defy Congress and its
laws with impunity.
| "Wo do not accept Mr. HERscHEL Y. JOHNSON as
moro than tho exponent Of Il certnin class OF
| Georgia politioians-not OF the Southern people;
| nor do VIC regard tho Charleston Mercury as q rop-
rssentatiyo organ Of Southern nowspapordom.
Both arc noticeable only as indexes Of particular
difficulties to bo encountered at tho South, as wo
before as after reconstruction. Thoy arc reasons
for making tho work thorough, rather than for
dospairns Of its success."
| We believe the object we aim at, restoration
and peace, must be brought about by other
means. We cannot change the temper of the
Northern people. their opinions on thslend-
ing topics of the present controversy. This is
specinlly tho case as regards tho negro We
arc froe to soy TINT we consider tho universal
enfranchisement of the negroes great politi-
cal misfortune, and the reverse of wisdom. But
We bolieTO that we brought this calamity in q
great degree upon ourselves, and such as it is,
IT will remain. Tho status Of the negro Is fix
ed, and will be maintained, do what we will.
If we want peace, we must begin by practis.
ing the virtues Of peace, and if we would 20
back to the Union, we must do 80 upon the
terms prescribed by those who have il within
their power 10 give or 10 withhold us pcrmis-
sion TO do SO. We can never obtain il upon
any other terms. We are not without abun-
dant experience of the effects of tho much talk
ed of rermlsion Of feeling at the North. Wo
heard much Of 1t boforo tho war. Tho Hon.
HENRY 8. FooTE, in Richmond, every dny for
| months during the war uaei to lank myo,ar;