American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1867-01-12

fierce desire to renew the late terribl,
conflict burned in Southern bOSomS
that there are but few "Union men
scattered thinly throughout that en-
tire section, against whom every SyE
TEN of persecution was devised ant
directed by the majority of the pee
pie, under the guidance of those
chiefs who 50 recently led the armed
hosts of the extinct COntederacy tC
battle, and that those chiefs are pre-,
pared to lead them once more. II
, cherish this wicked and malicious
delusion millions ofcopies of newspa-
perS are daily distributed and read
by the population of the Northern
and Western States, engendering a
hatred and spirit ofvengeance which
strive, with unhappily, too much sue
cess. to find vent III further and
endless prosecutions ola ruined, help
less, and misrepresented people.
AT such ,juncture General Beau
regards speech at Canton is most
opportunc and important. Standing
upon ground still moist with frater-
nal blood, he tells the national legis-
lators that the South has thrown be-
hind forever the doctrines and prin-
ciples for which she fought so long
and SO obstinately. He tells them
that he expresses the sentiments of
the fighting men of the South when he
/ says that he favorS q consolidated
/ government; that the doctrine of
/ State rights is buried out of sight,
/ and that slavery can never be re-eS-
/ tablished. even if the power to do so
existed. Gen. Bcauregard is incapa-
bic of practicing a petty deceit, and
what he says may be relied on. He
is, moreover, immensely popular at
the South, and as good mouthpiece
for those who recognize his leadership
as any man from the Potomac to the
Rio Grandc. We know that his
speech made a most favorable impress
sion upon those to whom he addressed
it, and that withthe echo cfhis last
word there arose in their minds feel
irgS of confidence and reinsurance.
To this Senator Wade bears testimo-
ny.
Taking, then, the character Of the
speaker into consideration. we must
believe that the majority ofthe South
eln people. the sense and Sinew Of
that section, are DESTROYS of peace
and concord. and encourage no wild
dreams OF insuIrection. If there be
any who think otherwise, the speech
Of Gen. Beauregard is calculated to
lead them to better thoughts. But
all the duties of peace and good tel-
low>hip do not deyolve upon the
South alone. hepeople of the North
have their share to pertom. The
South has suffered infinitely more,
and yet with ac0urage and manliness
worthy of heroic sires, they struggle
to forget bitter recollections for the
common veal. According to their
manner Of thinking, they have much
to forgive and forgotten they have
been Sorely punished; but they prom
Use that complete oblivion shall shroud
the past They are willing that the
severed country should be reunited,
and are anxious to lend their aid to
.ho esroot aid good work of recon
StructIon. Why are they thwarted, |
and who are those that thwart them? |
Men who would make history write
for the information of all coming time
that the North was less magnanimous
and patriotic than the weaker sister;
men WHO stick to the wretched, child
ish idea that there is no faith, truth
or hors' in men who have fought
az st the armies of the United
Grand old American idea of indenprd.