Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-09-18
,Reconstruetion..will 1t Ever Come J.

About four years were expended in the ef
fort to compel the people of the South, by
force of arms to reoain in the Union. AT
the end of that period, exhausted, ruined and
'benten, the Confederates laid down their arms,
and accepted the terms of their conquerors.
Since that time, nearly two years and half
have elapsed, and from present appearances,
those States are no nearer the Union than on
the day VIXEN the last gun was fired. The
party in power have not. had the will or the
wisdom to form practicable plan by which
the original design of the war-which was
the restoration fthe Union-could be brought
about They have tinkered and triaed with
the subject until they have given serious cause
for the belief that they are better satisfied
that the South should be out of the Union
than in it, at least until after the next Presi-
Dental election, in which they hope and ex.
pect to obtain another four years lease Of
power. Certainly, the process of reconstruc-
lion could have been carried to successful
result in much less time than has already
been consumed, and at fraction of the cx-
pense that has been incurred. There nc
occasion and no reasonable prete1t for delay.
Every necessary or unnecessary condition
which the Yictors thought proper to impose,
might have been applied, and the States re-
turned to their places within six months Of
the termination Of hostiIities. There was
nothing to prevent it, and it WAS result uni
versally detired. But the subject was too
great for the shallow demagogues into whose
bands the reins OF power had unfortunately
fallen, and the consequence is that in the
third year of peace we find the country dis
severed, the future full of doubt and uncer-
tainty, tho prosperity Of every section of the
country checked, financial crisis looming
up, and innumerable evils threatened. And
all this that corrupt party, controlled BY
men still more unworthy and currupt, may
administer orr national affairs.
Is it possible that the great mass of the
American people ever reflect upon this state
of things, and that they are satisfied with
them? 1t would seem incredible. We in-
cline to the opinion that in th3 North passion
has obscured the Judgments of the people,
and that they believe that all the evils which
sflict then-the high price ofliving and the
crushing weight of taxation--are the lesiti-
mate consequences of the war, when, if they
would cast their prejudices aside, they would
sec that much of what they attribute to this
cause might have been avoided by judicious
administration of the Government since the
close of the war.
II the Union had been promptly restored
as every one believed it would be, and as
every one knew that it ought to be, confidence
would have been inspired, trade would bave
resumed its wonted courses, industry would
have been stimulated, capital which has lain
dormant would have been invested, and the
general prosperity of the ration would have
received tremendous impulse, which would
have placed us beyond the reach of the con-
tingcncies and dan gers which now impend.
Tie capital anu labor which the South has
so much needed would have poured in upon
her ard repaired the wastes and devastatiors
of the war; her products would have been
multiplied, her wealth increased, her ability
to pay her proportioratc share Of taxation
extended, and The ratio Of taxation upon both
sections would have been reduced.
We cannot believe that the people will
much longer tolerate this ineXcusahle tri6ing
and stupidity. Reaction must come, and, We
think cannot long te deferred. The popu-
lar voice will soon bo raised, and will be CIV
en- forth in such terms as will not fail to
make themselves dcrstood.-Louisville Cou.
ricr.