The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-02-07
Peace Worth and South.

What IS there to prevent the full
measure of national tranquility so ar
dently. desired by the real friends of the
country from being realized2 Certain
ly nothing in the conduct of the South.
ern people or in the character of the leg
islation of the Southern States. When
the armies of the Confederate States
laid down their arms in 1865, the peo-
| pie accepted the result and at once aban-
doneo all idea of hostility to the author
ity of she general government. No peo
pie who had been in hostile array against
power ever surrendered in such a COM
| plete and unreserved manner. 1t was
years after the great civil wars OF Eng
land before the unsuccessful party ac
cepted the consequences of failure and
supported the ruling powers in good
faith. The adheren:s of the Stuarts
never gave up their animosity to the
family that ascended the throne over the
hopes and wishes Of that branch of roy
atty. But the Southern people acted in
a different manner. They adopted the
arbitrament of the sword-failed, sur
rendered, and turned to the work of res
| construction and repairing the past, with
IN honesty of purpose and sincerity of
intention that should command conf
deuce and inspire respect.
The confederation is dead letter in
the minds of the Southern people. They
have no desire to renew the contest tor
separate national existence. That idea
is as much a thing Of the past with those
who participated in the late struggle as
is the establishment Of English rule
within the Union in the minds of the
subjects of Queen Victoria. All the
legislation of the Southern States has
been adapted to the altered condition Of
Of things. Every act looks to union
between the States under the Constitu
ton. These questions of slavery have
been disposed of by an amendment to
the Constitution. The civil rights of the
freedmen have been guarded and pro-
tec'ed by state enactments. Provisions
has been made for their education, and
in this manner they have been aided in
their new relations. Every reasonable
concession asked for by the North has
aSd h1d" now T9S Tie beps Efnidt Si tRE RE saS South
patiently waiting for the final act that
will admit them to full State relation
ship and fraternity.
There are no reasons outsidesof those
we have stated why the peoble of the
North and the South should not live to-
gether in harmony, mutual fotbearance,
strict non intervention and manly toler>
ance. The masses in both divisions of
the nation are ready for such state of
things. Stop the political preachers.
silence the foul. .mouthed revilers of the
Union and the Constitution in Congress,
put patriotism and love Of country into
the hearts of the conductors Of Radical
Journals Nolih and South, and the
Union will be intact in fortnight.
Stevens and Sumner and Boutwell, are
the obstacles, aided by the other agencies
named. They will not allow the ques'
ton to be settled. Such consumma-
ton would mar their plans for the fu-
ture. But the sceptre Of Stevens is slip
ping from his hands, and it is to be
hoped that the next session of Congress
will be ruled by men more imbued with
a love of country than those who lead
the Radical forces at present. The peo-
pie are ready for Union. 1t is the Rad
ical politicians who forbid the bans.
That act is delayed. Why? The
facts stated ABOVE are not denied. They
are matters of official record. Then
why are not the States admitted, and
peace, tranquility, and harmony once
more restored in all PORTIONS Of the ma
tion ? The bar to that coveted action
is the Radical party, That organization
stands in the way of such consumma.
ton. The leaders of that party arc oppos-
to a Union of all the States. With such
a Union they would be in minority.
New England then could not control the
legislation of the country, and drain the
Middle and Western States by unfair
and partial laws. A minority Congress
could not then rule the majority, threa'
ten the President, and bully and insult
the Supreme Court. The election of a
President then would be participated in
by all the other States, and the Radical
candidate would be defeated dy an over
whelming majority, A united nation
would be the death blow to Radicalism,
and hence the action of that party in
opposition to all attempts to restore the
Southern States to their constitutional
relations with the general government
To him who goes to law, nine things