The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-03-15
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March =, has philosophical editorial
upon the present political situation
candidly and clearly pointing out the
causes which have produced the present
humiliation of the South. The article
Is remarkable one for the locality in
which it is printed, as it boldly pro-
claims the truth concerning the South
ern politicians and the stupidity of the
Southern people in blindIy following
them, first into the horrors of war, and
then, still uninstructed By experience,
into an equally futile and equally dis
astrous political crusade against the
Republican party of the North.
The article opens by recalling the
madness which ruled the South after
the rebel victory of Bull Run. 1t de-
elares that the most prominent and
influential men OF the South said that
there could be but one compromise be-
tween the two sections, one in which
the North should acknowledge the in
dependence of the South, and paw the
South its expenses incurred during the
war. Then followed the widest ru-
mors, set atoat by Southern politicians.
that the North was almost ready TO
accept such a compromise; that peace
was about to be proclaimed; that the
war, at any rate, was virtually over.
Omcers OF high rank wrote home
that the war was ended, and announ-
cling their names as candidates for
civil offices. This mad infatuation
seized upon all classes. The papers
all over the South taught that one
Southern soldier was equal TO
three Yankees Southern clergymen
preached the doctrine that the cause.
OF the South was so pure and so hoIy
that every soldier of the South who was
I slain in battle would be saved through
grace; that lighting for their homes and
hresldes was an ample atonement for
all their former sins" ''Whom the
Gods would destroy they first make
mad, sadly quotes the editor and
adds that The consequence of such
stupidity on the one hand, and self
/ conceited boasting on the other. has
made the entire people of the South
hewers of wood and drawers of water. -
I This madness lasted throughout the
war. The people of the South followed
their blind guides aud mistaken lead
ers with an infatuated folly hardly par
I alleled in history The article saws thar
''all this kind Of humbuR was written
I in the newspapers, preached from the
| pulpit and stump, and false impress
sions made by the kilograms until the
/ spring of 1865; at which time all the sad
! realities OF a bankruPtsaud subjugated
people forced themselves npon u.s."
But from all this the Southern people
| learned little or nothing. with the
I blindness of those who will not see that
which they dislike, they still stupidity
/ adhered to their foolish leaders, and be-
/ lieved in the men who had SO fatally
] deceived them, and every one OF whose
| prophecies, without single exception
I had been proved to be lies by the bit
terest of experience. And now began
I a new deception and madness, as sin
guar anC as gigantic as that which pre-
vailed during the war.
! Proclamations were issued to the
States lately in rebellion, provisional
! State governments were instituted, con-
venIions were called, and the Southern
/ people were sufficiently instructed as
I 10 what they should do to secure resto-
ration ana reconstruction. They were
/ told 10 repudiate their rebellion and its
debt, TO accept emancipation in good
/ faith, to elect loyal men 10 Office. and
especially to Congress, and to bow in
/ real and sincere surrender TO the will of
/ the cOnquering nation. at was known
/ to all, says the UI4ioyt, ''tha tthe Presi-
dent was a friend to the South, and de-
sired that we should have a voice in all
I Legislation pertaining TO our immediate
/ interest; and had our own acts been in
/ keeping with the plan chalEed out for
us by our friends, there can be no Ques-
I ton, in our humble Judgment, but that
/ we would, to-day, have a representa-
ton in all the legislative branches of
State and federal government
At this junetuTe the rebel leaders
| again began their advice, which the
Southern people once more blindly.
stupidity accepted. Tney refused to re-
pudiate their rebel debt except upon
compulsion; they only accepted eman-
( cipation because they We're compelled
to do so, and resolved that, by some
| quibble, they would yet recover their
slaves; they enacted laws maintaining
as much as possible of the spirit OF
slavery, and retaining all they dared of
7 its substance. They universally sought
TO repeal instead of repudiating their
secession ordinances, and only part of
those States finally did repudiate seces-
sion, after being lectured into the meas
ure by Secretary Seward. In short,
still believing their rebel leaders thai
the Yankees were fools, if they would
fight, they attempted to cheat the North
ont of the just fruits OF its victory. The
article says:
''Instead of fharmonizing on our best
and most. conservative Union men at
the South, We cast them aside, called
them traitor, tory, and all other hard
names; and should one of such dare to
run for office, as a general thing he
would not receive as many votes in Il
county as would make a respectable
corporaI's guard. Our great generals,
colouels, captains with all the fire-eat-
ers Of the South, must of course have
preference TO office, and those old tools
| that brought about the war, and then,
in the day of our country's peril, sneak
Ted out like whipped dogs, dictate TO the
people who they should vote for in the
several elections of our State. This
mode of procedure. on our part, is com
buStible for the Radicals. They are not
so stupid as some OF our people CT the
South seem TO tffHE them; nay, they are
wide awake and plotting our ruin. Ste
NenS Dill, for instance, with all the
horrors OF military rule, is now upon
/ US, the writ of habeas corpus suspended
/ In all cases where the civil and military
authority come In conflict with each
other. All this, reader, could have
| been avoided. This terrible despotism
| could nave been thwarted II our people
I had only nJjred q tttie common sense ICith
! their more than 0UeT5urde7Ied ambition"
! It is good sign that some of the
Southern people and papers are begin
ming to come to their senses a little.
When such articles as this become more
I frequent, and the Southern people be-
gin to understand how and why and by
whom they have been deceived and to
mix q little more common sense with
I their more than overburdened ambi-
tion, restoration and peace will not be
7 far distant
AT a certain boarding house, rot far
of, they had chicken soup, a few days
I aThey jest let a chicket wade through
I il. - said one bOarder.
! ssIf thew did, he Waded on stilts,m re-