The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-22
The Progress of Republication at the
South.

DESPITE the affair at Mobile, which was evil
IDENTIFY preconcerted disturbance on the part
of the Rebels, Judge Kelley is succeeding ad-
mirably in his Southern tour. His meeting
at Montgomery was largely attended both by
whites and blacks, among the audience pelng
Governor Patton and many other distln-
guished gentlemen, and was marked Dy uis-
plays of good feeling on all sides. Inc jugs
speech was devoted mainly to encouraging 'he
Southern people to develop the splendid re-
sources of their portion OF the country anu
TO conform their society and laws to the vast
changes pro duced by the war
There is no truth in the reckless charge
made by Northern Copperheads, that Judge
Kelley's speeches have been vindictive, in
sulting, and justly provocative of violence
On the contrary, they have been eminently
wise and moderate-just such speeches as all
classes at the South will be profted by listen
ing to.
Senator Wilson is also meeting with great
success wherever he speaks. Immense crowds
assemble to listen to him, and his speeches are
well received. At some places speakers on
the other side have attempted to break the
force of his arguments by their replies, but
with poor success. An amusing instance OF
this occurred at Montgomery, where Rebel
General and lawyer, by the name of Clanton,
replied to Mr.. Wilson. Apparently nonplussed
by the upturned sea of black faces before him,
General Clanton boldly struck out on the
Abolition track. He recounted many personal
services rendered to black people individually
in the old slave times, as showing his friend
ship for them, and astounded his hearers by
the assertion that he had been for many years
an advocate of emancipation. He charged the
introduction of slaves into America to the
Yankees, who had sold them out when they
were no longer profitable, and invested the
proceeds in factories-"putting the negro into
their pockets, and then turning Abolitienists."
He then went on to assert that he fought in
the war not for slavery, but to free the negro;
that Lincoln offered to take the South back
into the Union, and allow the retention of
slavery, but that the South preferred war and
emancipation, and hence the negroes were free.
Mr.. Wilson briefly replied, when Clanton
one Judge Fielder, who exposed Mr.. Clantons
professions of love for the negroes in most
amusing manner. He said
'That he had fought all through the war on
General CIantons side, but il was news to him
that the General was fighting to free the
negroes. He knew very well that he (telder)
ionght 10 keep them In slavery tnat IL ne naa
He would not insult their common sense with
the assertion that he had been an abolitionist.
n or a
with him yet-would know he was lying if he
said such thing to them. General Clanton
and General Wilson might settle between them
which was the better abolitionist; he knew that
he himself had been pro-slavery man. He
did not deny 1t. Had he wished to free his
negroes, he need not have foughtfour years
to do it.. He could have gone to the Court House
and have done 1t in two minutes and half by
the watch. But he had fought tor slavery. He
had been whipped He had made the best fight
he could to keep his negroes slaves but the
Yankees had whipped him and freed them. He
had sinned against the Government in the IN
terest of slavery, and he wanted TO be forgiven:
Congress had prescribed the terms Of peace and
he wanted TO accept those terms. Congress had
given the negro the ballot Tor his protection,
wanted him 10 use il taripht-to use IL in defensa
OF his personal liberty-in behalf of the princi-
pies and the party which had secured 1t to him,
and through which he would have the peace of
the country secured and prosperity returned to
all our people"
At the close Of Judge Felder's telling speech,
the audience with great unanimity voted to
sustain the Union Republican ticket.
AS an evidence of the effect of Senator
Wilson's speeches, we have the testimony oi
ex-Provisional Governor Perry, of South Caro-.
lima, who, in another of his frantic letters,
complains that he is building up a strong
and powerful radical party in all the Southern
States" Such instances as that of Judge
Fielder show, too, that the Republican
organization is receiving accessions from
all quarters. Sensible men who fought fore
most on the Rebel side, but who now see
that the question is finally settled, and "accept
the situation, viii many of them join the
Republican organization, as the great pro
gressive, dominant party of the country
Southern politicians have no more fancy fol
being in minority than other peopl,
have; and the very fact that the Repub
hcan organization starts off with tn
sympathies and support of nearly one-hal
of all the Southern people, is going to tel
tremendously with those who like to be ol
the winning side. Besides, every Southern
man, Rebel though he may have been, VIII
honestly gives up the slavery question as for
ever settled, and who looks upon the rule o
equal rights as fully established for the future
g must as naturally gravitate to the Republican
party, as the "good old Rebels" who still
swear by the defunct Confederaov and IooI
T. for the resurrection of slavery, or at least "a
the perpetuation OF its adjuncts of caste ant