The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-24
TIE WORK OF RECONSTRUCTION.
OPINIONS OF THE SOUTHERN PRESS.

THE WORK OF RECONsTRUCTIoN.
OPINIONS OF THE SOUTHERN PRESS
Virginia.
From the Richmond Whg, July 16.1
THE "PoNT OF HONOR" SErTLED.-Much has
been said about s'dishonorng" Virginia by Co
operating" with the Republican party, and some
excellent but timid people have had their sensi-
bilites aroused by this talk They are afraid that
they may be regarded as deficient in honor ii they
unite in this movement. Not that their -son-
sciences are at al uneasy-they are clear enough
on the point-but the consciences of some.of their
neighbors are Observation-Disclosures who haze long
been recognized authority in all matters OF Pohtt-
cal consistency. These say that aPoint OF honor
is invoked, and they enforce it with many subtle
arguments Our advice to the class to which we
refer is to act according to their own consclences,
and to think for themselves without regard to the
scrupes, whether real or pretended, OF Others IL
is too late in the day to talk about honor In TINS
connection. The question has been settled. Inc
numerous public meetings recently held IN Vlr-
ginia, and participated in by many OF the best and
purest men in the State have settled the "polnt OF
honor" to the satisfaction Of every, reasonable
man. 1t consists with the honor OF the people OF
Albemarle, Louisa, Chesterfield, Plttsylyan,a,
Rappahannock, &C., &C., to cooperate with the
Republican party in the work Of reconstruction,
and why should it not consist with the honor OF
the people of the other counties in Virginia to do
the same 81. -!
The fasitidious gentlemen who raise nice points
of honor have not been altogether consistent-an
consistency is their especial idol. They reckoned
it dishonorable to move one peg under the recon-
struction bill when first passed. Their argument
was that Congress and the Republican party had
power to do as they pleased and they said de-
family let them do sol We ought not to and can
not help them to put chains upon ourselvesl 1t
would be humiliating and disgraceful to give our
sanction to anything they dol They were for do
ing nothing. Afew.weeks passed, and they con-
clnded, contrary to their first Impressions, that
Honor" would not be outraged by registering, nor
by voting. Having found out their mistake IN that
matter, they will probably find themselves mis-
taken in the matter Of voting for Republicans. We
do not doubt that many Of them will. Indeed, We
confidently expect them, ere long, to outstrip the
Wing, which is at present 30 severely criticised by
them Thev will find their positions one after
smother untenable, and will either have to return
to the do-nothing policy or espouse the policy Of
doing everything that may be necessary to carry
out reconstruction and makei enure to the bene-
it and not to the injury Of the State. The truth
dered every point Of honor, and, for logicans they
are the most illogical Of men.
[Fron the Examiner and Enquirer, July III 80
TIE CENTUnr. .s AND THE HouRs.-It was Ralph
Waldo Emerson, we think, who said .SThe lesson
Of life Is practically TO believe what the yeais and
the centuries say against the hours. Let us profit
by the suggestion. Let us heed the lessons OF the
centuries speaking against the teachings OF tue
hour Let us draw wisdomiand take warning from
the former. 1t will inspire US with fortitude and
hope to disregard the threats and alarms OF the
latter.
The lesson OF the hour is indeed dirk and dis.
piriting one. 1t tells us that hope has departed,
that effort is vain, that we are conquered people,
and must accept what terms scapricious conqueror
may impose. It tells us Of the dark clouds that
lower, the dangers that threaten and advise us to
avert destruction by bowing to the storm This is
"1"s 'n' 80 ,se g* =
We may be compelled to stand by, while others
slay Truth; but why dip our own hands IN her
blood2 Let others bear "the deep damnatlon OF
[herl taking off, not ourselves. Unless slain by
ms she will assuredly rise again, not Like Banquos
ghost to shake her ';sgory looks" at US, but as 9
reuvepated and smiling goddess Venus TO point
the way to Hesperian chne OF fste, Well may
saein see sa alas, slain lin tie house Of her own
friends she falls TO rise no more.
Our refusal to ssoo-operstes. may continue our
exclusion. We may suffer hon 1t. But 4et not
the hour provoke ms to lmpatisnoe.. Let us re,
durandeof suffering for The sake. Of great prtncf.
ple is always rewarded by the triumph at Inst OF
principle. Freedom draws her nutriment fom the
breasts Of more bathstoeg md T z people are are
takes her indignant hight meyer more 2 fe'prp
The Promethean spark is in our own bosoms.
Our destiny is in our own hands in spite OF all our
enemies may do Only we can make 30 Or n mar our m
u.s. II we ,desertsit, it will seorn ns. Il We hssen
to the houf the centuries will sing us no song. If
we accept the present NO throw sRaS see'suture'
ro,tn C.ro,,na. RHig2 III
[Ffoa the Wilmiagton Journal July AL
THOUGHTS UPON oUR PoITIcAL CONDITION.
Joarmal though despsshing IN the present, is
hopeful for the futafe:9.
Though her fialdshav been wasted, her fire.
sides made dssolate, and the hearts of the old and
young bowed down in sorrow, yet the South has
something left to her, even with all this ruin.
Hand in hand, with their yenerstedi siree, the
fyoung men Of this generation are applying them-
selyes, notwithstanding Their rdlsSouragements' to
their noble efforts and devotion they present o
sight indeed, wofthYoo admiration. Having
[buEht in the cause. which they cherished, par
cpated p thsr victories and shafed az bna IN
Education whichs Would hsye developed all their
latent powers and caused them to shine with two
fold brightness, they are still found pursuing the
path OF duty, and, when the time comeswil apply
70
Just and pure, and will be none the meaper
representatives ot HfBir Ecountry for havtng
shared in Her sicjssitndsA They appear
participate in their countrys service; the sturdy
oak bows mob to the blast but is upifted by theY
roots, anE when; sthei storm has passed cannot
again rea9 as head Gndsl grace the broad field
whore it once stood 80 noble and proudly defiant.
storm with equal severity, but being more plant,
can again weather it, and, in fact gained strength
by the tempestuous blast to which they have been
subjected, deVolves the duty OF supplying the
place Of those noble old landmarks; and they will
FEAR their heads among the forest Of cotempora-
fries, and gather strength for further endurance,
md the, attainment Of future ende. In the pos
session Of such noble young spirits, who give
such promise Of future usefulness and fidelity to
Legislative halls and in developing her resources,
is the South rich, and retains relic Of the late de-
structive storm, which Of itself is invaluable, and
which cannot be wrested from her.
stE ,st.s; -, Georgia. -
tFfom Me 4lania Inteuigenoer, July 19.l
MR. :HmL's SpEEcH. .--On yesterday we laid be-
fore our readers at the request OF number OF our
fellow-citizens, the speech delivered by the Hon.
b. H. Hil, in this city, on Tuesday morning last.
Upon . careful perusal OF the speech itself, we
haye come to the conclusion, despite the ingenuity,
argument, and even denunciations Of the speaker,
that no practical good can result to the people of
the State, or Of the South, in pursuing the course
which he recommends. In most of the premises
of Me. Hill he is right-in his conclusions We be-
lieve that he is wrong. He is right when he de-
nounces the reconstruction enactments OF the
Radical Congress as usurpations and violations OF
the Constitution; he is wrong when no assumes
that the people Of The South can by voting against
Convention, obtain any relief from those enact
ments, or even prevent the assembling of said Con-
vention in any Southern State, and surely not even
in Georgia. We claim to be as observant OF what
is passing in Georgia. in regard to reconstruction,
as Mr. Ril and we again utter it, ouI deliberate
conviction, that the call for Convention will be
responded to in the affirmative at the polls by an
overwhelming majority, the negro vote being the
controlling element ct the election. 1t is impos-
sible for US toresist this conviction; it was forced
upon us some time ago, and every days obserEa-
tion, every days 'signs Of the time, strengthens
the conviction upon our mind. The organization,
then of q party in Georgia whose principal plank