Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-05-25
No Rest for the South.

NO neSt TUT tut DOutns
 From all reports, there is to be no rest for the unfortunate States lately the theater of war. We hadhoped that the worst was past, and that time and quiet reflection, aided by the fostering care of the Government, would devel- op new channels of business, and new ideas based upon fhc altered circum- stances brought abyat by the war. We thus reasoned beca .se every oonsidera-| tion of intcrcsl, tumuHfty and justice, pointed to 7st "a the rue courscto pur- sue. s.e-
 Such policy was 'fnc the South and was implied in the terms of surrender by which she disarmed herself, and her gallant sons returned uncomplaining- ly to their homes to work out prob lem of stupcndous importance not on- ly to themselves but to the whole peo- pie.
 Her system of labor was ovcrthrown, production had ceased, and her 'conl- merce destroyed. Her monevcA men, her merchants and farmcrs, were all bankruptcd. War had ravagcd the country Stock, houses, fences, brcad- sfufs, and even .he vine and orchard fell bcSrcath its blighting touch.
 Great amongst her other calamitfcs was the less of lscr gallant soas Near ly every lrcusc was stricken. As in llama, tireTc was weeping and lamcnta- aion, for her sons were not. fNt with out money or merchandise, or books, or farming implements, CT houses, or stock, with nothing but bare hands and naked lands, they went chccrfuily to work to reconstruct their fortunes, the terms of parelc being ssthat they were not to be molcsted, so long as they ob- served thc laws ia force on the 1st day of January, aSG9-c
 But new conditions were imposed.- The constitutional amendment abolish ing slavery must be adopted by the sev- eral States, their war debt repudiated, the negro protected by statute, and made equal before the law with the white man. This was all done, and donc prosnptly smd without murmur- ing
 They were then informed that they might elect delegates 10 Congress, which was also deNc- The public heart beat high with hope as the time for tho assembling of Congress approached.- All eyes were turned to it as the last of the war, and the dawning of new era in the race of life, with ten millions of people eager to resume their former relations with the Government and demonstrate their earnest devotion to the Constitution and laws.
 We need not speak of what followed upon the reassembNng of Congress- The very blood was chilled, as day by day the policy of Congress was uufold- cd.
 The Constitution, no longer the char ter of liberty, became acast off gar- mcnt, and in its stead was substituted ''thc will of the nation as illustrated and expoundcd by Congress.
 Two years have now elapsed since the bloody drama closed. Two years since the struggle began to iufusc new life into the dead avenues of trade, to perpetuatc noble civilization upon new ideas to rebuild churches, and schools, to plant the vine and orchard, and eXalt people, conquered it is true but proud and self-reliant still. Would to God we could curtain from view the hidcous present and still more hidcous future.
 Despair has done, and is doing, it's
 
 ovcrflowcd, and the wolf is still at cv- cry mans door.
 Whole districts MTG dcpopulatcd and the ficnd of desolation holds high car nival over one-half at least, of ten States, and grcedily demands an undis- sptel enpire; and alas! too soon it must be his.
 Without food to cat, or seed to plant, or stock and implements to cultivate the soil, and without money to buy, in- suited and outraged and murdered by those who were lately their slaves the sword of Damocles suspended above their heads the bayonet at their hearts i; a Government that piles up wrong tlp- on wrong, aud offers no word of con- ciliation or kindness, even amid the gloom of despair. Sad indeed is the condition of tho people of the South.
 Emmiesaries traverse the country ap- pcaling to the colored masses to assert not only their equality with the white race but their superiority to it, and none dare open his mouth in opposi- ton to the monstrous assumption.
 Confiscati0n is promised, and the nc- gro must play his part in the plet to effect it. Riots must take place, and no matter by whom brought on, he is never wrong but always right. Or ganizatious have been effected amongst them pronouncing the penalty of death against any colored man who may vote for Confederate or one of their own color who was free before the war; The States in short are made territo- rics, that they may be converted into republican States, ruled by the negro, and all who do not wish to be ruled by him must get out of the way.
 And still they ask the South to re- construct under the Sherman bill.- Never, never can she do it. She has glorious past. She will not mar her future by such treachery, such basencss, notwithstanding Brown of Georgia, and Orr of South Carolina. Better, far better submit to confiscation or the gibbct, than to such abusc.-[ Louisville Courier.