Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-05-24


ther than fifty speeches of the best and
wisest statesmen of the South counselllng
obedience to law, and return to allegiance
under the Constitution. 1t is a lamentable
fact but 1t is q fact, nevertheless, ana not
ot all cred1table to the candor or the dis
elimination Of the people of the North, as
represented in the extremists OF the Radl-
cal party. In order to punish single
bIatherslzite who was probably skulkef IN |
the late war to boot such men as Stevens
and Summer would pass law affecting IN
juriously the entire populatlono OF the South
They nave reversed the Scripture doctrine, |
and instead of permitting righteous men to
save a land. would let one iackass destroy
it,
When [ say that the people seem to me
tn he in favor OF the Reconstruction Law,
would not be understood rs asserting
that they believe it to be precisely the
measure that ought to have been passed, or
that they indorsc its terms IS pr1nclp!e OF
constitutional law, OF that they are IN love
with it in any way. Very tar from that
they may be, and still not behind a great
MANY of the best men Of the North, mem
bcrs of the Rep publican party, too l think
T shall come very near to expressing the
sentiment of the people Of the South, and
especially Of those whom / have met, when
/ say that they regard their situation as one
which justities them in overlooking the
means of reconstruction for the sake Of the
end. They are practically out OF the Uni
on and it is important to them that they
should get back into it. The North has
agreed upon a plan by which they may
come back, and it is for them to say whe-
ther they will accept Of this, OF remain III
their present condition longer, with the
chances in favor of their coming back ulti-
! 4pD
dared them. In other words, it is a choice
of evils with thcm-and they accept the
least like sensible men, and with rs good
a grace as the people Of the North have
! any right to expect.
! The negroes of this section are, for the
most part, industriously employed, and
show both q Willingness and an ability TO
| take care Of themselves in their new condi-
ton of freedmen. y good deal OF mischief
has been done among them by political
emissarics sent from Radical headquarters
at Washington, to assure them that II they
vote right they will secure the passage OF
the contiscatiOn bill, and receive forty acres
of land and house each. Thad. Stevens
contiscation speech has been circulated
among those of them who can read and
fullv cxnOundcd to those who cannot, and
the result has been to fill their minds with
expectations which will never be fulfilled.
Tie intelligent negroes to be found III the
cities are not easily persuaded into full faith
in confscation, but the ignorant field hands
are, and the missionary work has been as
siluorlsly prosecuted among them. The
whites are very much alarmed on the sub
iect, and men are frequently to bC met
whom il IS difficult to convince that the
Republican party will not pass the contl5-
cation bill next winter. If you ask what
,tf,,j. At e nc will
be told that it would be to inaugurate a wal
Of races, to end only in the determination
, Of blacks or whites i'll the South. One
, thing is certain, that Congress need not
= attempt to parcel out the Southern lands
, among the negroes TIL ii Is prepared to
, furnish each negro with q standing army
t., project his farm. Men may quietly sub
+ mi to the ctlrtailmcDt Of their political
| rights they may think it but ls.st that they
. shonld not DO allowed to participate IN the
, affairs Of II government which they have
s been Cndcayoring to destroy, but when az
:, attcmpt is made to drive them from theil
= homes. disposscss them Of everything they
o have upon earth, and impoverish them
. selves and their families, they have no IN
G centives to peace and good order, and the
= worst passions of their nature gain and re
: tain the ascendant.
This threat OF coni1scatlOn has had !
l. very bad effect upon the industry Of thu
n South. Men feel insecure with Stevens
II bill hanging like the sword of Damocle
n over their heads. They have no DISPOSE
V ton to engage i'll active pursuits, to &C
Il uuire property or improve what they have
V with the fear of being despoiled OF ever.
O dollar constantly before them. [ have
[ heard twenty men allude to this sub
II iect in this light within week. They re
- gard Stevens as the leader of the Republi
e can partv, whose word is law, and VIII
e never fails to bring his party up to what
II ever line Of policy lie may see tit to mar
o out If they had closely watched the pre-
D ceedings Of the last two sessions OF Con
il gress they would think differently, for
IS don't think q single proposition emanatin
1t from the old scold received the sanction c
t. the two Houses His bills, i passed. WEI
il in many cases SO amended and mCdltie
II that he himself voted against them or dt
n nOunced them.
D. Another bad effect Of the threatened cor
II fiscation has been to retard the WOik Of II
le construction by creating the impressio
to that the existing law is not 4 finality, br
IL that worse remains behind" The SOutl
7e ern people ought to understand that it
a. for them to make it tinality by acceptin
" itand presenting themselves oradmission
le CONGRESS under its terms. The Radic'
lie party will have to admit them OF suffer d.
in feat before the people in the next electio
Sc by refusing to do so. They dare not 6
[ before the country i'll the next PRESIDENT
7e election with the Southern States unreprt
+, scented in Congress, unless the fault can
Mt attributed to the Southern States then
IS selves by their failure to comply with til
fe terms now before them. If they are az
T. mitted under the Sherman Act, as
ut is called, confiscation can be defeated b
IN their votes, aided by conservative men fro]
be the North; if they are not admitted, tt
Mt confscation party will be beaten at tt
ee polls But if they refuse to comply wit
on the laws Of Congress and seek delay OF +
Mt dress in the Supreme Court, they Wi
u strengthen tho Thad Stevens wing Of Il
Id Republican party, and confscation ma
It. come, just as negro suffrage came, thong
it is now as unpopular as nagro sutfrae
ut was two years ago.
10 Most of the 9 ante 6e2J,tna' statesmen
k Georgia are in state of quiescence.-
Is Toombs has abandoned all hope of maki1
" his slaves ansN or to roll call at the foot
IL Bunker Hill, and has settled down into Il