Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-04-19
ReconstructIon-Th Representative
Strength Of the south.

political unrest is rapidly drawing to o
close, and that a final settlement of the
yexed question of reconstruction is near at
hand. Although that.settlement can hard
" be in accordance with the first desires Of
the South, yet it will lay the old question
ct rest, and will transpose the present anX-
iety into positive certainty. Many and
radical changes ofopinion have been forced
upon the people OF the South since the
close of the war. Less than two years ago
the advocates of even qualified negro suf-
frage were hooted at and jeered. Now the
prospect is for universal equality at the
ballot-box, and the Southern mind, looking
to such an emil as to certainty, resigns IT.
self as calmly as may be to the inevitable.
Yet negro suffrage will imply the right OF
negro representation, and this subject IN
connection with the political strength Of
tho South, is ably handled in the leader of
the New York Herald of the 9th inst. It's re-
marks are sensible and pertinent, and toem
with interest to tho Southern readers. We
quote from the Herald:
"But the most remarkable fcat77ro N Tho pro-
gressive work Of reconstruction IL the harmony
and afiliaton between the late shareholders and
their emancipated slaves. They assemble to-
gether in public meetings on footing OF political
equality and address each ether IS friends and
fenoT-citizens Nor is there any ial7e pride, af
fectation or hypocrisy in such language ana beer
ing one toward the other. The lato Ins5tors OF
the negroes have sense enough to $40 thct the IN
terests Of the two races are insopagably intervo-
ity of the South viii be benefit to both, and that
exclusion from political privileges, from TCI'ro-
sentation in Congress, Wonld be followed by injury
to both. Besides, as q general thing, there i
Kindly feeling on the part Of The whites for tho
weaker and less cultivated blacs. Generally, too.
the negroes are conscious Of this, and look mp
with confidence for advice and guidance from their
late masters. This is evident from the addresses
OF the more intelligent to the reat. Tho speecheB
delivered by some OF them lately, and their con-
duct, as described by our correspondence, show
this to be the case. We sec, also, that there Is
determination on the part OF both races TO cult
vate these kindly, friendly and Confding relations.
"Now, this is n state of things deserving parti-
cular notice, and which was certainly not expect
cd by the old radical aboitionists of the North
These radicals had enormously supposed the ne
groes hated the white master race andwould take
the earliest opportunity to turn against them The
teachings of the war, in which the negroes volun-
tarily fought side by side with their masters, did
not eradicate this error. The radicals have been
expecting, since the war closed and the slaves
were emancipated that these people would vote
and act in opposition to their old masters. They
begin to see their mistake, however. and are in
terrible state of anxiety about the consequences.
No tide of Northern emigration, however great,
nor any amount of radical speechmaking and
preaching, can turn the political current in which
the blacks and the whites Of the South are united
and combined for action. They both sec their in
terests are the same and irrevocably fixed in the
same section of country.
"We cannot yet see fully where this surprising
political and social revolution viii end. 1t viii
certainly produce an extraordinary influence upon
political parties and upon the destines of the re-
public. The radical press is dumbfounded and
knows not which way to shape its course Tie
fruit of years of agitation is likely 10 turn to ashes
in its mouth. The Southern States with their
eighty or ninety Representatives and twenty Sen
ators in Congress, will hold large balance Of
power, and the probability ia that both races
will remain united in the interest of their own
section and in support of the Same political
party.
''The Southern whites, and particularly the lead
ing men among them, possess power they may
not have yet realized. Such mon as Wade Hamp-
ton, Henry A. Wise and others like Thorn, while
they have not the suffrage and cannot hold Office,
arc able to exercise great influence over the ne
Rroes and political affairs. There are from fifty
to q hundred thousand OF these 06tra cieed old
leaders, who are still powerful through their IN
telligence and position and on the stump. We
advise them, then, TO carry the revolution which
the Northern radicals have inaugHrated 10 It's
end-to it's utmost limit. In doing this they
should advocate sending negroes TO Congress-
In every State and district intelligent blacks can
be found. Let them be sent TO Congress in tho
proportion Of the negro vote. Surprising tho
Southern States arc entitled to ninety members in
the House of Representatives under the increased
vote, thirty negroes should be sent aa that - Guild
pe about fair proportion to the numbers OF the
two races, and out of the twenty Senators six
should be black By the same rule
"Henry A. Wise has fine intelligent and faith
ful servant, who should be sent from the Old Do
minion to SIT by the side of Mr.. Sumner in the
Senate; and that negro Of whom Wade Hampton
spoke SO patheticany, noble fellow. evidently
might be seated by Wilson, Chandler, Sprague or
Trumbull, and be called to the chair occasionally
by Ben Wade. tho President Of the Senate This
Is practicable reasonable and fair, and would only
be carrying out the theories already established
True, the smell of the negroes might be unpleas-
ant to the dainty Northern Senators and mem
bers ; but tho Southerners would not find it so ::
they could have no objection 10 black colleagues
on that score for, Yancey once said, the smell
was perfume to Southernera. By al means let the
South carry out tho theories Of the radicals to
their logical results by sending both negro Repre-
sentatives and Senators to Congress. It would
create an extraordinary fermentation and reac-
ton in the North, undoubtedly; but what Of that?
The principle is the thing. Perish everything
rather than sacrifice principle. In whatever point
Of view we look at the movements now going on
IN the South, and at the position OF parties with
regard to the issues that have been raised, we
foresee that remarkable changes must take place.
We advise the southerners to use the power the
radicals have placed in their hands and bring the
revolution to its logical end
The Herald talks sensibly in the foreeo-
ing extract. It is great wonder the
Northern radicals have not come to similar
conclusions long since.