Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-04-16
From the Louisville Courier.
The People Of the South and the Military
and Reconstruction Bill,

| 1no feOpl0 OF CHo OOuGu anu Cue mIilGdT.
and Reconstruction Bill.
| Judging from the recent advices received
from the South, there seems to be but littl,
doubt that that abomination, the military ant
reconstruction bill, will be accepted and en-
dorsed by the people Of that section. Before
this step is taken, however, it is well for every
one who sincerely believes such a course unwise
and prejudicial to the best interests of those fo
whom it was designed to do all that they car
to prevent the consummation of so great an out
rage. 1t was, therefore, with pleasure that
read an article on this subject which appeared
| In your paper of last Wednesday, in which you
warned the South against the Endorsement OF
| the bill alluded to- 1t seems to me that the
| whole matter is there presented as it were, in
| nut shell, and that no unprejudiced mind,
which will give due weight to the ideas therein
| advanced, can come to any other conclusion
than that the Southern people could commit
no greater folly than to accept the bait which
the cunningness of radicalism has gilded for
their throats
The party in power never intended and do
not now intend, to pass any act or do anything
which will in any way advance the true and sub,
stantial interest of those for whom this military
reconstruction measure was designed. On the
contrary, everything done by them since the
surrender of General Lees army to the present
moment, has been intended to degrade and i'm
poverish the South and promote their unholy
power To reflect upon their proceedings and
deny this fact is impossible Day after day,
like the ant, they have thrown out their feelers,
gaining inch by inch on the Constitution and
the rights of the people, till at last nothing is
left too vile and brazen for them to undertake
What care they for reserved rights or unconsti-
tutional guarantees? What to them are the
privileges of the coordinate branches of the
Government? If the President in any manner
opposes their will he must be removed. IF the
Supreme Court refuses to carry out their edicts
that body must be remodeled and re constructed
Their whole thought since they came into
power seems TO have been how to hold the reins
and drive the coach of State as not to be iostled
from their seats As to those who are crushed
by its merclless Wheels that is a matter in
which they have but little concern, especially if
they are only renegade Southerners. They
are but traitors at best and any fate is good
enough for them.
In the passage Of this military and recon
struction outrage the Radicals had but two OBJ
jects in view, the humiliation and impoverish
ment of the Southern people, and the estab-
shment of themselves on their ruins The
idea of any desire or intention on their part to
restore the Union, with the dignity and rights
of all the States unimpaired, is simply absurd.
Such thought never for moment entered
their minds
Talk about a restoration Of the Union with
equal rights to all the States Where do these
equal rights exist When the same States that
now demand of their Southern sisters negro
suffrage as condition precedent to their re-
turn deny this right themselves, although the
whites greatly outnumber the negroes in the
North, while in the Southern States the rule is
entirely reversed. The-fact is. and there can
be no doubt of it in the minds of those who
have carefully watched the proceedings of the
present Radical Congress, that this feature of
negro suffrage in this bill of denominations was
intended to subserve the present interest of that
party, and Will hereafter be used to perpetuate
their power If they cannot do it one way they
will another. If not by fair means, then by
foul. The Radicals are in power now and they
do not mean to be displaced. And this very
bill, with this outrageous and degrading clause
is one of the means by which they design the
accomplishment Of their selfish and revolution
ary purpose.
What then has the South to gain by accept
ing this humiliating and unjust proposition p
Better, far better let those from whom it comes
do their worst than allow herself to be entrapped
into an Endorsement of an outrage so gross as
the one we are contemplating
The South must look for her salvation from
some other quarter than the present radical
Congress. They intend no good to her people,
and if any should result to them it will be by
mistake, and they will correct it the very first
opportunity that presents itself Their object
is to bind them hand and foot This they have
the power to do but they have not the power
to make them say what has been done is right
and meets with their approval and Endorsement
Instead of hurrying to accept what is now Of
fered, let the South consider we'll before she
and good man, Alex Fl. Stephens, than that of
those who from fear of losing all are anxious
to take the mite which is proffered. Better
lose all for principle than take this poor pittance
as brihe T