Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1867-07-24
AFFAIRS IN THE SO;.ru

1t was our fortune day Or two ago to
meet an old friend, says the Pittsburg
Gaaettc, who has been spending the last
twelve months at the South, visiting ex.
tensively several of the States lately in re-
volt This gentleman, following the ira
ditions of his family, is Democrat, and
was recently the Democratic candidate
for Governor in the State in which he
then resided. IN his adhesion to his par
ty he never had hesitated. Consequently,
when he set out upon his late explorations,
he was bitterly opposed to what he esteem
ed the radical measures of Reconstruction
generally espoused by the Republicans.
His trip cured him. In the course of
conversation he developed some points of
special interest.
l. That the Southern people, almost
without exception, are in favor of accept
ing the best terms they can get from the
general government. Not that their sen-
tlEents have in auywisc undergone
change, but because they feel they are at
the disposal of power superior to any
they can bring to bear against it Be-
sides, they are convinced that business
prosper i,y, as the case stands, must de-
pend, in large degree, upon terminating,
as soon as possible, the present contingent
and provisional attitude of political affairs.
Tha: whatever resistance to the measures
Of Congress is apparent. comes from a few
restless agitators, and not from the bulk
of the inhabitants.
,. That a feeling Of intense hostility
and bitterness towards the northern peo-
pie preyadcs the whole South lie ,oareo-
ly encountered an individual exception.
This feeling is So intense as invariably to
be carried to the pitch of personal inciyil-
ity. Few or no courtesies are exchanged
between southerners and northern pepple,
the former rcpelllng by studied coldness
all advances. That this hatred is not con.
fined to Republicans, but is manifested
quite as strongly towards Democrats In
deed, both are included and condemned
under tie broad cognomen Of YaDkee,
which is used to signify all that is de,cs-
tible
He stated his personal experience,
which was highly suggestive, considering
that he is gentleman Of polished man
ners, of aftable disposition, and complete
self control and he narrated passages
from the experience OF others. Among
the latter he cited the case Of brother
Democrat who was SO Extensively southern
during the war that he was sent South by
order Of government. This mans i'm
moderate secession did lot save him from
obloquy. He :ell under the deep reproach
Of being Yankee, that is, northerner,
and was cut so often ana cruelty that
complete revulsion came over his senti-
ments, insomuch that he was ready to sus.
tain negro suffrage as the only scheme
tba: promised to curb the torbulent south
ern elements.
1t so chanced that the same day We
had conversation with lady friend who
spent many years at the South, before the
war, in connection with Female Semi-
nary Of high repute. Upon TIE collapse
of the rebellion her father, whose loyalty
had never been shaken, was appointed to
ciyi! position OF consequence. From
that moment all the former acquaintance
and neighbors Of the family withdrew all
social recogni,ions, and this ostracism still
remains in full force is, indeed, rather
intensified from month to month. The
offence of this family consists solely in
northern birth and in unob.rusive but de-
cded loyalty to the government.
From the following letter of General
Grant to General Ord, it will be remarked
that he takes decided stand against the
President and Attorney General Stanbery
in their Interpretation of the Reconstruct
ton act Coming from Grant the letter
is peculiarly significant. Here is what
he saws;