The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1867-12-05
the S outh would find Their. last con-
dition worse than the first


At best it is a stake upon hazard
Gus chances. If experience is of
any value, the South ought to be
satisfied that democratic pol t clans
of the North are ready to make
pledges that they are not always
able to redeem. They promised to
support the secession movement by
resisting Federal coercion, and
failed. During the progress Of the
war they excited hopes that ended
in bitter disappointment. They
were, as enthusiastic over a fancied
revolution in 1868 as they are jubi-
liant over a political revolution in
lS67. Under their advisement the
South rejected the. constitutional
amendment of 1866, and there is
not q thoughtful Southerner who
has not openly lamented the mis-
take then made. The conditions
were tolerant; and it is an opinion
we then expressed and to which we
still adhere, that had Congress stood
firmly by that amendment, making
no fresh conditions of the reinstaD-
ment Of the States, it would have
been as handsomely supported by,
the people in 1867 as it was in 1866.
But that aside; the South had
cause to remember its error almost
as soon as it was committed. "Mas
terly inactivity" prevailed; the day
of settlement was postponed, and
the lamentable condition of confu-
sion and uncertainty prolonged to
the regret Of all, sensible men, and
to the damage of every industrial
interest and peaceful pursuit through
out the Southern States. How is
it, then, that, warned by this expe
rience, the Southern Conservative
folds his hands and contents him
self with denouncing. and condemn
lag an attempt at civil reorganzl
ton that he refused even to try to
direct We know it was boosted,
when it became apparent that negro
suffrage was inevitable, that those
] who had once held the blacks as
slaves could still control them
through affection, and that as
against their influence, New Eng
land puritanism and radicalism, in
all it's extreme and modified formc ,
would be as nothing.
Why was not this influence exert
ed? Why were not these majori
ties ofco1ored voters enlisted unde;
/ the banners of Conservatism, and
made to swell t.le ranks of that par
ty of the past and the future, which
comes. riding into power, from
Maine to California, with all it.
rooster wings spread and its fer>
E comb ablaze with the light Of vie
tory?
AS @ question Of political expedi
ency, aside from all bearings upon
She civil and social future off all tht
| States, was it'not the part Of wis
; dom to secure to political organi
zation, whose leaders are in sympa
, thy with the Conservatives Of tht
, South, and whose principles ar>
, congeni to them, every element O.
strength which would. increase the
!, assurance Of it's future power? Was
it, or is it, expedient to throw into
] the hands Of hated opposition tht
t controlling Registered s vote Of si5
} Southern States =? It is expected
/ to be sure, that this political Gle
ment will disappear when Demo
: crat Shall rule at the White House
} and a majority Of Democrats shape
the legislation, of-the General Gov
: ernment.
But it will not be peacefully di
, vested offs Fights The attemp
t to take them away involves sucl
! contingencies as we ados not like tx
. contemplate, and in the happies
event will serve, to keep the who'll
Southern country in a confusion
: detrimental to every act and enter
prise of peace It is wiser to maxi
friends than create enemies, to con
ciHate than offend, and particular,
d so when it can be done without al
invasion of the rights Or viola
ton of the privileges Of our fellow
u men. .-..-- -.~ = v-~
i In the course Of this article whicl
n is not written to serve the interest
Il of any party, we have suggested tn
e possibility Of q disappointment Q
y the hopes cherished by those wh'
: counsel and practice inaction at th
g South. The reaction may not full
a fill its promise, -andstlfe Dem ocrac,
: may not succeed in 1868. In thi
II important crisis of their own ciyi
0 history have refused to act when !
; was their privilege, and, declined t.
s exert an influence which they claim
y ed to possess 3? The Constitution