The Montana post., 1868-10-02
pE.oLaTIoN OF TIE SOUTH

notice an article under this eAptloh.coin-
mencing as follows Horace Greeley
in commenting upon the Rosecrans-Lee
correspondence, says Of the present con
ditien Of the South. emigration is arrest
ed capital shrinks from the citizens and
seaports: commerce seeks less congenial
but more secure climes credit is dead (;
there is no industry. no enterprise. no
natural srogress, DO public spirit; moth
ing but political chaos and social ankle
ty.'" The Gazsffe asks who is respon-
sible for il. aud proceeds 10 answer by
referring all tue depression in the
South To the present Republican rule
Let US sep Luw we can answer 1t. by
reference to other causes. When the
men Of the South after the war, endeay-
ored 10 raise again the fabric of social
order. and al the same time forgot 10
yield submission 10 the G0vernnIent, and
trampled upon the rights of those who
had been made free by the solemn act of
Congress. then the Congress of the
United States, a. il should have done,
Ieveled that fabric with one fell blow.
They did it because they could in no
other wav, without a return to war, en-
force a submission TO law The remedy
was merciiul alternative 10 the South,
for otherwise, Congress would have been
obliged, in the operation of government
al rights, 10 have externinated every
rebel in the land. The Gazette complains
because the property of rebels was con-
tiscated, negro suffrage enforced, rebel
lious legislatures suspended, contuma~
cious courts overthrown, and the char
ters and constitutions of States, antagon-
istic To the Government. were remodeled
Dy the only peaceable means known to
the government This deceitful howl
against the Republican party, must find
its correction in the common sense of
the people What else could have been
done in the exigency then presented?
Was il the duty of Congress to permit
these Irregularities to continue without
correctiOn2 Could they administer that
correction without enforcing some form
of reconstructiony The South had
returned 10 the Government from self
STYLED Confederacy of their own, in
which they had declared themselves
free and independent. They had COW
cred themselves with the blood of
Northern people, in a contest of their
own seeking. and which had involved
the nation far beyond the power of
liquidation. They had been beaten.
This was their fortune of war. 1t was
for the cOnquering power to say whether |
they should return into the nation up |
on their old status, OF whether they |
should remain a conquered province. |
subject to such government as the ma
tion might impose upon them. The I
North magnanimously received them /
with open arms, treated them as breth-
rem, and told them to come back into
:he Union. They came. but not content
with the terms of equality imposed, re-
commenced the work of aggression, and
now, If, as a consequence of their own
acts, capital shrinks from their country,
and men refuse to do business, if their
commerce abandons them, and labor be-
comes demoraIized, who is TO blame for
itg Is IL the Government, which is
using the most humane efforts to restore
this country to Its former condition of
prosperity. or is il the people who re-
belliously dispute it's right TO do so, and
show Dy their acts their continued hos
tility TO submissiOng We submit this
question TO the common sense of our
readers. Our neighbor of the Gazette Is
too we'll informed not to know that every
word of his leader is an unqualified
libel upon the fair fame of his Govern
ment. The effort 20 carry this Presi-
Dental election by charges like the fore
going. cannot succeed. The American
people have had too much occasion for
reflection during the past six years, to
the tenure by which thRir liberties are
held. and the means by which they
must be sustained. No specious decep-
tions will divert their attention and so-
licitude from the single element of tree
dom. They have trusted the South
once too often already. That was the
tault of the South. II deceived again
the fault will be their own, and they
know il. This they have
in the recent increased
majorities in Vermont and Maine This
they will further prove by the immense
vote with which they place Gen. Grant
in the Presidential Chair. Meantime.
If the South would enjoy it's ancient
let il prove by its submission
TO Government. and the acceptance of the
terms offered for peace. it's fitness to re.
sumo an equal place in the Union. 1t ,
is not for Gen Lee and the fifty other
Generals who aided him in the effort TO
overthrow the Government to dictate {
the conditions of their status in the /,
Union. Let them first prove that they
are worthy the confidence of the nation
and they will receive il. but until then.
and so long as il has power, let the Re- I
publican party preserve and eonserve ,