The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-04-09
lcorrespoHdence Cincinnati commsrcIsi.l
A Southern, Journey summed
Up.
clsclrNArr, March 1s, 1868.

JVuiHoy Jug III tue uuTecODblfucteu
States. | have swung around the
circle through Louisville, Memphis,
Jackson, (Mississirpi,) New Or.
leans, Mobile, Montgomery, Allan.
Ia, Augusta, Savannah, Charleston,
Raleigh-and Richmond, and have
written my impressions from day
10 day, nothing extennating or set.
ting aught down : in malice. ]
think l have gathered my facts
with cautious pen. In previous
letters / described many scenes
and events that carried their own
lessons. / sketched six of the
Southern constitutional conven
tions, and in reading over those
sketches in print, with a mature :.
experience, find no word to blot.
In this letter (Which shall have the
double merit Of being tho last and
the shortest). I simply desire to
express in as few words as posi-
be the convictions that have re.
suited from q varied contact with
Southern sentiment, as it exists to-
day.
OF the Industrial condition OF
the Southern States | have said
ovcry thing there is to say. That
section will do all that can be
hoped for iii raises enough this
year 10 feed itself. The now sys.
tenn of labor is seeking its levels.
Agriculture there is in a transition
state. Tho plantation is going
out, and tho farm must come in.
Ten years hence the Southerner
will be cultivatiug hundred
acres instead Of scratching over a
thousand on borrowed money and
unpaid for provisions.
! Ifany Republican discovers his
silverplating getting thin, let him
take two months Southern jour.
ney. A thoughttuI and observant
man will find himself newly eiec.
trotypcd in the party faith that
swept away secession and slavery,
and which, if true to itself, will ex.
pand and ennobIe by stateman
ship what it SO steadfastly helped
10 save by the sword.
In three or four letters, grum-
bled at the indiscretions of Con.
gress, but, all the while, the South
crn people and newspapers were
treating my moderate Republican
! ism with tones. Six months down
There, / fear, would have made me
a Radical.
The Southeruers conceive that
they did nothing particularly
wrong 10 tho part they took in the
drama Of the rebellion. They feel
no repentance, and no regret, un-
less 1t be for failure. This may be
human nature; well, il is human
nature not to let them govern the
country again. They have fond
hope that, through Andrew John.
son and the Democratic party
both of whom they secretly de
spise) they will be aoated into su-
preme power, as oi old. 1t is strange
that they can so delude them
selves, but such is the fact. "The
North comes" said Charles Sum
ner before the war. The North
has come with vengeance. II
grows by emigration 1000 a day
How much does the South grow
In what manner are the new col
ored citizens to be disfranchised
and degraded when Davis, Lee
Toombs, Breckenridge and the
rest resume control OF the Govern.
mcnt? Tho Southern whip used
to have secession for a snapper
What will the new thought be? Ii
was formerly the fashion to let reb.
els build hostile oarthworks right
under the inoffensiye noses of ma.
tional forts. Is tho same cOnsid-
crate policy assured for the futurei
These queries may seem childish
But | am speaking Of the childish
Southern weakness to comprehend
that their minority may not agair
wave the imperial wand over the
toiling and patient masses They
think their star is only in eclipse
We must be resolute and leach
them TINT it has has set forever
, That lesson well learned, they will
begin to be desirable citizens.
The freedmen have surprised mt
by their native shrewdness, and
good sense, their cautious, and sub
missive behavior, and the Keen
intelligent interest they take in
their new political privileges. l
they were one.tenth as vindictivt
and contemptous in their mar ne,
toward the whites as the whites
are toward them a war of race
would have ensued long ago
From close observation | believ,
them TO be humber in deportmen'
than before emancipation. As |
class they are anxious toget worl
and get on in the world. They arr
more industrious than their lat,
masters. And though the wore
has been abused. they are as loya
to the Government as it is possible
for men OF their capacities to be
They would respond to nationa
summons TO arms with alacrity ant
enthusiasm. BY their votes in thu
various conventions they hav,
shown that they feel no hatred to
ward their old oppressora, and ash
nothing beyond security for The
future.
Scratch a Sousherrer, and yor
find an intolerant. He is not will
ing to have yon vote as your con
science dictates. Defy his loca
despotisms. your name will be 80
cially ostracised, your name will