The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1868-01-09
1868.


to be able 10 congratulate our readers up
on the prospective blessings which the
new year, just ushered in, holds out TO
US as people-to tell them that light is
breaking through the mis,s of political
and pecnniary evils by which we have
been so long afflicted, aud that The long
looked for era OF renewed peace aud
prosperity ia about to gladden. us with its
presence; but candor compes us TO say
tha: careful review of the situation gives
no assurance Of an early termination Of
the present. anomalous state OF affairs
Nearly three years have passed since the
close OF the war-lhree wears of disap
pointed hopes, poverty and oppression for
the South, and still the Indications admon
lsh us that the end is not vet.
The order for the assembling Of a ne
gro--Southern renegade--yaukee Con
vention has lately been issued, and we
have no reasonable hope Of any other re-.
suit than that the experiment Of a Gov.
ernment formed under the reconstruction
! Acts Of Congress is 10 be fully tested
That this experiment will finally prove a
failure, none can doubt who are acouain.
ted with the temper and material Of those
who are about to be placed in power
colored men without education, and with.
out The capacity to comprehend what are
constitutions and laws, are to take the
places in our District which were former
'y filled by such men as Barnes. Cautnen
and others, and the moving Of the whole
machinery Of Government will be attemp
tel with material which is only ft for the
corn field, tho Workshop or the peniren'
uary. That the end Of all this will he
the discontinue anl possible ruin Of the
negro, who has been elevated to posi-
tion which he is unified fpr, is more than
probable; but in the meantime the coun
try suffers for the want Of healthy and
stable Government. and it is entirely un
certain how long this state Of affairs will
last
All that cur people can do is to rati-
emily await the result Of the experiment,
that is going on. But, while we submi,
with patience TO the humilqlicns and in,
convanieuces which our conQuorers impose
lo 81
We have duties to perform which will call
into exercise All Of our talent and energies.
Our time should lie devoted to be,,erinc
our material condition. No law has been
made to dehar us from tiIlin1 The col
and producing the uecesssries Of lie, or
to deprive us Ct Tie fruits Of our lahors
after they have been realized, nor ia there
likely TO be, and as long as these privi
leges are left open TO us, our case is not
entirely hopeless.
II every man will practice industry and
encourage honest effort in others, the cit.
nation will lose many Of the untavorable
features which it now presents. All Of
the intelligence, energy and wealth OF the
country are possessed by those who sre
Souths:ners in the true sense of the term;
these, If properly directed. must ultimate
ly coutrol the destinies Of the State, and
with the exercise Of prudence and for,i
tuds on the psrt Of our people iu the
crisis through which wa are nov passing,
it may be that 'ere another New Year
shall have come aud gone, there will be
such changes Of the situation as will en-
courage the hope Of an early return to
confidence and prosperity. lie. US begin
the year with renewed purposes to Act
well the part which has been alotted TO
US, trusting that An over,ruing Providence
will direct our efforts TO a profitable oud