The Opelousas courier., 1868-02-22
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Reconstruction Crisis.

so absurd, unnecessary, and destruc
tive are the new Radical reconstruction
measures before Congress, that the com
mercial world will not believe that they
will he carried out.
The N. Y. Financial Chr1nicle of the
18th, remarking upon the continued pros
tration of the industrial interests of the
country, says that the troubles we now
experience are of our own making, and
that those which we now anticipate may
be averted mainly by our own action.
Every impulse of commercial improve
ment, says the Chronicle, is checked by
unwise legislation, and the S0lth is fast
sinking into state of utter prOstration,
while the North is daily becoming more
hopeless under wider extension of in
activity. Such being the situation, busi-
ness men look to Congress for a remedy,
and instead of that they are met by a
series of rash, vindictive, and revolu-
tiOnary measures, the product of the
most selfish and arbitrary designs of par
ty demagognes that ever attained pos
session of Congressional committees.
The Chronicle does not believe that
these measures are really to be passed.
1t cares not to discuss them, for, it says,
1--WE cannot believe that they will ever
become laws, for confidence is too great
in the good sense Of American legisla-
tors"
Let us inform the Chronicle that its
confidence is misplaced on this occasion,
and in relation to our present legislators:
We have ascertained the fact, beyond
doubt. that the Radical leaders seek to
put through the series of destructive
measures, including that which is intend
ed to destroy the independence of the
Supreme Court, and prevent any recov-
cry by the Southern States of their rights
as equal members of the Union. These
measures are intended to establish negro
supremacy in the South by military au-
thority, and prevent the judiciary from
pronouncing against them as uneonstitu-
tional and void. Their effect upon the
South and the North will be to paralyze
every effort for recuperation, not only for
'another year, but for the next Presi-
dental term will the present condition
of business be depressed from low to
still lower point. When the States are
'reconstructed'' they must be given over
to the control of their own inhabitants,
says the Chronicle. But these laws are
designated to keep the control of the
State governments in the hands of negro
majorities, and white capital and enter
prise viii shun them, as now. Capital
will never be employed where there can
be no stability, order, or justice, or secu-
rity in the laws and government.
The Chronicle concludes as follows:
"But probably the most forciHe reason
for the speedy and eifectual settlement
of our Southern difficulties lies in the
necessity to the nation of a revival of
business. We have already referred to
the effect of this stagnation upon indi-
viduals. How much more important is
it to the nation at large. Our taxes, as
all know, are heavy, and we believe that
the people will submit to even a much
heavier strain. And yet any one can see
that this continued inactivity prolonged
through another year will make it more
difficult for them to do what they would.
The necessities of the Government must
he Just the same. 1t will have the same
interest to pay, and the expenses cannot
be materially decreased SO long as the
South is under military rule. Should not
these considerations lead us to put forth
our influence for some settlement which
may do violence to none, but justice to
ALL And i'm this connection we should
remember that the two great ends-re
bellion put down and slavery abolished
have been secured; that the only de-
sire remaining in the minds of any is the
guaranteeing to the freedmen equal
rights. Is it impossible to obtain this
end except through several years more
of strife and military rule ~
National IntegHgencer.