Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-09-16
Grants Election the Salvation of
the South,

the South.
If anything could exceed the stupendous
folly and crime of the South in bringing on
the rebellion, it would be found in their pres.
ent efforts to open anew the Aood-gatcs Of an
archy aud civil war.
What is the actual condition of the South
For five years they have been subjected to a
terrible trial-that of desperate and inel-
fectua struggle against superior strength.
That they were able to 60 through with it at
all is only accounted for by the fact that they
regarded the struggle as one of life and death,
and literally fought it out to the bitter end
Their desperation carried them to the extreme
Of utter exhaustion Their industries were
all paralyzed. The last dollar of capital was
destroyed. Credit was hopelessly OK tinguish-
cd Her young men--the real hope and
strength of nation-were cut off, Nor was
this all, or hardly the beginning. The insti-
tuition of slavery, which during generations
had become inwoven with the very social and
industrial existence of the South, was sudden
ly destroyed. That social transformation
which statesmen and philosophers hardly
dared to contemplate, lest it should be wrought
in blood, was suddenly promulged in the thun-
der tones of war. The gordian knot was cut
by the point of the sword. Three millions
of mon, subject to the most absolute and alb
ject bondage the world ever saw without
note of warning or a mo lent's preparation,
either for master or slave, were raised to a
condition of absolute freedom-to stand side
by-side with their late masters, in the full en-
joyment of every political right and natural
power. And Notwithstanding this boon came
to them when they were surrounded with the
terrible desolations of war, when there was
every possible inducement and opportunity for
them to take summary vengeance upon their
late oppressors, as if by some supernatural
power they were stayed from the indulgence
of all such natural vengeance, and the South
was mercifully saved form being deluged with
blood. Has the world ever seen so great
change, SO suddenly and SO peacefully
wrought?
That wonderful escape ought to have been
enough. And for time the situation SEEM
ed to be understood and appreciated APP
parently thankful to be saved from the merit
ed rewards Of their treason, the South for a
time seemed honestly and earnestly DESTROYS
of adapting itself to the new order of things
and looked hopefully to the strong arm of
that government which had conquered them
in war, to protect them against still more
ssnguinary war Of races and assist in restor-
ing their desolated land to a condition of
peace and prosperity. They seemed to real
ize that they must have peace or utterly per-
ish. Illuminating as it was to Southern pride
they acknowledged the fact, and plead for the
means of rallyng from the hopeless condition
in which they were left by the war
But in an evil hour, through the detection
of the President and the consequent delay in
the reconstruction and restoration of the re.
bellious States to the Union-but more espe.
cially through the cntcing words and acts Of
the Democratic party of the North--the eyi
spirit of slavery and rebellion, apparently re
inforccd by other spirits, worse than the first
seems to have returned and taken pos
session of the South. All at once the,
have given themselves up anew to a spirit o
social persecution, of sedition and genera
lawlessness. They tempt fate by fostering
the spirit of white domination, and seeking
to degrade the blacks by threats Of violence
and a reign of terror The authority of tn
Congress of the United States is openly set a
defiance, and men are boldly denied their pc
litical rights on account of color Union mel
are deliberately murdered, aud outrages 0
every kind are committed by secret organ
zations of the most barbarous character. In
stead of fraternizing with Northern men,
spirit Of hate and intolerance is manifested, s.
that it is only at the hazard of life or linn
that Northern man can show himselfam
them. And now they are rallying under tn
banner of Seymour and Blair, with the ayov
cd purpose of undoing Congressional recon
struction--of re-establshing the old eonditio
of white supremacy and negro vassaage-i
short, of achieving, through the aid @
the Democratic party, substantially tina
"cause" which they lost upon the field of bal
tie.
Let but the South succeed in their preseu
plans and purposes, and their ruin is complet,
Politically, socially and ndustrially they wi
be past hope. The hidden mine will b,
sprung, and a war of races inevitable, aud tn
remnant that survived the war win be col
sumed by the ferceness of their own unbr
died passions. Nothing can save them frol
that destruction upon which they are madl
rushing, but that they be sare9 from then
sefves-and that they be thoroughly reinco
porated, both in letter and spirit, into the goo
old Union, under the faithful, benign, firm
yet moderate hand of General Grant. Thel
and not ill then, will they have peace
A GOOD SYMPTOM. - Pendleton HI
q Al. u