The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-05-27

We give below an extract from the New York Sun,
which we commend to the careful consideration OF our
readers There expressions in it very we'll calculated
but, most probably, not designed to make US VINCE
The article seems to be written in partisan spirit
although in the opinion of the writer our crime was
great and terribly have enpiated it. Our equanm-
ity too under the trying circumstances, may have e1
ceeded the reasonable expectations of good friends
North, who have stood by and phlosophicaiiy wit
messed our visible motions between the upper and the
lower millstones Our fall indeed, put our proud PEG
Ole to many tests They have stood them well, in the
estimation of phiosophic friends of the Sun
school, Notwithstanding the foods of misrepresenta
ton from mendicant loyalty in search Of Office But it
is now practically of no importance, whether as
people we have behaved well or ILL., whether we have
deserved the admiration of good friends tor our
patient endurance, whether these dubious compli-
ments very acceptable to u.s. 1t is, however, OF
moment for know whether the congressional plan
is not In this view, the Suns article is
worthy of careful consideration:
The Southern elections indicate with precision the
drift of the curreEt the subject Of reconstruction
The congressional plan has been ratified in Arkansas,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Lous
ana. In Alabama the constitution received nearly all
the votes cast but the law required that majority
ef all who had registered should the question,
barely failed. By act of Congress pending,
which will be passed. it will be resubmtted to the
people, when its ratification will be probable. The test
is yet to be made in Virginia, Florida Mississippi and
Texas, when the like result is pretty to follow
except, perhaps in the of Texas Should any of
these States reject their constitutions at the first
trial, Congress will doubt provide for the resubmis
sion of the question: and should Mr.. Wade then occu
py the Executive chair they will most likely be adopted
Tn af Stata which 10
and legislatures that have been elected IA
verabe to the policy of Congress. large majority
of the houses of represel chosen at these cleo
tions Republicans, and the composition of the leg
saures is such to insure the choice of senators of
the politics In fine, the congressional plan may
be regarded as triumphant in these six States.
In the remaining four States the ultimate result will
probably be Of the character; so that, the
of the next presidential election the then
States will all be restored to their old time relations
the Union and again resume their political affairs
der constitutions framed by themselves and subject to
the rule of governors legislatures and other civil Off
GERS, chosen by majority of their electors They
will be represented in both branches of Congress- and
will crown the work of reconstruction by participating
in the election of President in November next.
:, OF course this plan of restoration is not entirely
congenial to large of those who took active
part In the rebellion This is surprising It is
in the nature of things that the conquered party in
such conflict that through which the country has
passed during the last seven years, should submit
without grievous repinngs and certain show Of resist
to the terms imposed by the vctors. The South
were proud, gallant people. Their hopes of indie
opendence had been raised to the highest pitch They
had saked their property, they had pledged their hon
or, they had shed their best blood to achieve tri
umph. Their defeat whelmed them 10 impoverish-
ment and ruin, furnished their fame, crushed their
lofty aspirations, and exposed them to the penalties
of treason. The consciousness that the terms of
cancellation have no parallel for magnanimity in the
history Of the great civil does not replensh their
exhausted finances revive their dropping indus
try, heal their wounded honor restore to life
their slain Nevertheless in view of all the cir
cumstances the defeated class in the South have ac-
cepted their and trying situation with as much
equanmity could have reasonably been anticipated.
Their crime was great, and terribly have they expi-
ated it. Their fall has put poor, proud human nature
to of its seyerest tests and they have stood the
cast of the die with IS much selfcontro any peo-
pie in like circumstances in all history. When they
shall realise that the change has become rrevocably
fixed, they will no doubt find it far more tolerable
than they expected and may yet discover that even
negro suffrage under the kindly and skillful manage
ment of the old dominating Glass; will to be
source of annoyance and ultimately become an ele-
ment of power