New-York tribune., 1868-03-31
WdR dND PE4CE.

|
the Southern journals that drove the ruling
caste of their section into Secession and Civil
| War. 1t is now foremost in arousing and
stimulating resistance to Reconstruction on the
basis of Equal Rights for all Men. In late
| ISSUE 1t says:
at ia just as well OF the North. that you should
understand now any other tne that ne people Q ne
Southern States do not intend be ruled by negrocs II 1t
the of the United states Government TO negro
ze the Southern States, they may rs well know now az
any other time that It mas 20 be done n e bayonet and
This southern people do not intend to be mongrezed
They prefer the swordthis they can always compel"
The State of South Carolina contained in
| 1860 7O9,Si2 inhabitants, whereof 4o2,54l were
then slaves and 9,914 free colored, leaving but
1888 Whites. War has told fesrfully on
| the last named, 30 that they cannot now eK-
| ceed two-fifths of the total population.
What The Mercury threatens Is simply re-
newal of the Rebellion and on substantially
the old pretext. South Cdfolina assumed to
secede from the Union because the North was
not sufficiently docie and devoted to the in
terssts and exactions of Slavery. She initiated
fragrant War by opening fire on the fanishing
handful of Union soldiers who garrisoned the
National stronghold, Fort Sumter. Thence
forward, she had war 10 hor hearts content,
until her very last squad was captured, her
last village was IA conquest.
Her aristocracy fought bravely and well.
They did their "level best !" and they dragged
the poor, ignorant Whites into thor quarrel,
rushing them upon death rs sheep are driven
to tho sbambles. When they were first routed
Mt Port Royal by aINationa feet. every White
person but one left the island with their flying
forces-that one being left, Iblind drunk. The
Blacks remained to welcome the invaders
and exult In their new found freedom. And.
from that hour, the Blacks ef!South Carolina
have been loyal 10 the flag Of the Union.
II is not the fault Of the great body OF the
Whites of South Carolina that they are now
.,eathered under the folds OF that flag They
did their very utmost to avoid that detested
'.subjugatioun They held out against it I'LL
they could hold ovt no longer. They gave in
,when there was no possibility Of further re-
sistance.
These arc not pleasant "reminiscences. We
should much prefer not TO revive them. But
when The Mercury insists--as it plainly does
insist-that the loyal three -ffths Of the popula-
ton Of its State shall have no other rights than
such as the dislOyal two-ffths shall preponder-
.antly see fit to vouchsafe them-when it speaks
Iof this Rebel minority as che people of the
Southern States" and threatens a renewal of
sciyil war II they are not so regarded-when 1t
fvaunts that said people prefer the sword,
and can compel tive are forced to remind
lit that such bullying is "played out"-that
the arms bearing portion of said people are
paroled prisoners of war; who cannot brandsh
the sword against the authority of the Union
without breaking their paroles and exposing
themselves to an ignominious fate.
Bat talk Of "the sword" In the premises is an
anaehrol MAN impertnence. The Mercury
knows as well as we do that the swOrd' will
rest and rust in its scabbard-that what 1t is
really intent on Is getting the Democratic party
into power at Washington, and thus getting
the cn-loving majority Of the inhabitants
under the feet Of the Rebel minority; and, IL
the allied Northern and Southern Democracy
shall be enabled 10 elect the next President
that end will be secured. IL they fail in that
election the confederated democracies will peace
ably submit, just as our side must submit II
beaten. This is the plain prose OF the matter,
and all threats of a resort to "the sword" are
preposterous This country has had fighting
enough for at least half century; and who
eyer shall meantime appeal TO "the sword
| win be promptly squelched by an irresistible
uprising of the whole people in defense Of
peace, industry, and prosperity.
| sw;rdla NJ tba first IN a op;.ude was nassed