The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-02
G. HI "A r. l. E S II ON
TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 2, 1869.
Tho Prospect Brightens.

Tho Prospect Brightens.
In settling the affairs of the South Con-
gress vacillates. To our eyes, the incom-
potency of q distant, irresponsible and in
imical authority, to manage this difficult
business, has been man fest from the very
first. With the Washington politicians, re-
construction contemplated nothing less,
and nothing more, than the organization of
plans and contributing to the permanent
of their power. The South was checker
board upon which they have been deftly
moving the black and white chessmen to
and fro.
We are glad to observe, from recent de-
velopments, that this pleasant game of leg
islation approaches its end. The interests
Of the South are the interests of the whole
country. This circumstance imposes re-
straint upon political extravaganoe. Be-
sides this, the government cannet settle
into rigid sectionalism without losing its
republican character. Laws made for the
States on this side of the Potomac must
either be repesled, or else be extended to
the States beyond that historic boundary.
1nfractions of right and liberty must be
nationali7ed or repudiated. Before these
two powerful lines of defence-the inner
and the outer-the Radicals are losing
heart. Already that perfect discipline re-
lakes, to which they have owed so much of
their aucoeaa
One of the most striking evidences of
party decentralization is afforded by the
Congressional contest over what has been
called the fifteenth Constitutional amend
ment In the form in which it first passed
the House. it was q purely political meas
ure. 1t extended to every claas and every
color the right Of suffrage-a measure not
without perils, yet necessary to the integ-
rity Of the party. To impose educational
qualifications would not do; for many of the
educated among the newly enfranchised
will not vote with the Radicals. But in the
Senate, Mr.. Wilson, who bursts into .sa
"light blaze Of patriotism" ON all such oo-
casions, and who wished to administer q
rebuke to the malcontent Legislature of
Georgia, amended the House bill Under
his inspiration, it was resolved that every
body should have the right of holding office
also, without any intellectual or educational
qualifications whatever! Blinded with Sec
tional prejudice, and incited by an eager
desire to ohastise the South, the Senate
passed the amendment in such form as,
had it prevailed, would have overthrown
the civil government Of the whole country
1t is curious, and even amusing, to OBJ
serve the recoil which the action of the SEN
ate produced at the North There was a
general outcry at the recklessness Of the
measure. Grant was astounded--of course.
But who would have expected that Wendell
Phillips would appear among the protest
ants and denounce, as in last weeks Anti
Slavery Standard he has done, the ..Radi-
''oalism Of the Senate The result ap-
pears in the form in which the proposed
constitutional amendment now appears. In
the contest inaugurated by GeoIg gia the SEN
ate Of the United States has experienced a
defeat.
Indeed, the clouds are drifting away in
every direction. It is now authoritatively
stated that Grants influence is persistently
directed to the Rehabilitation Of the South
ern Sta.es that ho desires and intends to
be the luler of united country. Aud with
the strong Congressional influence he
wields, there is every prospect that his pur-
pose will be realised. II will be to his ad-
vantage and ours when single race ceases
to be the chief subject Of national legisla-
tion, and when public measures are No
longer, on q sliding scale, adjusted to differ
ent parallels of latitude.
We take the more pleasure in referring
to this subject now. because some of our
readers have esteemed us to have been too
sanguine. The course Of events is a iusti-
fication Of OUR cheerful predictions. We
have never expected to escape difficulties
and privations; nor do we now anticipate q
otoudless future. But 'twe have set our
'house in order, to live and not to die" And
already the winter that has lasted 90 long
has s softer tone, and it's rigors relax with
the breath OF spring.
A French View of the Future OF Mexico.