American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-04-10
THE SOUTH.
HER COURSE AND POLICY.

We have said that all which the
South asks of Gen, Grant is that lie
so administer the Executive Depart
mei,t OF TIE Government as to pro-
tect our people from wrong, injustice
and the contfscation and piundpr of
their subsistence and the product of
their toll and industry.
SO far as the political principles
and policy of the party i'll power are
concerned, we haze not the power,
if we had the will, to oppose them
with any other result than that of in
creased severity and bitterness tf per
secutiol and oppression.
On past and settled issues We have
no desire to keep up agitation and
discussion We have fought vigor-
cusly and earnestly against the sew
eral schemes by which 1t was sought
to httnIb.e and punish our people
We have stiiven to maintain the
Constitution and fhe prime iples of
Government AMI the rights of the
States and fporle IN their original
integrity as provided for and de
cIared by the fathers Of the Republic.
Ii has all been in vain. And how
having discharged our duty as free
men, our welfare, our Se.f-rcSDcct,
and the eventual triumph of sound
conSti'ut ional views, demand and
Justify a course of mastery inactivi-
~ on the part Of the South, Il digni-
fled hiding Of events. a Withdrawal
/ from hontless and EN- lArrassing par
! tiSnn ent..n2lemcnts and responsible
tiles, and an exclusive application OF
/ all ut%g cnei gies, intelligence and
ycal-tV the restoration OF our ma
terial prosperity, Having no voice
whatever in the direction of the
policy of the Government we are
reduced to the position of respectful
petitioners tor Il fair, honest and Just
administration thcreof-a protection
of our civil and personal rights
That is all we can safely or with self
respect ask.
1t may soon come to pass that the
patriotism, the intelligence, the ex
.:ericnce in public affairs, and the
high personal qualities which history
assigns to those from one section
who have borne prominent parts il
the governments CT this Republic
heretofore, now SO ruthlessly eXclUtf
ed arHf oStraciSei, may be missed il
the public councils, as tney are 81
sadly demanded in our local govern
mentS; it is not improbable the EN-
barrasSmentS, the serious losses, TIT
general deprivation of the characte
and morals OF those exclusively elisi
BILE to responsible pul lie st ltions
will be seriously felt by the new ad
miniStration and that such expert
ence may produce mere liberal selrti
ments toward our countrymen bu
that conclusion will be sooner reach
ed, by our prudent reserve and dig
niiipd silence, than IT would be by
course of Ineffective, irritating ant
heated opposition. Suca course
too, may be made more impreSSiv
and effective by the concentration @
our intelligence md e iergies in til
Development of our great intcrna
revenues ard in the accumulation q
that powerful means by which politi
, cal power must eventually be largel
i.fi fenced, # not swaycd and con
) trOlled. The South has suifere
greatly heretofore by tie large shaT
of talent, zeal and industry it ha
. given to- political and public affair,
Whilst it's sons have filed the hig
offices OF the Government, and there
; by with lrawn from the prodrrctiv
industry of their section large nun
/ Der of her most capable citizens, VIII
: have reaped Scant hoI.0rs and graf
tude, and much poverty and humi'la
= ton therein, their more prudent an
; thrifty brethren of the North har
. been absorbed in the pursuit OF tina
5 solid independence, that substratui
+ of all real power, which has at las
l drawn into their hands the Whol
+ control of the administration an
$ destinies of this Republic.
1 Let the South profit by this lesso
> and it may achieve a like victor,
+ Leaving the whole responsibility {
+ the Government to our NoFther
: brethren, yielding to them wIthot
[ a murmnr its vast patronage wit
e all IT'S enervating,. corrupting an
4 inrpoveliSlrimg fntiifsnces, let it be h
pride, the ambition and sole aim (
: our people, to ameliorate and at
!, vance their social, inGfust rial, iBte
i lectual and material improvement
a elevation and prosperity-to develo
t the wealth of their spction-to stin
= ulaic the improvement OF their coul
+. try-to raise the standard of educ
t ton and morals, and to realize thu
y victory which captive Greece, by h>
D arts, her commerce: her skill an
e wealth won over her proud conpuerO
Il Grocia capita ten,en
Eictorem cepit.