The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-02
CHI A r l. Es TON
TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 2, 1869.
The Prospect Brightens.

In settling the affairs of the South Con-
gress vacillstes. To our eyes, the incom-
potency of 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
a certain party, acting in concert with their
plans and contributing to the permanence
of their power. The South was checker
board upon which they have been deity
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 extravagance. 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either be repealed, or else be extended to
the States beyond that historic boundary
Iufractioas of right and liberty must be
nationalised OF repudiated. Before these
two powerful lines of defenoe-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 success.
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 purely political meas
ure. 1t extended to every class and every
color the right of Suffrage 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 "a
slight blaze of patriotism" on all such oc-
casions, and who wished to administer O
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
al4o, without any intellectual or educational
qualifications whatever! Blinded with Sec
tional prejudice, and incited by an eager
desire to chastise the South, the Senate
passed the amendment in such form as,
had it prevailed, would have overlhrown
the civil government Of the whole country.
1t is curious, and even amusing, to OBJ
serve the recoii which the action Of the Sem
ate produced at the North. There was a
general outory at the recklessness of the
measure. Grant was sstounded-of course
But who would have expected ths. Wendell
Phillips would appear among the protest
ants and denounce, as in last weeks Anti
Slavery Standard he has done, the "Radi-
"calism of the Senate" The result ap-
pears in the form in which the proposed
constitutional amendment now appears. In
the contest inau ugurated by Geor g'a the Sen
ate Of the United States hos experienced o
defeat.
Indeed, the clouds are drifting away in
every direction. II is now authoritatively
stated that Grants influence is persistently
directed to the Rehabilitation of the South
ern States-that he desires and intends to
be the ruler of united country. Aud with
the strong Congressional influence he
wieids, there is every prospect that his pur-
pose will be realized. 1t will be to his ad-
vantage and ours when single race ceases
to be the chief subject of national lrgisla-
lion, and when public measures are no
longer, on 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 justi-
fcation of our cheerful predictions. We
have never expected to escape difficulties
and privations; nor do we now anticipate a
cloudless future. But "we have set our
shouse in order, to live and not to die" And
already the winter that has lasted 80 long
has softer tone, and its rigors relax with
the breath of spring.