The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-01-27
Prescription Should End.


We trust that the declaration of sever
al Radical members of Congress who vo'
ted against relieving the last batch of po-
litical converts in the South from the dis
abilities imposed upon them for their
participation in the rebellion, that they
would vote for no more selections of this
kind, but would soon introduce measures
for wholesale removal of all political
disabilities from the Southern people, will
bo promptly carried out. A large portion
of the American people would cordially
indorse such action against continual
prescription for participation in the re.
bell1on. The work of reconstruction
would long ago have been thorough and
complete if the leaders of the Radical
party in Congress would have permitted
it. The negroes have been converted in
to citizens of all tho States which formal.
ly seeded, and of the United States, and
they will acquire the right of suffrage if
the fifteenth amendment to the Constitu-
tion is legally ratified No organized
opposition to the national authority is
manifested in any quarter in the formerly
rebellious States. Swords have been
turned into plowshares, and rebel spears
into pruning hooks In spite of all of
the impedimcnts thrown into their way
by the meanest and most adverse Federal
legislation, the quiet and practical ability
and industry of the Southern people have
already made their section beyond COM
parison the richest and most highly pros
porous of the country. Throe hundred
millions of dollars worth Of cotton for
export, besides breadstuffs and meat
enough for homo consumption represents
their last years labors, and there remains
not the slightest valid excuse for not re-
restoring the political rights of the late
enemies of the Union Mt the earliest pos
sible moment. If tile policy pursued by
the Radical authorities since the surren-
der at Appomattox is not, as we believe, a
grevious wrong, it is certainly unwise
any longer to withhold this display of
magnanimity. No good can arise from a
further perpetuation Of the bitter memo
ries of the war. Tho one thing essential,
a fortifcation of the Union against new
assaults of treason, is practically accom-.
plishcd, aud certainly if this great end
has been gained it is impoliLic to continue
so considerable portion Of our country
under ban for past actions. The doc
trine Of universal amnesty and magnani-
nifty has always been that of the Demo
Gratis, constituting as they do within q
fraction of half of our Northern popula
ton. Coupled with that of universal
suffrage it has also been that of some of
the most distinguished of Radical lead
crs and journalists; and if, asis generally
believed. the negroes are about to secure
political privileges, it is a proper time that
their old masters should also have legal
voice in the decision of the political and
national questions of the day. In Ten
nessee, where the proscrptive system has
been thoroughly tried, it has accomplish
cd no good, not even in q partisan point
of view. Tho worst Of rebels would not
have made less reliable Radicals than
their negroes have. In the future rs in
the past the men who participated most
actively on the Southern side of the re-
bellion, will exercise an overwhel lining in
fucnce over tho communities in which
they reside. If the Republican party as
a party continues to persecute them, it
will only more thoroughly ALLEVIATE them
and their friends. Each year introduces
to the rights of the citizons body of vo
ters, the children and relatives of these
very men, who as they become of age
cannot be ostracized, and whose political
prejudices will only be increased by the
continued persecution of those they ven
crate. But aside from these considera-
tions, the deep interest those tormer reb-
els have in the future welfare OF the South,
arising from their ownership of large
portion of the soil, renders their personal
and active cooperation in matters rela
ting to local and general government es-
sental to the country. Whatever may
have been their errors or their crimes,
they certainly, in general acted under the
impulse of what they believed to be pa
triotic motives; and being beaten they
would certainly now vote and legislatc
for the best interests of tho country &C
cording to their light. They can have
no higher interests now than the welfare
of their section, and it cannot be doubted
that all of the best talent is needed to
promote in the highest degree its future
welfare, which must react in the financial
situation of the country on the prosperity
and welfare of the North also.-Detrolt
(Michigan) Free Press.
= Ono of the newspapers tells a story
of North Carolinian who, like the most
of his countrymcn, was not willing that
anything pertaining to his property, his