Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-07-26
WIZ "TuE sOUTSf" SUPPORTS
.uR. GRRELEI'.

One Of the most common arguments in
favor Of the election Of Mr.. Greeley is that
it will reconcile the South. II is time, we
arc told, that the war should be forgotten,
and the people OF the Southern States made
to feel that they are brethren. Come, then,
cries the Sage, let us clasp bands over the
bloody chasm--and lift me into the White
House. simultaneously with this cry we
sec that Boauregard, Wado Hampton, Ita-
phael Semmos, and other well-known late
Confederate chiefs declare for Mr.. Greeley.
The Virginia Convention elects Filz Hugh
Lee, Bradley johnson, Robert Ould, John
B. Baldwin, Thomas $. Bocock and others
all Of them conspicuous military and civ
il officers during the rebelion-delegates
TO Baltimore. In the city of Baltimore the
First Greeley Club of Maryland is address,
ed by Colonel Harry Gilmore, the leader of
tho rebel raid around tha; city, and Colonel
Yerger, of most lamentable fame in con-
ncction with the Georgia assassination.
Beriah Magoffin, of kentucky, who defied
President Lincoln's proclamation, pro-
nounces for Mr.. Greeley and ox-Govern-
or Vance of North Carolina, tells the story
of "Old Grimes" and declares that, if it be
in the hymn-book, it must be sung; that
Mr.. Greeley, nominated at Baltimore, must
be supporte d as the regular Democratic
candidate.
Now what VIC arc all concerned to know
is the significance of this Southern support
of Mr.. Greeley Four years ago the sup
port of these same persons, given TO Mr..
Seymour, who was then the regular DEM
ocratic candidate, WAS the argument most
strongly urged against him by Mr.. Gree
ley, the present Democratic candidate. If
that support then was an argument against
the success of the Democratic party, is ii
less so now? 1t was then said, as it is now,
ihet the Republican policy toward the South
was harsh and cruel, and that the success
ofthe Democrats would be the earnest ofira-
tcrnity and peace, and would reconcile the
South. But in what way was it to do it?
BY restoring TO power the political party
to which the leaders of the rebellion had
always belonged. And that was the very
reason why Mr.. Seymour was defeated.
The loyal American people did not believe
that Democratic success or an administra-
ton elected by Democrats, was the true
method of concliation. For they knew
that Democratic "concliation of the
South" meant the modification and repeal
of the Republican policy. And in that
they saw only confusion and danger.
Is this situation changed because the can
didate is different. Not at all. 1t is not
fraternity, nor reconciliation, nor unity
which the representative Southern leaders
desire. They wish power; and their way
to power is the success Of the Democratic
party. The Southern support is given to
Mr.. Greeley because he Is the Democratic
candidate, not because he represents an alb
stract policy of fraternity and reconcilia-
ton. The speech OF Governor Vance shows
the exact Southern position. He says that
"thc South" meaning the late rebels, have
an earnest desire 10 forget the bitterness of
the past, and that the Cincinnati Conven-
ton has proved that a large body of its for
mer enemies are desirous of shaking hands;
therefore, he says the South will cheerful
ly support Mr.. Greeley-if the Baltimore
convention nominates him! Precisely. 1t
is not Cincinnati, it is not Greeley, it is not
.
ic candidate, that they propose to support.
If there were three candidates in the field
General Grant, Mr.. Greeley, and a
straight Democrat, regularly nominated
docs any body suppose that Governor
Vance and Wade Hampton and Beriah
Magoflin and Harry Gilmore and Yerger
and Beauregard and Raphael Semmes, or
those whose sentiments they represent,
would vote for Greeley and Republican
fraternity and reconciliation rather than for
the "straight' Democrat?
Let us look at facts, not sentimental the
ories. The desire OF "the South"-in Gov
ernor Vance's sense-is to shake hands
with the loyal North by securing Demo-
cratic return to power, because the Demo-
cratic party opposed the war and the settle
ments of the war, and while it "acquiesc-
es,' does not believe.
Mr.. Wade Hampton, for instance, has al
ways represented the most perious ele-
ment in this country. But he is a man of
courage, character and convictions. lie
has not changed since his attendance upon
the Tammany Convention in 1868, which
Blair. He supports Mr.. Greeley in ~ for
the same reason that lie supported Mr..
Seymour in '6S; not because he is anxious
for What is called reconciliation, but be-
cause he wishes power. And if it were
otherwise, what then? If these gentle
men had abandoned their theories of the
government, had conquered the feelings of
ha I in l,a
tlement of the Union, do they represent in
fluences which it is desirable to introduce
into the administration Are they more
devoted to the principles to which they
yield than those who have always main
tained them? Are they more likely to pro-
tect the colored citizen, to pay the debt
honorably, to keep the peace with foreign
powers than the Republicans? In the mi
nority they are valuable; in the majority
they would be dangerous.
The sectional aspect of our politics is de-
plorcd by every good citizen. But it is the
result of circumstances for which we to-
day are not responsible, and it is not to be
remedied arbitrarily, mechanically, or SEN
timcntally. Reconciliation will not result
from taking the control Of the government
from Now England, the Middle States, and
the Northwest, and giving it to the South
ern and border States. The power must
remain where ii is, because thore the prin-
ciples of the new Union are living faith |;
and that power must be exercised with ex-
act regard for "cqual justice" This must
be demanded. But if it is not to be ex-
pected of Republicans, who are intelligent
and believe in the policy of equal rights,
still less is it to be expected of Democrats,
whose traditions despise equality. lfthere
have been laws that seem hard, 1t is be-
cause in the presence of the great orsaniz-
cd Democratic party at the North in alli-
ance with "the South the equality Oh all
citizens could not otherwise be secured.
The final defeat and dissolution of the
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