New-York tribune., 1872-07-02
THE REFORM CAMPAIGN.
THE TEMPER OF THE SOUTH.

vENTION, ITS TEMPER AND CONSTITUTION.
[FRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THB TRIBONkI
RICHMOND, Va, June 29.-I doubt whether
friends in the North fully appreciate the meaning OF
the wonderful uprising in favor OF the Lbera cause
that is taking place throughout the South. II means
than disgust the selshness and corruption OF
Grants Administration. 1t than deter
minaton to throw off the rule Of force and fraud-of the
carpetbagger sustained by the bayonet 1t means that
sincere longing for peace, for brotherhood and for
union with the North begins to I'LL the Southern heart
These people long for nationality; they want to feel
more that they have country to love, and
that they make a part OF the life OF the nation.
people who, by natural feeling, are more intensely
patriotic does exist the face OF the EARTH When
patriotism meant devotion to their States they mani
tested IL by the costly sscrces and believe that
in future they will become patriots once more In
the broader Of devotion TO the grand idea OF Amer
ican nationality. The opportunities for the develop
ment OF such feeling have been wanting heretofore.
The Southern people felt that they disrusted
hated, aid oppressed by the General Government. No
offer Of forgetunoss and amnesty came from the DOM
inant party No hand OF friendship stretched out
to them In political canvass they heard the old
war cries shouted, the battle songs sung and the
anmosities OF the bitter struggle they had passed
through sedulousy revived They made the spoil
of the conqueror, they believed swarm OF adyen-
turers settled ike locusts upon hrn. Their local gov
seized upon by unknown men, or by dan
and INSCRIPTIONS persons from the lower classes
in their midst. system Of prescription and disfran-
chscment was established, which handed them over
helpless to the plunderers who organized robbery and
incompeteney, under the and forms Of govern
ment. They the gret triumphant North 90 ON in
its OF prosperity, while their fields lay desolate
and poverty and sat at their hearthstones. No
help to them TO reblild their waste places Emf
graten and capital passed them by 10 seek the farof
regions of the extreme Vest. They were Stunned by
a.. ha
| a curse that they were powerless to remove.
1t IL no wonder that cushing defeat aud pinching
poverty the rule of the bse and ignorant at home the
| codness, Indifference, active animosty exhibited
toward them by the National Government, should have
produced some feeling OF despairng suenneSs. They
could not be expected 10 eel kindly toward people who
| had conquered them and who gave them no sympathy
in their great distress. II not unnatural that know
ing little OF the North, they should have believed the
carpet to be fair specimens of her people, and
should have thought that the hostile spirit OF the Wash
| ngton Government animated them all and when they
| cherished the hatnds of the war, they felt that
| they were only repayng enmity with enmity
But, through it all bitterness never took any lasting
root in their natures They always ready to show
gratitude for kindness and to respond cordially any
| manifestation Of sympathy. Their hearts sound
and true. We did not all know this in the North. We
did not understand the character of the Southern peo
pie Many Of thought them hopelessly welded to the
past and incapable Of grasping the opportunities ana
comprehendng the questions of the present The sDon
taneous outbreak OF enthusiasm that has greeted the
LIBERIA movement shows us how greatly We were mis-
taken As soon the Liberal Republicans OF the North
said TO the South, Let forget the past and clasp
hands and be brothers again; join us In patriotic effort
TO rescue the National Government from the domination
Of seshness and corruption; let us stand
together purity, honesty and good government; come
back into the Union and aid us to IL from
| NJ he pp.
sponded with eanesness and heariness that showed
| that she had waited for such opportunity. She is
weary OF isolation and dstrus and she longs not alone
for relief from oppressive legislation and hostile govern
ment but sympathy and fraternal feeling with the
Northern states and for reeablishment of senti-
ment OF common nationality. believe that the time Is
not far distant when the people Of the South will be
deyotedy attached TO the Union OF the States are
those OF the North to-day. The Cincinnati Convention
threw the wall which has separated the patriotic
men both sections The great tidal wave which 1t set
in motion destined only to purify the National Ad
mnisraton but sweep away the lingering and
bitterness the and to lit the South from the mar
path OF seconasm up TO the broad, high ground OF
! love OF country and pride OF nationality.
Perhaps there are many in the South who see
clearly that this to be the grand final result OF the con
test in which they heartily Joining Most
of the no doubt, look further than 10 the overthrow
of Grant and Go not trace the success Of the Liberal
! L
however, that there in all sections few, at least
| who are clear GIFTED enough to that there is u
deeper significance in the wonderful uprising Of the good
aud true men in both North and South 10 redeem the
country from personal rule and corrupt administration,
and who gladly recognize the fact that underlying this
magnificent popular movement is sincere longing for
] peace and brctherhood-for amnesty of the heart
granted by the South to the North well by the
North the SOUTH As the movement advances this hid
| den force will be more and more perceived. When the
men Of the South shall have marched side by side
| with their Old enemies Of the North, fighting for
the same principles they will in the impending
test and when the victory shall be by their united
efforts there will be nothing left but the expiring brands
of the fires Of ectienal hate and these viii die
ever during the bengnant OF peace and good will
| that Will commnce on the attn of March next.
There Is nowhere In the South more rejoicing the
glorious prospects OF the Liberal than Vir
Rinia or general recognition of its future posi-
biities. Here upon the battle-ground of the Rebellion
the people willing to forget the past than
States that suffered less from the war; and derous
of casping hants with the true of the North
the grave of former animostles. The Vrgnians arc
emneny a conservative and sensible people and when
they embraced he profered alliance of the Liberal Re-
pubcans with IN almost perfect unanimity and with.
out waiting for idvice from their politicians and
papers, IL fDm impulsye gush of sentiment. but
from convictionl well settled in advance They were
prepared forth, movement fully than any South.
ern State, for long ago 1859 they had redeemed
their state Government from misrule by dropping old
party names andforming organization OF honest
Democrats and Lepublcans under The name Of the Con-
servative party They elected at that time Gov Walker,
who had always Republican The movement OF 1869
in Virginia forerunner OF the national movement
ofls72 ia wonder therefore, that Virginia leads
The South in the zeal with which her citizens support the
Cincinnati ticket. There some Bourbons here,
elsewhere but their number grows smaller every day.
assured there Will not be 100 III the state VINO Will Try
10 stem the popular current after the Baltimore COnycn
ton In the Conservative State Convention which has
lust closed It's sessions In this city, there not single
man who did not announce his intention of supporting
fhe Cincinnati tifket n exceedingly mild tyne Of