, 1872-10-11

| what was TIE condition OF the snrrerdere
Souti7 What ,sas tie result to the people c
that portion Of tho country within whose border
the four years terrible contest had beon a
ruptcy. Their whole social system he'd Zee
shattered, and their labor system utterl
destroyed. The freedom Of tho Slaves hat
enalarcd their masters. During the four year
of supreme effort and agony tGeir country wa
first isolated from the outer world and then rav
| rious foe. Their labor system was first organ
| lied ard destroyed altogether; their plantation
| fell out OF cultivation their railroads we're de
stroyed,> their banks ruined, towns destroyed
their currency and bonds AID stocks II Vhicl
their all Was invested rendered worthless; AM
together with all was engulfed in this same com
mon ruin their investment in mines, mills ane
other industrial and commercial ESTABLISHMENTS
Such uniye1sa1 ruin, perhaps, mover before pre-
vailed in any country. In this great metropolis
drawing your srstenance and wealth from IN
numbered sources; reaching oat your arms roi
only to this but to o.her continents, and gather
ing in the unnumbe1ed products Of the world fol
your happiness and prosperity, little appreciate
the fearful exhaustion, the terrible woe and SUI
fering Of the South at the close Of the war. With
theaa conditions Of utter exhaustion, suffering
and want prevailing at tho South, and the disor-
gaolzation Of industrial. commercial, and hnan-
ci8l afFairs Of the North, YRS the supreme
need Of the hour2 70 what should those con-
selves with earnest, honest, and patriotic doTo-
ton? Why, to the prompt, complete and per
mancnt pacifcahon of the country and the adj
just1nent Of the burdens Of taxation go as to
meet the absolute necessi1ies OF the Govern
ment, and at the Same time permit and even en-?
corrnge the restoration of our commercial 1nsc-
inc and lost commerce, and crippled Industries
and tisordered currency, as we'll as the resrs,l-
tation aud rscuperafion Of the deso!ated and I'M
poverished South. The condition Of public sem
1,o+f fny
npe-for the Inauguration Of tlis broad ard
statesinanlike policy. at tho South, torn, bleed
ing, ruined by the terrible ordeal of blood and
carnage, WAS heard high sbove the walls Of an
guish and Distress the cry for peace end restcIa-
ton. Satisfied with the utter failure Of the
fearful experiment she had made, she Wcs ready
to accept any reasonable terms which might be
prescribed; wnilo tho North, in the rlentitude
OF her joy over the victory won and tho Union
preserved, WAS disposed to bo .nagneuimous Gs
well as just. Here WAS presented ono Of
those rare opportunities for the exhibition Of
lofty patriotism and profound statesmanship
rarely voucheafed to any man or set OF men.
Had the Government authorities of this nation
suits OF the war might have been permanently
secured, and the whole country restored to
peace, and started fresh upon O. new career Of
prosperity in q few brief months. Wise, prtl-
dent, aad patriotic councils, however, did not
prevail The President, without, as it was con-
%A4N~A~NO-A ~AA~
business Of reconstruction on his Own account.
And, although his plan v7os radically defe.tiye,
the South were compelled to accept and adopt
it Under pein Of being denounced as still re-
bellions. Congress overthTew the Presidential
plan, impeached and tr2ed the President, and
Substituted in its place military governments,
which we're eventually snparceded by civil gov
ernments, organized upon terms and aceord-
ing to conditions prescribed by itself. Near
II si1 years elapsed from the surrender
a. Appor3aitox before ali the States we're
fully represented in Congress, and thnt
whole period vas one Of doubt. distrust,
confusion and uncertainty in the South. Its
people were the reslduary 1egatees Of Eli the
bitter struggle between the President and Con-
gress. The President denounced them II they
did not promptly adopt his plan OF recoustzuc-
tion, and Congress punished them becaese they
did adopt it. Tho President ignored negro SUI
hage, bit Congress imposed it 50 condition
to restoration, and, while eafraacsis-
icg ell the blacks, disfrsnchiscl all the leading
whites. The President condded the recors::1uc-
tion OF these States to the white people: but
Congress sought it's accomplishment through
the instru1nanta1ity Of the negroes, tho white
and carpet-baggers from the North.
Eeitho1 plan Ct reconstruction Was wholly
right, nor was either entirely wrong. The en-
OF tho negro was the inevitable
End legitimate result Of emancipation; but the
OF tho whites Eas tho essence
of Late, folly, and wrong.
The same policy which dictated disfranchiss-
nent withheld amnesty, and to-day protests
sssinst s'ail2Ling hands across the bloody
.eas-n," conceived in hGto and selfish ambition,
md nu1tu-ed solely for the perpetuatlon OF par
san power, its results to the material interests
If the South have been aore disastrous than
sven the four years Of actual war. Wherever
he Congressional policy completely trlunlphed,
wherever States were radicaeized, and the Gov
,1nuens organized and controlled by the isno- |
n13f
.rchy, and corruption followed as inevitably as
light follows day. Taxation, IL some instances, |
yas increased to such IN extent es TO almost pxo
,ibit production. and State debts were contracted
'eyond the possibility Of payment. And what
reese Of the burdens Of the people? Have |
hey any great public imprqEe1nents? ANY or !
,anized system OF public SCHOOLS, or institutions |
# learning founded? Anything conducive to |
he happiness, tho advancement, or prosperity
t Tho peorlea Have these advantages nc
ruod to these people which alone justify the in
rease Of the public burdens and warrant the
expenditure Of the public treasure? What
ave the CarolinaS Georgia. Florida, Or any of
taxation, ,but bankrupt treasures
I'd dishoaored and ruined credit. TIE tale Of |
1ong and suffering. of robbery, peculation and
rimc- which theee people have endured, finds
o parallel in history. Their Industries have
ee:s para1yzed. their prosperity stided. the trea
a1ies robbed, thoir rights of property and per-
onal liberty invaded, and yet tie vampires who
1ttened by their dist.esses NE tho Jealous aG-
COATES Of this Administration, and the recipi-
nts OF it's sympathy and support. But not
lone by robbery and corruption have these Rad
al State Governments, these foster children Of
,e Administration, earned the contempt and
etestation Of the people They hare failed to
.ithfully administer the lams and preserve tho
ublic peace. They have not only brought them
elves and public authority into contempt, bus
icy have permitted, i NO. encouraged.
Iwlessness and crime. Disorder and violence
20 the legitimate fruits OF weak and corrupt
and wherever they have occurred
/ tha South they are 1acenble directly or indi-
.ctly to the inethciency or eonnivanee Of tho
cal State authorities, and yet there is not one
these Radical State Governments, though
.ekinS with corruption, and contemplate for
8 inediciency. which has not received the aid
i'd couotenance of this Administration.
Loyalty to the Administration is the eoye-eign
list, the sole requirement. e1actcd. Mo matter
ow much the people are oppressed; no matter
ow much their hopes are blghted ard their
respects yithered, if they arc only loyal to the
srty Of the Administration they rccsiye its
and support. The millions Of State
,bts that have been piled up since the war, and
10 consequent enormous increase Of taxation, |