The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-18

afoII6ome years before tha war iQ4 thu
rebellion, when Northern spolitt clana
were ,endeavoring to oonsohd hda&s & ihtof
one great political organization Gil. tha
elements opposed to the Southern States
| OF the Union either in interest or senti.
ment, persistent and systematic effort
was made to create prejudice against the
white citizens of the South. Apart from
the crusade. against the institution Of
slavery'a as an offence against the Divine
laws, and a-morai and social evil, the
slave-ownerssw were e-denounced as class,
and were held up to reproaoh as un-
American. insolent, over-bearing and
| tyranniool. The Southern people had
themselves to thank for the success of
this unpatriotio attempt to excite SEQ.
tional animosity and strife for political
purposes. Their peculiar position had
rendered them jenlous, suspicious and
arrogant. They had been accustomed
to brow. beat Northern men in Congrnss,
and had conceived an unfavorable OPT
nion of Northern courage. The sense
OF the insecurity Of their slave.property
kept alive in their breasts constant
feeling Of hostility towards the free
States, and the tone of their press and
public speakers was offensive and CALLING
to the people of the North. Eventu.
ally, the efforts OF the politicians and
the indiscretion OF the ohivalry brought
about secession and civil war; A bitter
and costly experience taught the South
ern men how erroneously they had
judged of the spirit of their Northern
fellow.citizens, while the sufferings and
the bravery of the South won the sym
pathy and respect of the North, and we're
accepted as an atonement for past follies
and offences. When the last gun of the
war had been fred, and the great rebel.
lion lay crushed and dead at the feet OF
Grants victorious army, there wac not q
citizen OF the loyal States, outside a
handful Of scheming politicians. who
did not earnestly desire to see the South
relieved as speedily as possible from the
inevitable penalties of her madness aud
restored to all her constitutional rights
under the reconstructed Union. The
Northern people required assurances that
the late Oonfederates would consent to
accept in good faith the decision reached
by the tribunal of arms, and were will.
ing, as soon as this was received, to
bury their anger aud their sorrow in q
common grave. Foremost among those
who thus patriotically sought to restore
the Union in the hearts of the people,
was the soldier who had rescued it from
actual destruction. Towards the close
of the year 1866. General Grant made an
inspection of the rebellious States, for
the purpose of learning by personal
observation the sentiment OF their lead
ing citizens and ascertaining what
amount of military force would be re-
quired for the preservation of order and
the enforcement of the laws. In his re.
port to. President johnson, the Leuto-
nant- General expressed his conviction
that the South had not only accepted the
decision OF battle as final, but had be-.
come convinced by reflection that this
denlslon had been fortunate one for
servations," wrote General Grant, "lead
me to the conclusion that the citizens of
the Southern States are anxious TO re-
tnrH to self-governmept within the
Union as soon as possi BILE; that while re-
constructing, they want and require
protection from the Government: That.
they think. is required, and is not hu-
initiating to them as citizens, and that if
such O course we're pointed out, they
would purane it In good faith. It ia to
be regretted" he adds, '1hat there can
not be greater commingling at this
time between the citizens of the two
sections, and particularly of those en-
trusted with the laU-making power"
The trouble of the recently liberated
negroes WAS not overlooked by the VIC
torions general. He found them to be
inclined to idleness and imbued with the
idea that freedom from bondage meant
freedom from labor. But he trusted to
time and the management of the State
governments to render the freedmen
willing to work and to remove by slow
degrees the evil Of ignorance, the legacy
OF their former condition.
Nearly eight years have passed since
the war closed, and the General is now
the President. The politicians. Who
have unfortunately surrounded aud con-
trolled his administration, have conti-
nued during the last three years and
half the same course towards the South
adopted by them as soon as the rebellion
was over, when they we're contending
with President Johnson for the political
control OF that section of the country.
The efforts of these men have been to
secure political power in the Southern
States, by colonizing tue South with
carpet-bag politicians, and holding with
them the solid negro vote. The process
VYaa aim mfalo and anov Tn fo,,snS A. - -.