Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-06-22

whose doings in the halls of legislation was
the theme of angry discussion on the street,
in the bar-room, in the parlor, and more
particularly in nil places of business. What
was fought out in the halls of Congress the
day previous, became the subject of strife
the following day in private circles, and
many Interruptions of social friendship oc-
Cured which eliminated in mutual hate,
and deadly conflict between individuals
on many battle field of the late rebellion.
The events of that day were the ominous
signs Of the approaching conflict which is
about TO rcvolutioulZc the South socially
and physically, and nowhere are its effects
more apparent than in the capital itself.
Then the municipal government of Wash
ington was in the hand of those who were
violent in Southern sentiment. Southern
society ruled and regulated everything
here northern industry, and northern
capital, and northern enterprise, were shut
out by the slavc-power. "Tumble-down
hovels," unpaved and muddy streets, and
n general want of thrift were the chief
characteristics of the "city of magnificent
distances" The population was small,
and scattered over large area of territory;
if we are not mistaken it amounted to but
10000. We then viewed it from the dome
of the capitol and made the expression
''What n capital for great natiOn.n
| There was not house in the place, eXclu
sive of the government buildings, which
would compare with some of our first class
buildings at home.
! As q natural consequence Of the feelings
existing between the two sections at that
| time, the war came-and it came with all
the horrors of long pcnt-up feeling of
jealousy and hatred on the part of the
South, and was met by the North with an
energy and determination that indicated
| her appreciation Of free government, and
! prosecuted vigorously until the great end
was attained the stability Of our institu-
/ tiOns and, as sequence, universal liberty.
! Cheap when blood bought are the liberties
I of q nation, was the sentiment that ruled
the loyal North, and acting under the con-
victon of its truth, the defeats and dis
/ couragcments she sustained added but
strength to her efforts and perseverance in
her purpose.
The result of the war is nowhere more
clearly defined than in the physical changes
that have taken place in and around the
capital within the last ten years. To-day
she boasts of her population of 100, 900 in
habitants, and as you pass through her
compaCtly built and well-pavcd streets and
see the busy hustle of her people, You i'm
a4iue yourself in some large commercial
city Of the North.
Immediately after the war Washington
was the only point OF sale ingress to npItA-
crn enterprise south of the line, and il has
had an uninterrupted course ever since
that time. To-day it is entirely under
northern influence, and the effects OF north
ern energy, northern ideas, and nottheru
thrift are apparent on every side. AZ all
interior places south of this il has been re-
sisted wherever it las attempted to plant
;te l...t OF ,yh, - N,,,lll Ia,
willing to build up the same condition of
prosperity, the slothtul inhabitants are
roaming over slave -worn-out fields and
through uudraincd swampS, and unOrOkcn
forests. as an organized Ku kluX, III pur-
suit of dctcncccss negroes and harmless
whites, who differ with them in politics,
and upon whom they intict the Sroascst
outrage, regardless of aGc or sex.
Our correspondence is not intended to
have any political bearing whatever, but
| must propOund a question to you is
this the time TO make political change IN
the affairs of the nation - Northern en-
tcrprisc has not yet advanced beyond the
Calital-shall we rctrogade and place III
power the party that, from the day Of the
commencement of the bitter controversy
= which terminated in rebellion. supported,
defended and upheld an institution which
was curse to the South and the plague o
; the North ?
The wants Of the South and lis weakness
were iully and truthiully explained prcvi
; Gus to the war, in Il book entitled "rhC
impending Crisis" That book, at that
time, was regarded as an inceudiary mat
ter calculated TO dist,lrJ the PeacGW rcPoSe
I. Of tie South, by our opponents Of to-day
and the man who spoke of its merits III Ia
vorablc terms was regarded By that party
: rs an enemy 10 his country. Would II Ot
safe to place the interests of the nation i!
p the hands of the Democracy before Tho
work of Improvement has barely com
; mCnCcd
Washington to-day would be in the samt
: dilapidatcd condition in which we found i
l twenty-four years ago, if it had continued
- under Democratic SlarC-rule. The slave
: market would occupy the place of the lie
I Gitimatc business place, and while th'
l naughty SOutherper, in his bOasttul swaG
ger, would express his contcmp. for tn,
{ useful calling OF the tOiling tradCsman q
i the North, the intelligent Norlhurner wonls
/ turn away disgustcd with the uhumauit,
= of the auction-block, at once the source o
b. misery 10 a defcncclcss race. an insult an,
l an oppression to himself, and disgrace t
e the institutions established bT his fore
! fathers which declare all men free an'
/ equal, =" and all men entitled to their indie
/ feasible rights" Yours Nc.,