The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-11-23
COMMENTS OF THE HERALD.
ssThe Administration and tho Southern
stntes-Generai Grants New Policy OF
Reconcilintlon.''


stntes-Generai Grants New Policy OF
ReconciltntIon.''
From the New York Herald-EdItorial.l
The special dispatch from trustworthy
source at Washington, 10 reference TO the
future treatment OF the reconstructed Southern
States resolved upon by General Grant, Is
exceedingly gratifying. 1t thus appears tnat
the rigorous regime of the past is 10 be dls-
carded for q more generous aud eUncillatory
policy; that the PresdenL's attention is much
given to the conslderaI.oa OF this Important
subject; that 1t iB believed he fully comedies
with the idea that the lime, the conditions
and the general results of The late national
election are propitious for revlvlng the same
''era OF good feeling" which came in with
President Monroe's reelection by an over
whelming popular majority similar to that
which General Grant has Just received; that
he Is In favor OF very material notifications
10 the Ku.Klnx laws Of Congress as soon as
he can be satisfied that there Is full protection
for life and property in the Southern States,
and that he will most probably recommend q
general amnesty in bis forthcoming annual
message.
These are indeed gratifying assurances, and
they are perfectly consistent with that gener-
GUS character and those conciliatory inclina.
tions manifested by General Grant In many
things, from the surrender at Appomaltox
Courthouse to his humane treatment OF the
Indians. Doubtless, II instead OF that remorse.
less Purltanicsl spirit OF coercion which has
TOO much controlled the legislation OF Con-
gress In reference to the 5onlh-surely If, In
stead of this policy, the two houses had been
&c yerned by the more amiable spirit OF Gem
eral Grant, all complaints OF the Insecurity OF
life and property In the lately rebellious States
would have ceased long ago. By his constitu.
tional oath the President is bound to take care
that the laws are faithfully executed; but If in
their execution the laws relating to the "Ku.
Kux Klans," for example, are found, In his
Judgment too harsh to reach the object de-
signed, it ia equally his constitutional duty to
recommend their modification or repeal. We
ere glad 10 learn that this ls substantially his
opinion, and that accordingly we may look to
President Grant for the inauguration OF new
line of action towards the South for the estab-
lshment OF law and order-a policy embracing
q complete obliteratlOn OF martial law and
rebel disabilities.
We have said that 10 the conditions and in
the results of the late extraordinary Presden.
tial contest there is every encouragement TO
the administration for the new departure OF
fraternal generosity towards the South. II
the President has secured the endorsement OF
every Northern State, from the Atlantic to the
Paciac seaboard, he has secured q vote OF con-
fdence from majority of the Southern States
and the Southern people. This popular yer.
dict, North and South, is justified by the exl-
gencles of the situation. In the North the
paramount Idea In favor Of General Grant was
The stability aud security Of our financial sys-
| tenn against the lncalcuable financial derauge-
| ments and disasters which might, perhaps,
| have followed the election OF Mr.. Greeley. In
| the South, on The other hand, the ruling idea
| In the late canvass was Southern rights and
Southern wrongs under the general govern.
ment and 1t Is upon this question that the
southern States and the Southern people meet
the administration more than halt way, touch
| ing universal! amnesty and the complete OBJ
liberation OF the pains and penalties and In.
yidlous distinctions OF q sectional rebellion
which, dating from April last, surrendered tc
the armies or the Union seven long years ago
Four years of destructive war and ovel
seven years OF the congueror's measures o.
/ poli,ical reconstruction are surely punish
inenr enough for the rash southern prO-slav
ery suicidal adventure OF tue Southern Con
| federacy, particularly when the States ant
people Of the late Confederacy have accepted
eyery condition imposed OF restoration. VIZ
say accepted, as ra-distingulshed irou
submission. In 1871 JEFF. Davis, In public
speech ct Selma, Alabama, said that he &C
cepted nothing-he only submitted TO tht
situation; and ne had many supporters In tni'
declaration But In 1872 The Southern people
whether supporting Grant or Greeley, accept
ed the settlements of the war as emoodleo IL
the new amendments to the constitution ant
In the measures of Southern reeonstructlon
opposition coalition. If upon this tes
the voice of the South has been ex
pressed in favor of General Grant, surely ht
has nothingto fear from the broadest polio
of Southern reconciliation, but has every con
eIderatioa inviting him to this course w