Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-07-17
& VIRGINIA ADVERTISER
A Northern Minister ON the South.
From the New York Obs


Rev. 2. H. Fowler, D. D., of Utica, n. T.,
spent some time in the South last winter and
spring He was the Moderator of the Presby-
tcriam New School) General Assembly at the
time of the re. union, and is Justly distinguished
in the Church We find, with great pleasure,
such views as the following, expressed by such
man, in sermon recently preached to his
own people and published in the Utica Ob-
server:
''rhe traveller at the South cannot but learn
charity Ifauy animoSity towards the people
there was ever harbored by him, any spirit OF
revenge, any disposition to punish them, or
have them punished, any rejoicing at their
fate as earned by them and due to them, 1t Is
al! exercised, and the sentiment OF compassion,
of kindness, of fraternity, OF affection, subStltu-
ted for it. Calamity inspires commiseratlon,
and the transition is natural and Irresistible
from conuiseration to love. have spoken OF
the sutferings of our Southern brethren; one
must get a glimpse Of them to form an idea of
them We hear of them in general terms, or
listen to descriptions of them,-the ku klux
Committee of Congress tell us that the loss di-
rectly produced by the war to the slave States
was 81 600, ,0OOO0O, exclusive or the loss OF
slaves, and following this has been the breaking
up of the socia commercial, agricultural and
whole industrial fabric, and the consequent
aud the cessation Of incomes, and the whole
sale robbery Of the people by foreigners tolsted
into Office by trickery and falsehood,-a set Of
scamps, hesitate not to say, whose knaVery
finds no parallel in the history Of peculation.
Within two years million and quarter has
been stolen from South Carolina no voucher Tor
tarthiug of which can be found in the State
Treasury; and in one OF her counties, containing
ll.O00 population, between 5000 and 1000
Tr1 do N
no debt, and now SIS, 900, 900 are charged to
her, for which nothing can be shown, and every
other acre in the State would not suffice to pay
the claim upon her. Now, not merely conceive,
but meet your countrymen thus reduced over
whole section of the u.s.. from wealth to penury
men aud women reared in luxury, now living
in want--Americans, with the high spirit Of
Americans, mortified by defeat in conflict in
which their all was staked, and in which they
confidently expected an easy vlctory-by beg.
gary after being accustomed to profuslon and
prodigaity, the hereditary aristocracy. and rul-
lug class tyrannized over and spoiled by un-
principled adventurers whom they cannot but
despise and hate, and pliticaily supplanted as
until recently they we're, by negroes they once
owned, meet, [ say, your countrymen IN this
sad plight and where is the heart but melts
and flows to them
And they are worthy of our charity. My
range Of observation was quite restricted, but
the meekness, the patience, the submissive
ness, of those l saw surprised me. | am sure
that could not have equaled them II IN their
situation, and | would be afraid to trust my
Northern friends in comparison, should they
fare like them. Conversing with them freely
In their altered circumstances l never witness
ed a sign Of animosity save when 'carpet-bag-
gers were mentioned, and then they were
temperate in wrath contrasted with Northern
visitors among them. They accept their stua-
tion trying as it is, so far as | have witnessed
they accept the issue of the war-they ac-
cept the abolition of slavcry-they accept the
actual unity and ndviSibility and supreme So
vereiguty of the General Government-they
accept their citizenship of the United States as
really paramount to their citizenship OF the
several States-;;they accept the citizenship OF
the blacks and their political equality with
themselves. The outrages Of which we hear
are not theirs. An entirely different class per-
petrate them. I attended the kuklux trials
recently in progress at Charleston, and saw the
kind OF men engaged in the Ku Klux outrages,
and, without an exception, they We're this poor,
puny yellow ignorant and debassed set, and
the testimony disclosed no others as leagued
with them or iustigators OF them.
And, by the way, | witnessed there the
spectacle so striking to beholder IN Charles
ton, that of blacks and whites mingled indls-
crmnately in jurybox, and the whites,
though cultivated gentlemen, perfectly at ease
in the place.
Charity, brethren, charity Not only is
there constant call, an urgent demand, fine
opportunity for it in the world, but if We would
acquaint ourselves with men, learn the facts
about those whom we are prone to denounce,
how changed our sentiments would be; how
much more lenient, how much more kind. |
do not doubt that there is difference in men S
dispositions-that some are more harshly IN
clined than others-but | canuOt but think
that much if not most of the difference, comes
from difference In information and reflection.
People are severe In their judgments and views
from not knowing. those whom they reprobate,
or from not knowing the facts IN their case
Charity hopcth all things-believeth all
things, and let us cultivate it. Whatever ap-
pearances may be, and especially whatever
charges and reports, let us hold sentence III
reserve aud at least inform ourselves OF the
truth before condemnation is passed. And
when guilt is indubitably ascertained, let us
metc out judgment as we would have it mea1
sured to us, aud forgive as we hope to be; for
given. -----1..t .rE
SETTLES SALARY.-Many, very many years
ago-in the time of diplomatic outfits and sal
aries-it was said that an eminent individual,
nominated as Minister to China, pocketed his
outfit, spent it to pay off his private debts,
gave up the mission, and never returned what
he had received. This was one of the cases OF
abuse which led to the abolition of the outfit
system Now, the salary begins from the date
Of the commission, which is sometimes anticl-
pated for the convenience of the nominee, but
10 no instance have we heard-before the, pres
eut Adniuistration-of minister. retaining
any part Of his pay, unless he repaired to his
post and performed portion of bis duty Not
so nova days. A correspondent of the New
York Tribune states that in March, 1871, one
Thomas Settle, Of North Carona-the same
who presided at the Grant Convention at Phil
delphia-being appointed as Minister to. Peru,
drew his whole years salary at Washingtou--