The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-02-26

<Nt1N otC OoA aueAoiAAS oS0AeS AVk oat'
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THE PRESIDENTS SOUTHERN TOUR
On the 10th of March next, within two
weeks after the Inauguration, President
Grant proposes to make tour through
the Southern States for the purpose Of
personal observation, remaining few
days in each of the principal cities, and
comforting with the leading citizens
He will likely extend his visit as fal
South as New Orleans, returning by way
of Memphis and taking Richmond, Col
umbia, Charleston and Mobile ON the
route. These cities, we see, in antici-
patton of the expected visit, are prepar-
ing to give the President q fitting recep-
tion-one due alike to the high Office
which he holds and to the neeessity&hf
vindicating their own character which
has been so seriously maligned. 9
The President, it is said. will be ac-
compsnied by most Of his Cabinet and
by leading members of Congress, and his
object is to see and judge for himself of
the true condition of the Southern States
their SOCIAL and political status and
of the best means of relieving them
from the troubles, political and financial,
which constitute now the great obstacles
in way of Southern progress. There Is
no doubt that the real condition of the
South has never been understood by the
intelligeptmeno of the North, and that the
antagonism between the sections has
arisen from mutual misconoeption and
misrepresentation. The Congressional
plan Gofi reconstruction has tended to-
keep alive this antagonism, by placing
the Southern governments in the hands
of those whose, interest it was that
this state of things SHOULD continue
President Grant is blamed, and
we suppose very justly, for hay
ing done nothing to arrest the evil,
but on the contrary, to have lent the
power of the general government to sus-
taip misrule at the South. In this, he
acted contrary to his ayowed policy up
on assuming the Presidency, and very
probably was controlled by party ties,
and considerations of personal advance
ment. But now, that he has been re-
elected by a majority of more three
foqrths of the States, and by the aid, too,
of Southern votes, he must naturally feel
independent of party ties, with both the
viii and the power to restore peace and
harmony between the sections, and es-
tablish good government at the South.
Whatever be the motive, we hail this
change of policy as an omen for good,
and are glad to see that the Southern
press and corporate authorities general.
ly, are preparing such q reception as
will advance the objects of his visit
The various objects which will engage
his attention are thus set forth by cor:
respondent of the New York Herald:
"Divested of all official significance
the great Southern visit of the President
will be, by frank and friendly inter.
change OF opinions, to arrive at the true
solution of the Southern problem. and
if possible, to inaugurate new and ma.
tional era of good feeling and prosperity
He has already lent his friendly aid tc
the. completion of Virginia's long wish.
ed for water line from the Chesapeake
Boy to the Ohio, and my informant
thought the President intends to inAes.
tigate carefully the material wants and
necessities of the South, and devise sub.
sequen ly the best means by which they
can be consistently advanced with the
national aid. Perhaps the burdensome
public debts of each of these States will
also engage his attention. A feature OF
the visit will be to examine thoroughly
the working Of the aarpet-bag system,
to root out such of these precious birds of
prey as he finds obnoxious to the inter-
ests Of the respective peoples or States
where they are, and as far as he can, to
supply their official places with natives
of character and respectability among
the people where they reside. Next,
and lastly, the President is determined
to efectually harmonize the people Of
the North and Souta, and in this, his in
iti8l movement to make the next four
years of his administration years of un-
exampled national peace, good will and
prosperity. I might have added, how
ever, perhaps he wishes to ascertain the
opinions of the Southern people with re-
gard to the, acquisition of Cuba, Mexico
and st. Domingo, as they being the near
est neighbors, might be most interest
ed.n
Such visit cannot fail to be product
iveof good--to correct ofmucl the misap-
prehension which exists as to the condi-
tion and state of feeling of the South
and to prepare the way for the return Of
peace and harmony. ID.