New Orleans Republican., 1873-08-29
TBE SOUTHERN PEOPLE INDICATED.

SlOceI6ly uc6AOAo W oSNu4S AO> SA~~A
State o fair share Of the favor of Congress
in the appropriation for national works,
the REpuBLIcAS deems it a duty to dis
abuse the national mind Of the prejudices
created against Louisiana by certain per-
sons claiming TO speak fos the Southern
people and avowing unabated hostility to
the Union and national republic. The
chief of these is Mr.. Jefferson Davis. who
has been applauded by malconten.s like
himself both North and South. Our fel'
low.citizens will see that SO long as the
rivals Of Louisiana, who likewise ask ma
tional aid, can publish without contradic'
ton such rindictive appeals as that OF
Mr.. Davis. the Southern people will be
set down as disaffected. Neither in wis
dom nor justice can Congress be expected
to aid a people only awaiting an opportu-
nifty to overthrow the government. In
order, then, to disabuse the national mind
of a prejudice against the Southern people
so unfounded the REPUBLICAN proposes to
separate them from the malcontents who
misrepresent them. A residence OF twen-
ty years or more at the South, compre.
hending the whole period Of the war,
gives authority to the opinions which we
shall utter.
The mass Of the Southern white people
were always attached to the Union. This
has been proven by their services in the
wars for its maintenance. and for the ex-
tension of It's territories. There has been
always class which aspired TO govern
the Union. and which did govern the
Union until it outgrew them, when they
became disunionists.
The people of the South were not dis
unionists; part Of them held large values
ia the title TO slaves. Much the larger
portion held no slaves az all. When the
indictments pressed the issue 70 seces-
sion. the people Of the South who owned
slaves were appgehensive Of loss by aboI-
ton. The portion which owned no slaves
were apprehensive Of negro equality. Re.
garding the slave as debased, the whites
sevolted at the idea that he was 20 be their
associate and the compulsory associate Of
their families. Hence the union OF these
two classes Of people, not against the
Union. but against invasion and abolition
as apprehended. The result Of the war
occasioned this last class much surprise.
They found the colored people respect
full. docile and dependent. They
were not socially aggressive. The
non-slaveholdess found another more
surprising fact. This body Of labor had
been held by close corporation Of slave
owners. No one could enter the corpora
ton unless be had the capital 70 purchase
labor. The non-slaveholdes could not,
except in sare instances. hire associate
labor. The act Of emancipation put az
once in the market Of free labor, certainly
thsee millions Of men, women and child
yen dwellings, Any man Of energy could
then hire aud direct as many Of these
IaboTess as he had credit for. when before
tie war, he might not have been able 70
command che labor OF one besides himself.
The unexpected increase Of the cotton
crop is due in great part, 70 this combina.
'ion Of directing energy with free labor
The Confederate soldier who. before the
war, could only aspire to be the overseer
Of large STAKEHOLDER. can now hire
hundred hands on . cotton plantation as
well as Oh railroad contract. This un.
expected opening Of the labor market to
him. who before the wax had no
access to that market. has occupied
the people Of the South. They
have psospered more than the same class
ever did before. and they have no motive
70 hate the Union and no purpose 70 plot
against the Union. That they love thei,
military associates ana are proud Of their
wal record is natural, but il would be
unjust 90 them 70 charge that they are
hostile 20 the Union. This class has
gained more by emancipation than any
at the South except those who have
gained their freedom.
Ts suppose that Mr.. Davis OF the class
which he represents are popular in the
South is . mistake. There vas certainly
. sympathy fos him in his Imprisonment.
but Mr.. Davis was never popular with the
South. IN the first place he was neve. Of
that people. Reared in camps snd sepa-
rated by the seclusion of politics. he was
never brought in contact with the masses
Of Southern people. When entrusted
With provisional power as President
Of the Confederacy, permanently re.
neved az . later date, Mr.. Davis by 40
means carried out the theory Of the con.
federation. He grouped around him and
placed in high position almost exclusively
men entertaining his own partisan
opinions. There was no confidential
admission Of those men 90 his coun.
sells who had belonged 20 other parties
before che war. One Of his most
congressional acts was the
military conscription OF the whole pec.
pie. II was SO amended as 70 place
the whole Confederacy under martial law.
From the ages Of eighteen TO ffty-fve all
men were required 70 make serns with
the bureau Of conscripsioA. There
vas naturally great and gross favor
itism imputed. At one time be who
owned . given Aumbss Of slaves was
exempt from military service, while he
who had none must fight 70 defend the
title. Writs Of habeas corpus were served
in thousands OF cases 70 obtain exemptions,
Az s>.e.,ia ~nax,ooA saoao as,.;o.,a a