Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-02-06
Accepting the Situation.

The Rev. DR.. p. III. Fowler of Utica,
N. Y, who says 81 heartily voted for
Gen. Grant, and have implicit trust in
his fairness and moderation" in writing
to the n. Y. Observer, from Florida,
under a recent date, thus speaks of the
Southern feelings towards the Union,
the Freedmen, etc. Congregationalists
and Republicans should believe this
statement. DR.. Fowler writes as fol-
lows:
LIST. The Southern sentiment has
wonderfully acquiesced in the result Of
the late war and accepted the present
situation. There is no disavowal Of
former political theories touching the
supreme sovereignty as to whether it
resides in the United States or in the
several States, nor as to the abstract
RIGHT of secession. From the nature
of the case, this could not be the guer-
don of battle, and we could not ask
brave and honorable soldiers to con-
tess themselves mistaken about the
principles for which they fought, sim
ply because they were defeated. But
without any change of speculative
opinions, Southemers almost miver.
sally concede that those opinions have
now become utterly impracticable, and
they relinquish all purpose and wish to
carry them ont, and they submit to
the Government ON the basis where it
is now established
2nd. Southerners as unanimously
relinquish and renounce slavery, and
even feel relieved, and gladdened by its
abolition. am yet to meet the man,
or to hear Of one who deplores its fate
and wishes its rc-establshmcnt.
3rd. Southerners are the sincere
friends Of the freedmen; sympathyzing
with them, and interested in them, and
DESTROYS of hel ping them. Their past
relations to them and experience of
them, necesSitate this. They could
not be men and avoid it. The freed
men can be trusted with them, tor the
most part. and they are the only class
who can be relied upon for genuine
Kindness to the freedmen. With never
so benevolent a disposition, strangers
to them are incompetent for the wisest
and most valuable service to them, and
the Adventures from distant sections
Of the country who have stolen their
confidence, and preiudicedt them against
their former masters, and duped them
to put them into office, and to tacili.
tate fraud and robbery. have done q
wickedness, and produced Il mischief
in the alienation they have created, tc
which their thefts Of the public treas
uries. and their impoverishment Of the
community make no approach. "
Ohice-holdcrS, likewise, from the
, North. contain in their number mer
of the highest integrity and honor
earnestly and singly intent on serving
/ the States of their adoption; but mll
! titudes of them, | hardly need say. arc
utterly reckless OF everything but plum
der, and this they have perpetrated OF
scale so gigantic, and with a ruin tC
the people so widespread and complete
and with an ingenuity SO demoniac
that the history Of malteasance may be
searched in vain for a parallel to them
None but those on the ground can con
ceive their deeds, and the resulting
desolation; and if only the eyes ofth'
North could be opened to the facts,
torrent of Indignation would be arous
ed that must pour the miscreants dow
the deepest ABYSS.