The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-09-16
THE POLICY OF PEACE AND RE,
CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSED
NATIONAL CONVENTION.

The Nc,v York Herald in recent ar
ticle, presenting well-considercd view
of the condition of things at the South,
PROPOSES u National Convention which
shall take into consideration the causes
and results of the war, and suggest some
plan by WHICH the Union may be made
to adjust itself to the strange conditions
which have grown out of the late strife,
and by which peace and prosperity may
be guaranteed to the South. We have
no idea that any such scheme is practl-
cable, or that Democratic or Republican
leaders would give their support to any
conventions outside of their own party
organizations. We see that Conven-
lion of Southern Republicans is to be
held in Atlanta in October, to take into
consideration the existing troubles at
the South, and that the President and
prominent Republicans of the North
will also he present; and doubtless in
all conventions, Democratic and Repub-
lican, the anomalous condition of affairs
here furnishes disturbing element III
their deliberations, as it will exert u
controlling influence in the coming
elections.
But what is proposed to be done,
what practicable measure of relief Is
suggested as q remedy for existing
troubles? The Herald thinks that the
armed occupation of the South would be
an offence and scandal, and would not
be countenanced by the public senti-
ment of the country. On the other
hand, no one desires or would tolerate
the revival of slavery, neither would
the North sanction any assumption Of
the Confederate debt, the cotton loans
losses by secessionists, and the sequcs'
tration of lands at the South. These
are results growing out of the war, as
they spring out of all wars, and defy
any scheme of equitable adjustment
and compensation. The South com
plains nothing of all this, and cheerful
lily submits to evils which are natura
and inevitable, but she does complain
of that unwise policy of reconstruction
which opened upon her the fiood-gate'
of corruption, in the scheme of univer
sal suffrage, and placed the lives ant
property of her best people at the mer
cy of the emancipated slaves. BetteI
had it been for the whole country, tina
armed occupation had continued at th'
South until the relations between tin
races had been adjusted, and the slave
educated to the full capacity of intelli
gent freeman, and better would it be TO
the country, now that the South shoul'
be rcmanded to the military condition
: than that the present condition OF al
fairs should continue.
The most intolerable of the evils un
der which We are laborins grew out
the principle of universal suffrag
which has been incorporated into ou
constitution, and which at all times pro
ductivc of evil is especially disastrou
where it seeks to elevate to the full-pow
er of the ballot, the ignorant negro
who forms so large an clement in South
crn civilization. Property and intelll
gencc are virtually disfranchised, AM
ignorance and pauperism are ruling
powers in the State. But what is tn
remedy? Await the slow operation
natural causes, and patiently abide tn
course of events: But the evil will no
brook delay, and We may be ruined be
fore, the day of promised dclivcranc'
draws nigh. Congress has brought u
into our present unfortunate condition
and Congress must cut the Gordial
knot of our troubles. In the hour
our extremity, we are not disposed t.
sickle at constitutional forms, AM
would even seek protection under tn
pgis of despotic President, than b.
ruined at the ballot-boX.