The New York herald., 1876-12-24
SOUTHERN POLITICAL SENTIMENT.
To rnx EDlroa o. TIE HxaAID:-

To THE EDiToR or THE HEaALD:-
Believing attitude Of the Southern people In the
pending political revolution be almost universally
misunderstood in the North and appreciang the dii-
hcuity encountered by unbiased independents
paper Ike the HERALD. in attempting 10 read from
Northern standpoint the sentiments OF the South
ern people IN the present national emergency, am
induced TO present your readers from this quarter
Of Dixie the following index Of Southern opinion gath
cred from the unrcscrved confidence OF people idcn
ticni race and political faith.
Indeed unanimous and outspoKen Is opinion In
the South to-day that partisan OF per-
verted understanding, could iai TO read the scnti-
ments OF the people Alright Whatever may have been
the diversity OF views among the masses up to the TN
Of November last the differences have been dissi-
paed, and public opinion IS sharply cryslalzed TO-
to-day. believe that give expression to sentiments
not local or confined to a GLASS; but universal IN tho
SOUTH when assert
Fsrsf-That the entire people OF the South desire TO
be- and believe themselves TO be. loyal and per-
mancnt section OF the federal Onion, under the con-
stitution as II is
able secession and OF the Confederate
government submitted TO ther decision by ballot
to-day not 1000 votes would be obtained IN any Stnto
in The affirmative
Tnird-That a proposition 10 re-enslave the negro
would be met with even more vigorous negative
He must be protected aborer OF inestinablc value
and when his strong impulses are no longer perverted
BY political tranps difficulty VIII be experienced III
controlling his vote
FoUD,--That though they earnestly and unani-
mously supported Mr. 1ilden In the late contest. as
aordlug the rcadlest OF relief from carpetba
government III several southern states and sundry
grevous wrongs inflicted by representatives, Of the op-
posing party yet realizing more clearly than tue
Northern people that ali grounds OF anlasonism be-
tween the scctious removed by the emancipation
oil the negroes und the settlement forever OF their pro
erty rights In thcm they cannot be decoyed into an
armed struggle with any section or faction upon the
ubsraci question Of possession OF the government by
either political party
Fiffh-rhc south believes herself 10 be to-day the
arber OF the nations destinies and having no grounds
difference with apy section she VIII perform her
manifest duty in the present emergency with hdcIity
under the laws and constitution. And 10 this end,
while giving her moral support to Ar Tildcn,
SO far warranted by that constitution she will de-
cline to surrender her vantage ground repeat tho
fatal blundcr OF 1851 by any overt act which would
tend again to the latent anatcis oil the North
against her under the hue and cry Of "a new rebel
hon." There is the ''sod South" in u nutshell
The rampant republican politicians and editors
may well understand, once Tor all, that the south
crn people, familiar with the causes, symptoms and
details Of war; cannot be driven enrapped by their
ncnaces and taunts into an armed antagonsm; nor.
unconstitutional measures by promises and bribes.
They know their strength and they will not hesitate to
wicd II In the manner Indicated, and IN that manner
only
WHAT tho South most desires Is internal quiet and
relief from local msrule, and this latter they have In
large part already and unaidcdly accomplished Tor
themselves. Sho shrcwdly realizes tha. neither OF
tho great parties do tho Republic material harm
without her assistance and that assistance will be
risdly withheld from reckless agtators OF whatever
political creed and rendered to those IN the nature OF
powerful moral support who sincerely endcavorng
to uphold the constitution and laws OF our common
country
Entertaining these sentiments, and firm in her de-
termination, the south should not be looked 10 as .
combave element in tho solution Of the pending ques
ton Of the Presidency. But would be well for tho
managers Of both parties to carefully study her capa
bihties peaceful but powerful agent IN this con-
tost and the succeeding policy OF the government.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Dec. Is, 1915 SOUrHEKNER