The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-01-22
POLITICAL FEELING.

POLITICAL FEELING.
TO those with whom the anxious in
quiry is ever present Do common pur-
poses and mutual sympathies unite US
as people ?"-the feeling displayed
in the recent debate on amnesty, is not
particularly assuring. Overlooking the
fact of territorial unity. Weighing in
their full import and meaning the pas
sionate declarations of the chosen and
ablest opponents of the real condition
of the Southern mind, among whom
prominently conspicuous is Mr.. Hill, of
Georgia, and the conclusion is pain
fully apparent, that beneath, and under
lying mere individual assurances of
thorough comfy and goodwill, are the
unwelcome evidences of well-cherished
local and political resentments. And
vet moments reflection will suffice to
show, the utter folly of supposing that
the full realization of thorough and COM
plete national unity, is other than the
slow result of time, and of gradual ac-
complishment The fact is not to be
overlooked, that communities and ma
tions are but men aggregated Indi-
vidual ideas and opinions, local habits
and convictions, sectional notions and
prejudices, all combined, go to make up
the groundwork on which governmental
structures rest Revolutions and re-
bellions may destroy the latter, but the
former still remain strengthened in their
intensity by the notifications of failure.
and the humiliations of defeat
The lessons Of history fully negative
the idea of sudden and radical changes
in local and political feeling. Because
order reigned in Warsaw, were the Poles
the less resentful towards Russia? Are
the Imperialists of France less loyal
to the memory Of Napoleon, because
Mcmahon ably controls, as President,
the destinies of the French Republic?
Do German Catholics revere the less
the memories of the Church fathers, by
force of Bismark's interdictions; or, do
the Italian Legates accord less willing
homage to His Holiness, because Victor
Emanuel has shorn him of his temporal
power, and opened to Italy glorious
future? Certainly not Political and
religious creeds, however erroneous or
absurd, transmitted from father to son,
lose neither force or obligation by act
of inheritance. Conquered or victori-
Gus, their supporters accord them the
same allegiance Human natures con-
ditions are the same everywhere, ire
spective of nationality. Is the South
ern heart less devoted to the memory Of
Lee, because the living Grant and a
redeemed nation attest the folly of re-
bellion? Has forced allegiance to the
National Government, conquered con-
viction with those who plotted its de-
struction? Do they, whose political
faith taught the divinity" Of slavery,
yet recognize the legality of the slaves
emancipation Assuredly not The
mere destruction of the institution it.
self, did no violence to the opinion that
sustained it and fought its battles. The
South surrendered at Appomattox, no
principle underlying the contest, that
there acknowledged defeat, and they
who believe in, and maintain the right
of secession in eighteen hundred and
sixty, believe in it, and maintain the
right in eighteen hundred and seventy
six. The representatives of this un-
changed opinion in the South, now die
tate the policy of, and control the popu-
lar branch of the national Legislature.
Excluded so long from the councils of
the nation, and stimulated to renewed
activity in legislative enterprise, they
already command majority of the
important standing committees of the
House, by virtue of the consolidated
political power they represent. Nor
ally the spectacle is a startling one
That the legislative branch of our Gov
eminent should be under the control of
the men who, fourteen years ago, at
tempted its destruction, and who, with
the promised aid of their n Northern allies,
now cherish well-deined hopes of secur-
ing its early control. To be forewarned
is to be forearmed That the success
of the plans, now based upon the polit-
ical support of an undivided South :"
means danger to our free institutions,
and the possible destruction of the
dearly bought, but well-chershed re-
suits of the war, no man can doubt.
Their success would be, in every sense,
national disaster
Whatever may have been the short
comings, or the folies of Republican
administrations whatever damage the
Republican party, as great National
organization, may have sustained at the
hands of unworthy men, it still retains
within it's ranks sufficient moral force
and patriotism to command the conf
dence Of those in whose hands the great
interests of the nation rest With it,
and it alone, lies national security.
Nothing but objectionable blunders in
the immediate future can jeopardize its
success
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