The New York herald., 1876-12-22
A Free lance Ready for . Fight
Colonel John S. Mosby, the distinguished


Colonel John S. Mosby, the distinguished
Confederate raider, does not display so
peaceable a disposition as is manifested by
the leading Southern conservatives in dis
cussing our existing election troubles. In Q
conversation with HERALD correspondent
at Washington. published to-day, be ex.
presses his readiness, like true soldier OF
fortune. to raise regiment in Virginia lin
less than twenty -four hours if it should be
necessary to do SO, to sustain General Grant
in inaugurating Governor Hayes as Presi-
dent. Colonel Msby offers, in explanation
of his belligerent attitude, the staten mt
that he thinks Hayes is fairly elected and
could not, therefore, without stultifying
himself, refuse to support him by fighting.
But great many Southern conservatives
have, doubtless, just as firm belief that
Mr.. Tilden was fairly elected and if they
should place themselves in the ntti-
tude assumed by Colonel Mosby a con-
fiict of arms would be the inevitable
result 1t is precisely because there is SO
radical and honest difference of opinion
between the friends and supporters Of the
two candidates that threats of force are to
be deplored In the hour of secession
Colonel Mosby no doubt believed in the
justice Of the Southern cause and in the
right of the Southern States to withdraw
from the Union, just rs sincerely as North
ern men and Southern Unionists believed
that the preservation Of the government was
the first duty of American citizens; but he
probably regrets now that he and his Con-
federate associates drew the sword to main
tain their supposed rights. At this time,
when each of two great political parties is
confident in the justice of its claim to have
fairly elected it's Presidential candidate and
believes that it can only be deprived of the
fruits of victory by fraudulent and revolu-
tionary acts OH the part of it's opponent,
belligerent threats and boastings are full OF
danger. Hence the position taken by such
Southern leaders as Mr.. Hill and General
Wade Hampton seems to be both more pru-
dent and more patriotic than that assumed
by Colonel Mosby and General Shelby.
Without discussing the question as to
where the responsibility for carpet-bag rule
and the drawing of the political color line
in the reconstructed States may justly be
placed. we agree with Colonel Mosby that
four years fair and conservative treatment
Of the South under the Presidency of Gov
ernor Hayes would leave that section in
better condition than four years under Gov
ernor 1ilden or any other democratic adj
ministration. Should Governor Hayes prove
to have been fairly elected, beyond cavil or
dispute, and should he faithfully carry out
for four years the wise and generous South
ern policy he has indicated, the color line
would be obliterated, healthy political
opposition would exist in the South as in
the North, and the social ostracism of which
Colonel Mosby SO bitterly complains would
no longer be practised. But Colonel Mosby
must see that by this admission he practi-
cally comedies that the Southern policy Of
General Grants administration, of which he
is, perhaps in the thoughtless generosity Of
soldier, SO ardent supporter, has been .
mistake and q failure.