The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-08
THE NEW SOCTH.
The Experiences of II Northern Man In the
Reconstructed states.


war was waged to restore the Union, to main
tain the integrity of the Government. aud to
show to tho world that our free Institutions bad
ell the solidity and permanence OF the old world
dynasties. The freedom Of the negroes was nm
incident, aud not an avOwed object OF the war.
II we survey the condition of tho south to-day,
or at any time since the Confederate armies
sure ndered. we shall look In vain for any EVIL
dence OF hostility to the Federal Government,
or any purpose to subvert Its authority or dis
obey It's laws. Amid all the trials incident to
the reorganization Of society at the South
trials which only those who have lived there
can appreciate, and such as few people on earth
have ever been called on to enduge-not hos
tile gun has been fred. nor arm raised In re-
| sistance to the Federal forces or the Federal
will. The people, almost to a man, took the
oath of allegiance Immediately after the surren-
der, and from that day to this have devoted
themselves with hopeful fidelity TO the work OF
| peaceful and hearty restoration. The freedom
of tho blacks Is universally acce pted "a nnul and
complete, and there Il nowhere the evidence OF
any desire to take away or abtidge any of the
rights and privileges conferred on them bv the
Constitution and Its amendments. Why, then,
this continued dstrust OF the Southern peoplef
How have we encouraged their pacific ana fra
| ternal maDifestations2 How have we fostered a
returning spirit OF loyalty and fidelity to the
| Government, or sought to reconcile and heal
the bruises aud scars Of the war;
| An impartial review of the eleven years OF
| bungling at the work OF reconstruction shows
thai the controlling policy exercised BY the
preston. suspicion, aud force, exercised In the
interest Of party rather than Of peace Our
/ politicians who went down to consult and
arrange matters at the close OF the war
were the very last men in the land
to exert conciatng influence, while
| the healing ana liberal oounsels OF men
like Lincoln aud Greeley were discarded
s.l..a. af.h lH ~ aFfn-
san adventurers who set about organizing
the negroes into leagues. And Congress sus-
tained their mscbievous work by measures
which for the time di.franchised sufficient
number OF the whites to secure reliable Re.
| publican majorities" In the Conventions aud
| Legislatures lntrusted with the work Of reha-
| bilitsting the conquered states.
Not the least of the grave errors committed at
the close of the war was tue disposal Of negro
| troops to maintain Federal authority, ana the
1a nes91 posS th apl h nye
| holders had been conquered and their slaves sci
| free, but the people In many localities were re-
CURED TO submit to tue exquisite torture Of see
Ing their towns guarded by their late menials !;
their mails At their hands. At every point
where tue hand OF the government was felt IL
sion and humiliation. We're these the agencies
OF statesmansnip for healing the bruises OF war,
years OF carnage had dug between the sections7
However much secession may have deserved
punishment tue results OF the war ought to
have satisfied the most implacable. With the
defeat Of their armies everything for which
they had contended had been lost; their cher
isned theories Of government had been forever
overthrown, and the money value OF their
4OOJ.OOO slaves was a more eIhausting tribute
than conquered people ever paid. surely,
with these sacrifices, the work Of suoj1gatiOn
and punishment was complete. anu at that point
policy demanded that war measures should
cease and the war spirit give place to over
lures OF peace. No civilized people on earth
were ever before subjected to the domination
OF their former slaves a. a punishment Tor rebel
lion. And the worst despotisms OF the Ola
| World have found II wise anu pOlltlc to inter-
fere as little AS possible With the administration
OF locll Affairs In conquered districts. How
much more pressing the demand for such a
policy In a government OF opinion, composed OF
States equal and equally free!
| cannot better Illustrate the want OF wisdom
attending the rehabilitation Of the South than
to relate an incident which came under my own
obs, rvation just ,fter the surrender. And II
NAV have additional interest in the fact that II
occurred within mali mile of tue scene Of tue
late Hamburg riot. When the Fed raj troops
took possession Of Augusta, Ca, there was In
their forces negro regiment One night soon
astore in the lower part OF Brood in front oi
Monument street, Among those present were
them WIS very boisterous and insOlent, anu after
much patient expustulaton, the bookkeeper or
dered him To keep still or leave tne store. lie
went out mutterng vengeance, anu soon re-
turned with an armed squad. Tue writer hap
pencu 10 De behlnu tue counter AT the time, out
had no part Whatever IN the previous EFF II oi
the bcokheeper TO preserve order stopping on
the sidewalk the nnc u'h savage. boiling ovel
with rage, raised his gun, cooked ~. ana aimiu.
It at me, SAID, " OATS the damn rascal who suit
Ell me. anu WAS ABOUT 10 uTe. Nueu "a negro Wnu
knew M lntetposed, Threw up MS gun, ana
probably saved my life. lie then marched into
the store with his squad, and those whose guns
were not already loaded commenced TO load
them.
Inc scene became exciting, but the crowd
present was controlled by a few Confederates
VINO saw That the negroes had no sergeant OF
other omcer IN ctaze, and Cautioned tue "col
ored troops that they would yet INTO trouble
with their cOmmander Some "i tGt.n had
sense enough To appreciate the situation, and
finally Withdrew Ii Is fortunate that the peo'
pie Of Augusta were then, rs now. tired vi dzht-
ing for re never MAS graver provocation fol-
a nfst-class riot. Tue al iir rep rted To the
onicer Of the DAY, white man aud a gentleman
aud Tue ldiers about his quarters were Wild
with eagerness to go anG clean out the mig
gers" Hut ne prudenty suggested mat the af
lar be reporIed 10 headquarters, expressing al
that negro troops should be there to annoy the
people.
the General ia command Of tue pos, ana de
TILED the occurrence to MIN as above narrated
asking his advice how TO avoid future disturb
ance. WIN a pompous disdiin, characteristic
OF an inflated martluet, he denounced the book,
keeper Tor Insulting uuited States soldier, snd
, declared that II any more disturbance occurred
, he would shut up the store. No more disturb
ance occurred, BAT ia few days the store was
closed by nlltari order. As this oihccT was
brave ana efficient Ia the field. his name is with
, held. IL Is a simple truth to say that hs brei
career in Augusta ana very much to stir up bit
terness, ami al dme prejudice against the Fed.
, etal authority. 1t Is 10y no means improUabl,
, that some OF hose VINO went across the river |,
suppress the mlltary aspirations Of Doc Adams
and his so-called militia COMPANY, remem beTed
, ! the iutOlerable behavior OF the negro regimen
!, | referred to- do nOt mean hereby to justify ia,
I | killing Of those who had been CAPTURED at fam
! turg; bat TO SHOW that the policy OF repressl u
distrust and humiliation practised after the sur
render, aud 10 whlcn the party IN power mas lu
eleven years adhered, Is utterly unwise and mis-
= chievous. Such a party cannot restore or main
tain fraternal relations between the sections
nor IS II the party to best secure justice to IA,
. ! blacks
i Hut we are told that the Democratic party a
the > luth e tnnUt DO trusted [; that they will op
y press the negro, and plunge the country into an
other war. The idea that the south could b,
n | induced 10 undertake another war is TOO ABSURD
To he considered ; but there are many reasons
way he wnlte peOpie 81 mat section are IA,
q best and only safe clnstIvators OF law hul
I order there. lhey are vtally Interested In pre-
serving peace. They cannot Afford either 10 LOSE
= the negroes as laburers or to incur their hOstll
ity. rho ueace OF society is the highest pOss ID q
incentive to Just and liperal policy. The best
| Efforts OF our Northern emssaIies, whether VI
, philanthropy or Of party, have As r lie worked
dlscurd ana injury to blacks rs well as whites
those familiar with the south since the war
and who have noted the career Of Northern
preachers, teachers and pOlltiellns there, vii
attest the truth Of TN, somewhat sweeping a.
sertion, The reorganization OF a society such 81
emancipation created is a most delicate ant
, Ginicut problem; and all outside influence onll
tends 10 promote the distrust OF one race fo