The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-09-05
The New Union.

There are political troubles which
time only aggravates; there are 9th
ers which it assuages and alleviates
nor is it difficult to see when a ma
ton which has been sick is upon tn,
mending hand. The speech jus
made by Mr.. Wade Hampton at tn,
White Sulphur Springs in Virgini,
is remarkable for certain urbanity
and a passlonless retrospect which
indicate anything but eternal hatred
We do not see what Mr.. Hampton
could be expected to say which hi
did not say. He made an absolut,
surrender Of himself to the Consti
tuition, amendments and all; ant
what more could he do2 Those who
expect leading Southern citizens tt
say that they are extremely sorry
for what they have done, and to pro
test piteously that they will nevel
do so again, must be little over
fond of seeing their fellow creature.
in humiliating attitudes. We ough,
to be so far satisfied when Mr.. Wade
Hampton declares his loyalty to the
Constitution and the Union. 1t il
true that he makes a reservation
He bargains for equality in the en-
forcement of the laws by the Gene
raj Government in the North and the
South" Is there anybody at the
North too "loyal'' to agree with him;
What more can he say?
The truth is, it has not always
been sufficiently understood at the
North that amnesty, accepted under
certain conditions, means condona
ton, and substantially an oblivion
of the past. It would be of little use
technically to restore men to civil
rights which have been forfeited, il
a REPETITION of the errors and often.
ces which rendered such restoration
necessary is continually to be looked
for. There must be confidence until
it has been forfeited by some new
treason. Whoever is readmitted
to his citizenship must be regarded
as citizen; while those who are al.
ways upon the scent for relapse,
little comprehend how dis rust may
drive a man into acts of folly which
otherwise would not have been com
Mr.. Hampton said in the course of
his speech: "The people ofthe South
have surrendered in good faith, and
intend honestly to carry out their
pledges" He himself represents a
State almost ruined, first by the re-
bellion and afterward by a bad gov
ernment Which was forced upon it
partly, it is true, through unfortu.
nate conditions and circumstances.
Ii he can say so much as this for
South Carolina, and say it with ap
plause and acceptance even in Vir-
yinia, who is there disreputably sus
oicious enough to 60 behind his
words, searching for mean motives
and the indications of a treacherous
'elf-interest9 But whether they sat-
sly US or not, such declarations, &C.
'ompanied and verified by thorough
peace and good order throughout the
south, are all which it is in the power
# the best class of Southern citizens
o give US. We may distrust them
t we see fit. We may take it for
granted that they are hypocrites and
lime servers; and when few of our
public men shake their heads and
ay that "they don't know we may
hake our heads and indulge in SINH
ar expressions Of profound distrust.
Perhaps it is unmanly, foolish, des-
'erately imprudent to believe, when
Mr.. Hampton and Southern men like
lin declare themselves "loyal to the
Constitution" that they mean what
hey say. But if oaths are nothing,
f protestations are nothing, we must
vait for whole generation ofSouth-
IN men to die out before we can,
With any prospect of success, attempt,
he restoration Of the Union. We
rave not waited. Upon the contrary
We have formally declared the Union
o be fully and completely restored
o the status quo. If this means
it means the perfect reha-
,ilitation of the States. The North
must accept the situation as we'll as
he South. Massachusetts, has no
more right to doubt South Carolina
han South Carolina has a right to
loubt Massachusetts. There must
,e a beginning of confidence-some-
hing must be forgotten, something
orgiven-if the Union is to have
'uture. And as soon as the States