Year: 1866

Political Apathy In the South.
From the Richmond Times.l


The profound apathy in politics which
prevails at the South, so far from pleasing
some of the Northern journals, seems to be
giving them great concern. They want US
rip, roar, snort, below, curse and swear
just as they do; and because we pursue a
digui6ed course and mind our own bust
ness they are of opinion that ''it is most
unfortunate thing that so vast body of the
American people should settle down in in
difference upon the vital political matters of
the day" And yet. if we were to be the
noisy politicians which they pretend to de-
sire US, they would make that ground of
complaint, and point at US as set of ~loud-
mOuthed, pestilent traitOrs.' who were
about to pull down the Government about
their ears.


It's very tFus that We have a good deal
to excite US, but with eotnussndabie Forbears
ance we are minding our own business.


We consider this very Objectionable
world, but as we do not think we can sur
pass Omnipotenee if we were to aid in pull
ing it to pieces Tor the purpose of putting
up another, we are not disposed to unite
with our Northern neighbors in trying such
an experiment. We wish to be as far as
possible from the explosion of that maga-
zine which Radical agitation is preparing.
We shrink from none Of the responsibilities
which legitimately pertain to US, bat we feel
ourselves fully justified in wishing to have
no participation in the general, social, DO
litical and financial smash up which the
mad-dog politicians of the North seem to
be so diligently seeking to consummate.


When we receive Northern exchanges
expressing surprise that we are so calm and
undisturbed, while every "loyal State" boils
like chauldron, we feel amused.


What are we to be stirred up about?


Our misfortunes have made us eminently
utilitariau, and as we fail to see how we are
to profit by politics, we have ceased to be
politicians.


As we are not admitted in Congress, and
I get none of the Federal offices we have no
incentive TO that deep and dangerous in
terest which seems to be taken in the affairs
of this nation north of the Potomac. We
are reconciled to our seclusion from partiei-
patton 10 the Government by the reflection
that we will have none of the odium to bear,
which will justly attach to those, who IN
their insane rage are courting conflict with
the land and naval forces of the United
States. Our experience, which has been a
sad and costly one, incline US to peace.


We have never found that political squab-
ling did us any good, and we Wish DOW to
set our so-called brethren" model of pro-
priety, under difficulties which they would
do we'll to initiate.


If the people of the North chose to butt
their brains out against one another, we
hope that it will be necessary for neither
side to call upon us for help.


We wish 1t distinctly understood that we
want, as old General Zachary Taylor said,
to be cat peace with all the world and the
rest of mankind" And we hope that our
quiet demeanor and contented disposition
will give our contemporaries, who seem to
take such an abiding interest in us, no fur
ther trouble. If they desire to secure our
assistance IN crushing the President, and in
causing Congress to absorb all the powers
of the Government, legislative, executive
and judicial, We beg to be excused. We
| got into a war for not helping Mr.. Lincoln
, against South Carolina, and have found it
unpleasant to be opposed to Presidents of
the United States.


r Our "brethren" change so fast we can
} not keep up with them. What was crime
, when Abraham Lincoln was President,
they make shining virtue under Andrew
, johnson. We do not care about politics,
but we stand by the President.