Year: 1867

Progress OF Recsnssructisn in ne South.


Some time ago. and while the various nes
sures proposed for the reconstruction Of the
South were under discussion, we said thst 1


any plan were adopted making reconstruction
depend entirely upon the voluntary action Of
the Southern people It would be long time
before the rebel States would be reconstructed


We saw that the Southerners were 80 demoral.
lied and helpless, and 80 divided among them.
selves, that they would not be able to agree
upon any plan which would be acceptable to
Congress and the Northern people. We urged
that Congress should act as guardian would
act with child. and prescribe and force the
needful measures upon the South. In this
many Of the NEST intelligent Southerners agreed
with Ms and declared that Congress must do
the work for them. Let US know, they said,
what you require Of US. what the conditions
are, and We will conform to your wishes, how
ever unpleasant the terms may be; for we
see that we are powedsss and yeu all
powerful.


Congress did act upon sAis view Of the case.
In the reconstruction bill and in the supple
mental bill passed for this purpose the whole
plan is laid down. There is no choice left.
The South is placed again under military
authority to accomplish the object in view.
State rights and pre-existing rights are ignored.
The right of the conqueror over the oon-
quered-of the supreme government over sub
jugated rebels-is the only law admitted or
that can be admitted in the case. 1t is folly,
then, to talk about the constitutionality of the
reconstruction acts or Of appealing TO the Su-
preme Court. II even the reconstruction acts
could be suspended or set aside, which is not
likely, it would be q great misfortune to the
country, and especially to the South. The
Southern people have accepted the conditions
imposed for their restoration as the best
they can get and are working earnestly under
them. To attempt to arrest or obstruct the
work now would be foolish in the extreme and
great injury to the South.


From all parts Of the South, except, per-
haps, in a few remote places like the Rio
Grande border Of Texas, where the inhabi-
tants know or care little about government,
the people are earnestly at work TO bring
about reconstruction. Whites and blacks alike
seem to realize all at once that the opportu-
nifty has come and that it might be disastrous
in the highest degree 10 neglect it. The most
intellectual and popular men of the South,
such as General Robert Lee, Wade Hampton,
General Longstreet A. G. Brown, Of Missis
sippi, General Beauregard, and number
Of others of tho same GLASS, advise the
people not only to acquiesce in tho Goa
gressional plan ef reconstruction, but urge
them 70 take an active part II It. Ths, news
Sapers generally. which lately. were hostile,
arc now wheeling rsund in support Of the
nssSure. or c0urss they speak Of it ,beinr
forced upon them, BY way Of saving themselves
from the charge Of inconsistency; but they sup
port it nevertheless. In fact, they perceive
that the public voice is loud in favor Of resto-
ration under the plan prescribed, and they are
compelled to follow the current Our CORES
pondent in Georgia says he knows not Of a
the people to vote "no convention" The
same state of feeling and purpose among the
whites Is found generally in the other Southern
States as thus spoken Of in Georgia. Nor are
the negroes behind in exercising their new
privileges to bring about restoration. A
wonderful revolution in this respect has been
effected in very short period. They are
holding public meetings everywhere, at which
speakers of their own race show great intelli-
gence with regard to their changed situation
and the new order Of things. They even call
upon their former masters to address them, and
evince desire 10 cooperate with the whites
Of their own section in the great work before
them. We had an example of their good sense
and excellent disposition when they called
upon Wade Hampton. at Columbia, 8. c., for
speech. We had at the same time an example
in that speech of the sensible views Of the late
master class as to the existing and future rela-
tions Of the two races in the South. There are
plenty of similar examples. In fact, the same
disposition to harmonize between the negroes
and whites and to cooperate in bringing
about restoration as soon as possible is gene
raj throughout the Southern States. In short.
we may say the work goes on brsvely since
the Southerners have learned wisdom through





that they are utterly helpless and in the
power of Congress. M


But great and surprising as is the revolution
which has been effected and which is now
going on in the South, there is much to be
done yet and many things to be avoided.
The South has always been afflicted by set
of small, narrow-minded politicians, bummers
and long haired, brainless and sophomorical
young men Of the press. These men, like all
men Of small mental calibre, are very fussy,
noisy, impudent and irrepressible. It will be
difficult to keep them in the background, but
they must be kept there or they win prove
very mischievous and may retard the good
work so happily begun. Let the Southern
people, white and black, ignore these pestilent