Year: 1874

sltlOn eVInced by the citizens re-


Gently in rebellion and the most


advisable manner Of treating them


The document in question was


generous III spirit and statesman


like in its propositions. Its author


said 81 am satisfied that the


mass of thinking men of the South


accept the present situation of af>


fairs in good faith. The questions


that have hitherto divided the SEN


timents of the people of the two


sections-slavery and State rights.


or the right of State to secede


from the Union-they regard as


having been settled forever by the


highest tribunal-arms-that man


can appeal to. l was pleased to


learn from the leading men whom


| met that they not only accept the
decision arrived at as final, but
now the smoke of battle has cleared
away, and time has been given for
reflection, believe that this decision


has been a fortunate one for the
whole country


The truthfulness of this report
in the main is apparent to all whose
memory extends to the eventful
days to which it alludes. No stron>
er acceptance of the situation could
have been given by a chiyalric
people than was shown by the
South. Her arms were laid down
in good faith her slaves were sur
rendered in accordance to public
proclamations and against the rec
ognized law, but with scarce COM
plant. Her soldiers returned to
their homes and set to work with
untiring energy to build up their
fortunes wrecked by the war. Her
conventions assembled and adopted
state constitutions agreeable to the
behests Of the federal government.
Her citizens showed in every way
that they regarded the contest as
ended and recognized it as their
duty to do all in their power as
good citizens Of the United States
to preserve order in the country
and to cultivate a fraternal rela~
tion between all sections of our
common country. The North, TO
satisfy itself of these facts, sent
numbers Of their ablest and best
men to make tour Of the South>
ern States and report. Among
these was the President himself,
whose report accorded with that
generally given, i. e. that the arms
of the South had been laid down
in good faith, and that its people,
as honest in peace as they had been
brave in war, had sincerely accepted


=


the result Of the struggle and SUBJ
mitted quietly to the laws of the
Federal government.


Notwithstanding this testimony,
however, given by Northern men,
and in most instances by those of
known hostile feelings to the South,
the odious reconstruction measures
were adopted, and then began
scenes of oppression, outrage and |
cruelty, foreign, we thought, to the
genious Of this age and more be- |
fitting that of the Merry Monarch
OF England. For party purposes
all Of the time-honored institutions
OF the South were swept away, all
Of Its best beloved customs ignored,
and its highest offices we're disgrac
ed by being filed by its former
slaves or.still worse, by vile mercen>
ary adventures. Negro troops were
stationed in many places of the
South whose presence emboldened
the blacks to deeds of violence and
when the whites were gored to re-
slstance, the Northern puIplts
vented Its pious rage against them
and Sacumonious editorials fulmi-
mated their hate and called upon
the general government to project
the poor man and brother. =
Scores Of Southern men were ille~
gally tried by Federal courts and
thrust into Jail and penitentiaries
ana every thing was done to make
hem rise in rebellion, if such a
hing had been possible, and yet,
lfter nine years submission. such
! submission as no people ought to
'e expected tamcly to endure, we {
ire told that the Southern people ,
IRE ripe for civil war again and
nat 1t IS necessary to place troops
throughout her territory to prevent 8
:. Is 1t possible for such a state
nent to receive credence at the g
North ! 1t has time and again a
'een circulated that troops were I
lecessary to guarantee to the COL f