Year: 1867

Since the surrender of Lee and Johnston,
that hegira from which the Southern people
date their present calendar, it is noticeable
that the men who occupied the position Of
leaders in the Confederate army, almost to a
man-wherever they have been heard at all
have cast their voices in favor of the imme-
diate reconstruction of the South under the
laws Of Congress They have welcomed the
Military bill as measure more mild than the
South was prepared to expect. They have
counselled cheerful submission to all its pro-
visions, and look to . final settlement of the
issues Of the war through its operation. In
their own persons many Of them have given
practical evidence Of their acceptance Of the
terms prescribed by Congress, by devoting
themselves, SONS to commercial and some to
educational pursuits, and otherwise contri-
buting by their labor and good advice to
bring the Southern mind into proper chan
mel which may lead to harmony and the full
restoration of peace with all its substantial ad-
vantages. There Is, perhaps, none of this class
who has spoken more words Of wisdom to his
countrymen than General Longstreet whose
letter we publish in another column. He takes
the correct view Of the present political situa-
tion of the South when he says that the princi-
Piles which divided political parties before the
war, having passed through all the gradations
of argument and compromise, were finally ar
bitrated by the sword; were by that arbitra-
ment decided in favor Of the government, and
have consequently lapsed from principles into
law and that it is therefore the duty of the
South TO abandon ideas which are now obso-
lete and conform to the requirements of law
established by the last resort known to civilized
nations. He looks upon the Military bill and
its amendments as peace offerings, which should
be accepted in that spirit. Upon the question
Of negro suffrage he agrees with the majority of
the intelligent men of the South-that it is a
fixture which must be legally recognized, toler-
ated, whether for better or worse, and the rights
acquired by the colored man under the law
fully acknowledged. Upon this point many men
in the South who were democrats in former
times take issue with the democratic party now,
in their desire to restrict the rights of the
negro as an enfranchised citizen; and General
Longstreet, no doubt, interprets the opinion Of
q large number Of thinking men in the South
when he admits that there is no longer any
thing tangible about the democratic party to
hold on to, because all it's issues were staked
upon the war, and with the war were lost.


1t is notable feature in Southern society
that discomfort and sullen resistance to the
inevitable condition of things only exist among
the least intelligent portion Of the community.
These feelings are kept alive by the secession
press, which furnishes the most pestilent as
well as the most puerile literary material to
the public. Happily, however, the political
sentiments Of these journals have but little
weight with that class who are likely, from
their position and influence, to mould public
opinion. On the contrary, they are ignored
by the most enlightened people, and are only
available where ignorant minds can be in
famed, or mob element excited. The value
Of snch letters as those Of General Longstreet
and other Confederate soldiers, who represent


the good sense, as well AZ the real chivalry Of
the South, can therefore be better compre-
hended when we regard their effect in neutral
izing the pernicious teachings Of the rebel
newspapers and giving aid and comfort to


those who are loyalty disposed. We prefer


TO accept the sentiments Of such men as Long


street and his confrerss Of the Confederate


army ,as the representative ideas Of the South


ern people, rather than the frothy balderdash


fall the editorial Bob Acres who never pulled


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