Carl Schurz

“ It is evident that as long as the people of the South cling to such ideas, they cannot work out the regeneration of their society which is imperatively demanded. But I have already seen enough to warrant me in the conclusion that a majority of the Southern people will permit themselves to be governed by that practical instinct which becomes very potent when the question of social reform is wrapt up in the question of bread and butter. ”

“ The Yankee has to invade this country again, a peaceable invader, to clear away the rubbish and to reopen the avenues of wealth. It is true, the idea that Charleston might become a “Yankee city” is revolting to many of the old South Carolina stock, and I am informed, some of them scorn the idea of selling their real estate to Northern men. As they have certainly not given up some of their old prejudices, so they are not healed of some of their ridiculous old delusions. ”

“ There are some whom the sudden downfall of the rebellion seems to have bereft of all hope and vitality, and who look into the future with a sort of stolid indifference. But a large majority of the thinking men are actively calculating how to make the best of things as they are, without any experience as to the working of the free-labor machinery, and still subject to the influence of old prejudices, they are certainly apt to fall into dangerous errors and to indulge in dangerous experiments ”