Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-04-27

Correspondence Of the Charles City In,elligencer
Letter from Peter Perdy.
PERpYyuLs. April rs. IN

PERDrvnLE, April Is, 1865.
EDrroR INrErLIGrNoER - Have we
not joyful times about these days 4?
Two days ago the news came by dis
patch of the surrender of Lees army,
and now, by tcday's' mail, we have
the account of the surrender of Lynch
burg, Va, to a Lieutenant who COM
manded scouting party.
Selma and Montgomery, in Alaba-
ma, are also in the hands of the U. S.
Authorities. l would rejoice and make
some demonstration adequate to the
present occasion if / only knew how !;
but l do not and so may AZ well be
quiet. A great many people, it is true,
have attempted to celebrate and re-
joice, and great deal of powder has
been burned and much noise made up
on the occasion of the caving in of the
rebellion but what does it all signi-
fly? Ithas about as much significance
as shooting popguns against the Rocky
Mountains would have, in view Of
beating them down. .s
b. / was in Chicago the other day at
the time of their scene of rejoicings !;
and it was estimated that they burn
ed 5000 dollars worth of powder on
the occasion. don't say that it is
wrong or useless to make expression
of our joy in such demonstrations, but
/ do say that all that can be done in
that way can not one-half way come
up to what the occasion really de-
mands. 1 do believe that the most
suitable and significant way that we,
as nation, could express our emo
tions of profound gratitude and heart
felt joy, would be for us all as one to
fall PROSTATE upon our faces before
the Almighty Ruler of the universe,
and awe-stricken at the marvellous
deeds wrought, silently breathe out
our joyful souls in gratitude and
thanksgiving, to the Almighty Dis
poser Of events. The voice of thou
sands in one acclaim of praise, the
roar Of a thousand cannon, or the thun-
ders of heaven throughout the hemi-
sphere would prove but y faint, and
very Indifferent and lame attempt at
such an expression as the case de-
mands. But the contrast of all this
might awaken sublime emotions. A
suspension of all the ordinary pur.
suits of life for time, and the pros
tration of our persons in the profound
est silence, thus indicating the rever-
entail awe under which we feel i'm
pressed at the recognizance of deeds
SO marvellous and sublime, would, in
my humble view, give expression
more effectively and more appropri-
ately than any other method.
The firing of cannon and a great
noise will answer very good pur-
pose to celebrate small events, but it
is of no manner Of account in the pres
ent case. For the nation to bow in
profound silence-in deep and solemn
reverence-can only meet the case
But what is to be done by way of g..
RECONSTRUCTION
And what is to be done with those
foul, black-hearted rebel leaders who
have not only inaugurated the rebel
lion without the first item of cause,
but have hung on, like so many bull
dogs, wasting treasure, shedding
blood, and sacrificing life, till they
were actually choked off? JEFF. Davis,
Lee, Beauregard, 10. Johnston, Penn
berton, Bragg, Breckenridge, &C., &c.
Are all these to be honeyed over and
be set at large-their property retain.
ed for them, and they patted on the
shoulders with "good fellows, you
have been guilty of a mighty smart
trick, and now you shall be petted du'
ring the rest Of your stay with US ? y
Bah !
Are these men to have . hand in
the work Of reconstructionG There il
truly given point at which every
virtuous proceeding ceases to be vir
tuous and becomes a vice. And it il
very virtuous and humane for the Presi
dent to exercise clemency towards the
enemies Of the country, and especially
so toward such as are his own person
al and bitter foes, provided such elem
ency is not carried so far as to boom,
a source Of vice. The only benefit o
law is to restrain vice but if no pen
atty follows the violation Of law Il
the offender, where is its force? !
only becomes advisory, and can hav,
no reliable character or power. Vic
unpunished gives approval to crime.
And another thing, what is to b
done with the "niggers!" Are the.
to occupy the lands and become cit
; zens and electors, on an equal footinI
with the chivalry at the South? ]
, does seem that some measures ar
pointing that way. But won't tn
Government and the Northern peopl
have little compassion on their poe
8 unfortunate, though misguided brett
!, rem" Of the South, and "let up th
Q pressure" relieving them from the M
cessity, which is worse than death, {