Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-22

F@d4s q"
A MONG the delusions Of the past which have had
n most influence in keeping up the War Spirit
and in driving our people to desperate resistance
none has been more potent than that which at
tributed the purpose OF "SbjugatioN' to the Union
armies and the North. AL that was gnomin9us
and wretched in the condition Of races overcome in
war was displayed before our ancies as fate if
we failed in the contest To be subjugated wa,
cording to the etymology of the word, to pass sub
ja7o-under the yoke. How much Of Oppression
and wrong was concentrated in such a fate could
not at once be told but the least misfortunes pre-
dlcted Tor the South by her "prophets of evil
braced the fall Of her sep arate State existence, the
confiscation of her private property the permanent
rule of military power, the systematic exclusion of
her people from all control in tLeir own govern.
nent and the ceaseless social torture which would
make life intolerable.
We feel justified by all the facts OF the war,
and the declarations of those best acquai nted with
the motives Of the loya. people who Supported it,
in saying that the United States powers never
sought to su5jugate the South. Tie war was u
dertakeu to preserve the Union, to vindicate its
iudysibility, to put down armed resistance to law
and TO legitimate authority. To effect these OBJ
iects the armies we're put in motion, and all the
sad ravages which the South has sustained have
been the necessary incidents TO \ civil war or a
scale so terribly grand as that lately waged.-I
Whatever of force, of aerihg and Of stern exer-
tion was necessary to overthrow armed resistance
aud restore the supremacy Of the Constitution
and laws, has been used or inflicted by the nation.
al authority with unsOaring rigor. But, beyond
these objects, no Interior purpose Of revenge Or
oppression has been sought.
The Northern Press, and especially those organs
regarded as least compromising reject with en-
phasis the theory that the South is ''s,5jugotea"
because her resistance to the Union armies has
been suppressed. The "New England Loyal Pub
LEGATION Society" quotes, with approval, the sert-
ments of the New York Evenirg Post, from which
we make an extract;
We deny that the South has been conquer d or
subjugated in any proper sense of those words
Tie North from the beginning has ought not 70
conquer an enemy, but TO establish equal and be-
nefceut laws conquest utans the imposition |
of foreign and detested yoke upon people who |
are denied their domestic rights, their nun cpal !
laws aud even their national name But Vii! it be |
pretended that it is such suhugGtion the South |
must expect from the North No the North
by which We mean e men OF the North who love |
liberty and lustce-gould rather Perish than be |
come the instruments of such wrong q" What
the North has always desired and still desires ia, |
that the National ConstitutioI-the common choice
of the people Of the whole country-Shsll CO atnue
10 be ths bond of Union for the whole cOOntry, |
obligatory forever, and TO be changed not by al /
appeal TO violence but by the peaceul methods Of
Il mill Tim 70 fl,
nit 70 that Constitution as the o. ganic law of the
landf Then the North is Inundated as much as |
the South, Is it tum liating 70 accept of social
order, OF free institutions, of delibsrative assem-
bles, of equal elections, of common system OF
internal and external defence, Of national honor,
dtn.ty and strength both at home and abroadf But
the North accepts these, and asks no more CT the
South" -.t... ..!4i
There are few men among US Who DECLARE that
they prefer subjugation 10 It's wOr st to any
restoration of the Uuion-that they would rather
see the Southern States degraded to the position
of conquered provinces" than see them again
hold the place they once held in the great Amer-
can system. These men counsel asullen, nOrose,
reluctant silence-a forced submission to over
whelming power. We are happy to kuow that such
men are few in number, and becoming fewer
every. day. If we wish really to be subjugated,
no spirit can better invite it than that gloomy,
hyena-like quiet which needs an armed keeper at
hand at all hours. But know better things of
our people We hail With every day evidences of
cheerful spirit of acquiescence, hope and kind
ness, which will speedily renew The confidence be-
tween the two sections, and make North and
South one--united and happy. - $50
----77- = - u ,.4
GENERAL BurLER.-0n Friday last General But
: ~. .o,, unisalnn Major EaneraI of