New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-06
WERRIT SMITH T0 THE PBRsI.
DENT.
PETERDoRo', April "a. 1865.

DlHsfpEyT JOHNSON
Honored and Dear Sir. Only ten days ago, and
Sheeountry felt sure of an immediate Peace. The
only sppreher that Its terms would De easi
O. than it was prudent tegrant. To-day there Is
sstrong and widespread fear that Peace is afai
off, Whence this great change 1t comes from
ths assassination of Abraham lincoln, and from
your taking his place.
lat For. while the incessant demand for Q rgof.
Gus and bloody policy toward tho conquered Reb-
sls met with no response in the remarkable kind
ness and compassion Of Mr.. Lincoln, il is apprehen-
led that there may be qualities In yourself to
which such policy, unless condemned by your
Judgment, would DO entirely welcome. Then, by
your contact with the Rebellion-by your personal
observation of it's crimes, and especially BY what
you and your family and friends had suffered from
those crimes-your temper unless narvslously
controlled could not have failed to DO excited and
% call for tho severest punishment on the leaders
Of the Rebellion.
Cd. While Mr. Lincoln was yet alive, Govcrn-
nent was necessarily called on by presses and pub
be meetings by sermons saturated with the vindic-
live and blood-thIsty sprltof the Jewish theology,
and by voices fnnunersble, not TO spare these
hadinc Rebels. No wonder then, that the manner
Of his death il made use Of to increase the thirst for
1heir blood For absurd ~ is the charge, that the
Asssssin was their tool, it nevertheless gains extern
hed credence. They all knew Mr. LncolRs char
aeteristic clemency and that the terms Of the Peace
&e was intent on were exceedingly mild. Hence
how insane is the superstition that any OF then
sought his death
But why should not government refuse to adopt
A. even iOr one mement, TO listen to, this rigorous
md bloody policyl Why should not Government
IN in
deal with the conquered were II successful in wal
With Mexicof The answer is-Secsuse ii is Civil
War. But 10 il not such Civil War, as the sblsst
vubliciss hold should DO conducted by the rules ~
International war Says vsttel;
RELY independent and longer acknov Lodging
spsro state dissolved aud tie war between the two
parties stand: On The nEs Ho,na; ~ every 'pce'
eoidr quarrel by two different nsons would do
.ss ssssr /. therefor. binding On
both parties and the same rhish tn. law Of n.ee imposes
How emphatically this applies TO our easel The
Southern half Of our nation, containing many mil
Hons of people, broke away from the Northern Aalf
Aad became ~ iaanifestly hsuoh ds jacte ~ wss
ahe Northe half. We could not proceed against
nese many millions az against traitors and pirates
and try them BY municipal law. The case went
impessurably Beyond the scope OF the Constitu:
don. and took its place under the provisions Of in
1ernational law. Belligerent rights were accorded
70 eur enemy Dy our own 40 VOL ee y! StnoA nm
hons There were truces, that the dead might Do
buried, and for other purposes. Captives were not
hiled, but held a. prisoners OF war; There wsre
nsgouations for Peace and that on one occasion
he President and Secretary OF State were our nego-
Nators and went 10 meet theirs, showed, not only
naI respect for the enemy but how entirely we
5scognized the Law Of War in our contest with him.
Beth parties were vitality interested IN subJecting
the contest ts this law, and in not letting II sink
snto an interBecine and Piratical one. Both par.
aies we're equally concerned TO save life and towns
and property; and ~ have the war Of % civilized q
sype and that their citizens would not shrink from
beeoming soldiers and sailors. God forbid that now
vhen tbs tide Of war sets strongly in our favor,
should be guilty Of thrnsting the Constitution into
aAe place Of the code OF war and OF holding and try
sng traitors those whom ws mono the less really
Of iDdueetly) agreed to regard a. but enemies aud
whom by ali the conclusive reasons OF The case aside
nom such agreement, we are bound 10 regard IN thai
Night only. We must not be guilty Of this baG
nth. We must not break this solemn bargain.
TIE South would hate Us for 1t The world would
nesiyise US sor 1t And would not the North her-
9e If not dcspsiRg US Tor IT, be at least, teafully
divided in regard to Greatly should we all love
Dur country Bat there is one thing We should all
joye moro; and that is fair dealing "Our couqtry
dghtp-not our county right or wrong" should
- ouf motto.
But there was another and 10 Les eoa0lunys n,