The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-09

the old man, but quietly took his iourney
INTO a far country. lIaally he repenteJ
of his folly, not because the old man
tphipped him into repentance, but
because he "eame to hilaSelf,n and. saw
that he had wasted his substances in
riotous living. He went back home,
not with murder in his heart, threaten.
ing what he would do, but bowed down
in honest contrition, and asking all sorts
Of pardon. He did not go back saying
II have fought you four years, until
was overpowered,o but he went back
crying, "Fsthcr, | have sinned against
Heaven and before thee, and am no more
worthy to he called thy SON" He went
/ back because, through ali his riotous
/ living h{s hedfi ards there. He did moi
| return demanding his "iost rights, but
said; "Maile me one of thy hired SER
wants. He did not ASH instant forgive
ness, upon an oath OF amnesty, but pro-
posed to demonstrate his repentance
~ his @0rks.
The story is one OF sincere, deep heart
| felt, voluntary repentance. Do Rebels,
coming home, come repentinE af their
unparalleled crimes ? AS long as rebel
lion promised success did they show any
signs of repentance Are siey coming
back because they love the Union or
their property? Are they not coming
back because they are whipped ard
"perish with hunger?r All who return
peaceably TO their homes, cultivatine
friendly relations, alistaining from hos
tile acts and notwithstanding every at
tempt to disorder, should be met in the
same spirit and treated with loniency.
POLICY of 1nE PRESIDENT
am unwilling To close this message
without calling the attention of the Leg
stature To the measures proposed by
President Johnson for the organization
Of the States recently in rebellion. The
President stands up nobly for the Consti-
luton aud the Union of these United
States, uninfiueneed by any geographi.
cal considerations of North, South, East
or West and Is therefore, entitled to the
sympathy and support of this General
| Assembly. So far as his purposes have
| been developed, understand him to adj
here to his principles and pledges made
while Military Governor, both In regard
to treason and traitors. His position
from the beginning has been thai
loyal men must govern the re.
volted States that conscious and
intelligent traitors must be punished,
and thus treason made odious. There
is a moral subimity in this position and
! the loyal masses, North and South Will
not fail to appreciate ii, and will warmly
and unswervingly sustain him against
The assaults ofeXtreme men. The hope Of
the country is suspended upon carrying
out these measures of the President. His
failure will involve horrors and evil con-
sequences which all true patriots will
shudder TO contemplate. Ii Is not to be
denied, however, that many good ant
loyal men do not find themselves able t
agree with the presidentin his policy, q
! sndicatod toward the seveded States
, But this difference may be wholly OWN
to a difference of Information. TIL
President Stands at The focus Of all politi
: cal information disseminated from til
South aud though there may be man
influences surrounding his position cal
| culated 10 distract and bias a mind les
strong Than his, yet, making all prope
! allowances, il still remains that his op
portunities for forming correct .judg
nent upon the state of affairs i'll the
South are vastly better than thai of til
great majority OF men at the North who
are finding fault with and complaining
OF his position. Gfeat weight, there
fore should be given to his opinions,
which, 50 far as they have been expires
sed are consolatory and refreshing to
all loyal minds in the seeded States.