Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-24
rnE RESTORATION OF THE UNION

THE REsr0RATION Of THE UNION
The address Of General FoEREsT TO his troops.
announcing their surrender. presents gratifying
exhibit Of the present temper and disposition OF
The rebel leaders who have been actively engaged
in the attempt OF establishing Southern hide
pepdenoe. he admits with commendable frank
ness that the rebellion is a failure. and earnestly
advises the troops under his command TO lay
aside all feeling Of animOsity and revenge; cheer
fully ssbmit 10 he powers that be; so home to
be good citizens and use rheir best eIeriions to
restore peace and order. IL must be conceded
that General FoRRKsr fought earnestly aud
bravely for the success OF the cause in which be
was engaged; bat finding that further continu
snce Of the contest ia useless, be urges bis
troops to yield their animosities aud become
spirit which governs Gen. LEE. Gen. JOHNSTON.
and the Southern men generally OF the class
they represent. They frankly concede that the
contest is over. and they have the manliness to
advice a sabjuga ed people to adapt themselves
10 the new circumstances in which they are placed.
They not only admit that they are conquered.
but that this termination Of the war has wiped
out negro slavery. They feel that il il a dead
institution. over which further controversy il
useless. The slsveholding States have no one
to blame but themselves for the result. By their
own acts they forced the issue upon the country.
Knowing tina, the Republican party, in 1860. had
narrowed the then pending Presidential Election
to the single issue of "al slave or all Free and
had nominated a candidate who stood squaTely
on that platform. they defeated the nomination OF
Mr.. DOUGLAS at Charleston; they divided the
Democracy to force the election of Mr.. LIN
coin; they seeded. when, by remaining in the
Union, they could have defeated any radical
measures of the Republican Administration,
which proposed TO encrosch upon the just rights
Of any Of the States; they chose the srbiter
for the settlement Of their grievances. imaginary
or real, aud now they must abide the fate which
their acts have brought upon themselves. Evi-
IDENTIFY the large majority are willing to do this
They yield slavery. They propose to return to
their allegiance to this Government. and use
their best efforts tie restore peace aud order. ii
IL is the object to restore the Union not only in
name but in fact-thst iraternsl intercourse and
feeling which once was iis glory and strength
the disposition manifested by the people of the
Rebel States in that regard. should receive every
encouragement 1t is only in this way that the
UuioD can be restored upon the basis of Repub-
lcsn institutions IL is not the Southern
people alone who are interested in this
settlement of the controversy. A Re
publican Government cannot be maintained
by the mere exercise Of force IL allegiance
upon the part of the citizen is not voluntarY-al
Governments derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed is the doctrine of the
Declaration Of Independence-th the Govern
ment degeneratcs into despotism, for obedienc,
Ia not Of choice but Of compulsion. The peopl,
Of the North, to give strength to the Union
have deep interest in the full and cordial return
of the Rebel States to their allegiance to the
Government-tbat they should lay aside all feel
ing of animosity and revenge This is the enc
which Mr. LINCOLN intended 10 accomplish. III
was willing to concede the most liberal terms o
settlement upon the conditions that slavery wa
abolished and the Union restored With +" char
ity to all and malice toward none he was work
ing out this problem. AS we honor bis memory
as We believe him TO have been wise. just snG
pstriotic--great and good-let Us faithfully full
Gil the work which he believed was necessary
to cement the States together in the bonds o.
lasting peace. union and prosperity.