The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-04-12
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6enerai IL has &rrendefeA The pm-
manderiA- Cn1ef of the Cenfedefate forces
is captive, and the tried army OF Scared
and war-worn veterans that have so long
and SO nobly struggled under his i'm
mediate command are prisoners OF war.
The terms of surrender are honorable to
both generals As between soldier and
soldier, Gem Grant has accorded to his
fallen adversary such warlike honor as it
is possible for the oonquerOr to eOncede
tollessen the humiliation of defeat. May
thu political chief of the Republic follow
his example. llsj sn,i>5 ~ s!sfs5 i1't "
tits useless to deny that, blythe rule
of ciyilized. warfare, the, cause of = the
Southern 4Cenfederacy has received a
blow that, by the usual sequences OF such
military fortune. should decide the con-
test. After such an over Shelming dis
aster in the field, peace between the con-
testants is the naturalresult. But peace
NAV be forbidden, even in this condition,
by an unnatural policy onthe part of the
victors. .'hE4ttt i.. ~
For the sake of irepublicanism, for the
sake of the blood of common origin that
pulses from the exultant hearts and the
proud though stricken breasts OF victors
and vanquished, for the honor OF our
country and for the peace of future gen
efations, let Americans in their hour OF
victory be just, magnanimous. and gen
erous to Americans in their hour of de-
feat. H' '.'. 80
Peace, if honorable to both sections,
/ would be the most welcome boon that
could be vOuchsafed to a people SO visit
ed with heavy burdens and Affections
But there will be no peace between the
sections while one remains in the shad-
ow of the others superiority. To strike
down, to overpower, to hold in the iron
bonds of force does not bring peace
1t may bring pause in the actual phys
zeal conflict, but in the hearts of the peo-
ple there will be waged q war no less
pernicious to the interests OF the conn
try. Between those who impose cOndi-
tions and those who, compelled to sub
mission, consider themselves wronged.
there never Gamble peace Now comes
thegreat battle 10. the North to fight,
in which her own pride, and selfishness,
and prejudice must be conquered, or all
the fruits of victory will turn to ashes at
her lips. -.'
There will soon be published, not to
this land alone, but to the world and tn-
ture ages, a proclamation from the Pres
ident. May Some good angel he sent by
Providence to mold his thought and
guide his pen. 1t is given to MIR. Einroln
to write in the Book of the Destiny OF
Nations. One error Of the brain or OF
the iheart, may change the promise of a
blessing to a curse. Let him look hack
in to the dark anil fearful past Of his AT
minstration. and commune with the
spirits of the innuincrablc dead who
have persisted in war that, we say not
by his fault, but through circumstances
identified with his political personality,
was brought upon the land. Let Inn
contemplate the awful spectacle of his
country, whose richest wales are drcnch-
ed with blood, with hardly a family that
does not hewail son.e member hurried to
a violent death, with resources crippled,
with debt and taxation unprecedented
im,eding her career, and with republic
canism, 10y her single arm against the
hosts of monarclism, Ia be redeemed mp
on this continent Can her sorrow he
soothed can the traces of her tlesolaiidn
he effaced, can her financial system he
adjusted, can her mission b. fulfilled, un-
less there be peace between TIA" North
and South-true peace, substantial peace,
the peace of love fraternity and mutual
good will, independent OF Federal armies
and navics? Ii snch a'rcace can lac at
tanned. il is only by concession; "nly ity
having ~ brothers. tribute (" tlIc feelings
and preindices of the South only hy
| III ,ttn a1 lac
Americanism, untainted with parliSan-
ship or fanaticism
Such conditions, if freely Offer cd, will
be freely accepted; Int. il any oi the sen
timent thatprovoked this war he brought
to bear upon the present situation, the
strife is not vet ended. The South has
suffered terribly. Never before have u
people sacrificed so much, struggled go
devotedly. in the cause,of Independence
Under the alilictions that Cypress them,
their land :, desert. their homes u dcsoli-
ton, their best fblbodireekii,r from their
devastated soil, it is impossible that they
should not yesru for peace They will
ask no conditions that their convictions
of honor and duty do not compel them
to struggle for to the last Let us NOT
ask more; let us rather concede beyond
their expectations. There is no other
way to efface the blood stains, to cancel
the antagonisIn, torestore friendship aud
unity of sentiment between thc' sections
Mr.. Lincoln, the fate ofyonr country, it's
now and its hereafter, are in your hands.
God grant that you may have the conr-
age and wisdom to effect peace that
will not need to he prolonged by your
bayonets. and 'canhon-a peace that is
not mere vail over the element of dis