The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-05-03
Great National Events.


During the year past. important hisiori-
cal events have crowded upon ms with such
number and rapidty that sc can scarcely
realize in their fuiiPr0portious their gram
deur and mighty results.
II Is just year ago to-day since Gen
Grant, having entered Oh bis duties IS
Lieutenant General, and organized anew,
in q measure, the army Of The Potomac,
crossed tie Rapidan on his perilous way 20
Richmond Then followed the successive
battles OF the wilderness, aud those nearer
to Richmond These were attended with
an extent Of slaughter on both sides, which
has been scarcely surpassed IN the contests
Of modern times. The nnal result was the
advance Of our armies % the front 81 BIch-
nond and Petersburg. But we were pow
erless 10 proceed any further Tie foftil-
cations Of the enemy were too strong 10 be
lorced; and aler repeated attempts and
the loss 81 thousands Of lives the underta-
sing was deferred tii, deseuion want, and
dsafec.ioH among tie rebels should rem
der the attempt m0r@hOpeiul.
In the meantime wh.iethe greatest army
4 the rebellion was Lcll m0ti0niess, as IL
xere, ia n vice unable 10 advance or re-
,-eat wta0Gt certain ruin, tie rebel eype-
dition into Tonne ssee, under Hood, had Ut
ierly failed. ard Sherman commenced Bis.
career ~ cou44c-t and victory Iom At
ANITA o. RA.eig.,a career ol continued
successes FIR length OF time and for
greatness Of distance being nearly 1900
miles -unequa.led I'D the aunal, g modern
warfare.
Simultaneous with the advance OF sher-
iaan from tine South. was tie long delayed
attack upon the forces az Richmond; and /
hat army Of rebel veterans. more than CO., !
100 strong, was anniuiated in The space OF
ust two weeks 50 that OF all that vast /
number not one mau was lefi in arms.
Meanwhile events equally momentous I
were trlnspiring in civil lie. The nation /
had reelected It's President on the express /
consideration that he was for suppressing /
the rebellion by arms; Congress had sus-
tanned the President ami Adjourned the
political arrangements Tor the next four
years had been completed, and while the
nation was rejoicing over the speedy pros
pect Of peace, the President was slain and
the Premier struck down By rebel assassins.
But new President instantly takes the
reins Of government, and announces that
tue Union shall be restored and the rebels
punished, and these declarations are fol
lowed up by efficient and successful ac-
ton
During the past week we have the news
OF the burial Of the deceased President. the
death Of one Of the assassins. the capture
OF another, and the surrender Of Johnston's
army. This last event IS TO be regarded as
not merely the f0rerunner of the end oil The
rebellion, but as the end itself For. it the
two rebel armies. under-their two best Cen
erals, have been annihilated or surrendered
10 the number OF some 90. 900 men. il will.
OF course, be utterly futile aud hopeless. for
any inferior General or army 10 try 10 sus- ,
tain alone a cause which could not succeed
with the united strength OF an the Coufed- :
eracy. As an organized government, the c
Coniederacy has disappeared from the face j
OF the earth, and no longer claims a place e
among the nations.
These remarkable events must be sue ,
reeded in the future by others equally i'm b
portant- As soon as the remaining orran- :
zed forces shall have submitted. which =
they will be willing to DO on the same terms q
With the two lsrgest armies, all warfare Will {
cease, except that which may be carried on L
y bushwhackers and small companies Of
lnorSanized men. We may, therefore T
'easonaoly look for 4 proclamation declar- ;
ing that. afler a certain DAY. the existing il
)tier Of Executive pardon will be withdrawn a
rom ali persons. on the ocean or on the 5
and, who shall be found carrying on hos 5
lities against the people OF the United Z
states, and that all such persons will be il
iealt with as outlaws robbers and murder h
IFS. Then, also the question of arresting o
md Furnishing traitors must receive a ?
speedy solution: portion Of our military v
Orces must be disbanded and sent home. il
While the remainder viii be permanently c
stationed in different quarters as one great c
standing army: a large part of the navy b
vill DO withdrawn from service: and the Il
Unsettled condition Of the rebel States will n
lemand immediate action for their govern s.
nent. anc representation in both Houses Of a
II Congress. W
For the settlement Of these and other c.
Teat questions which Will present them {,
elves, We think the Executive viii deem il il
'est and most satisfactory to summon a
pecial session of Congress.