Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-24

eop,. IN this as in ell things justice and judgNee
Shall be determined by them do not haroor nLer
reyenpefnl feelings towards any In general terms
would cav that pubs morals should be estaosheo uPOi
the sure and inalnbe principle Of justice Applause
When the question OF exercising mercy comes OeoI'
rae it will 10 consider d calmly Sn "a Naton Know
That men love 10 have their names spoken o. IN COIeV
ton with acts of mercJ, and how easy ~ Is 70 cru !.
this impulse But must not ergst tlat What iSJ "
mercy 90 the individual is cruelty to the oils AP
In the exercise of mercy there should be no doubt lei,
that this high prerogatye = not used 70 le;o'o e.
the expense of tie many Be assured sha never iore
that am not r. con ut my own feelings aone' out 10
give an account to the whole people. AppauSe u -o.
In regard 70 my future course will now max no
{, ,sons-no p,ejge5 have bcen connected someWha'
actively with public AT I'll and TO tie history OF my Ast
public acts which is familiar 10 you rceI lol 'nDI I
principles which lave gov rned me hers'oloe anu
ggile me hereafter. In general W Say Of the
long abored for the aneoraton and elevator o. 'n
great ma Of maIkind Ny op mons as to tle mature vi
popular government have leng been cnersneo' anu Vo
81 i is 90 late IN Md leT made for man
them. believe that the government Was nSue iOi -
not man for COVE nment up ause' =. ;,r.io
This struggle OF the people against the mos. Au.
rebellion that the world ever saw has %
the attachment OF the people to their government 10 e
s,ronpest national defence human wisdom can devise
TApplause1 so long as each man iees that we
of the government his Interest," 10 ong as Ine pu0
heart tlras in the iSbt direction and tne peUe 5
sta nd and appreciate the theory OF our government anu
opr liberty orr Constitution will be TRANSMITTED uLiu.
oired II the time ever comes when the people shall
ail II, the government will fan, and we shan cease TO
b, one of the nations o. tie earth. After having pre-
rved our form of free government and shown i power
70 maintain t existence through the vicssitudes Of
nearly century may be that it necessary lot us
TO pss, through this t ordeal Of intestine STRIFE TO
prove tina this government will not parish frC internal
w,lkness, but viii ever stand able TO deiend l'seI
lain,t all foes aud punish treason. tApplauseJ
In the de llngs OF IA nscrutibe Providence ana Dy
the operations OF the Constitution have been throw"
unextcct dy into this petition My past lie and eHs
pecaly my during the present uni oily rebellion
ia before you. have principles TO retFact. dey
any one to point to any of my public acts at variance
with the fixed principles which have guided me through
life have no professions to offer. Professions ana
promises would be worth nothing at this time NO one
cla foresee the circumstances nat will hereafter arise
Had any man gifted with PRESENCE four years ago re-
ported and written down in advance the events OF lIe
peri Cd the story would have seemed mere marvellous
than anything in the Arabian Nights shall not at
tempt to anticipate the future. As events occur ana u
beremes necessary for me - act shall dispose OF edc
il arises defering any declaration or message Until
il can be written paragraph by paragraph in The height
OF events as they transpire' ..,, IT,,
The President having concluded his address the mem
bers Of the delegation then seyeray introduced 10
the President by Gov. 0glesby.