The Placer herald., 1865-03-04
Peace and Re.Union,


We conceive to bo the duty of government, in
view Of returning peace. If, as is claimed
We are on the eve of complete military ri
umph over the rebellion, then it is question
Of uncomfortable Importance whether the
passions which have been urpermost during
the conflict shall continue to control in the
negotiation Of conditions for re- union. l,
matters little 10 us by the side of considera.
lions Of returning harmony, whether the con
federate government be near its final col.
lapse, as is believed or not.
We have continued from the first in the
belief that it is far better for all, that the
terms, that the terms. the fair and honorable
tsrms OF reconstruction, should be sought be
fore the military prostratlon Of peop g.
'Tis with this view that We recur to our sub.
jsct, which, however old or ably handled hv
others, may vet be great question before
the American people. Let us differ ever SO
much upon the causes Of the war, or lhe pol
icy 10 conducting the war. or even upon the
terms for bringing the war 10 an honorable
end, honorable 10 the people in rebellion as
we'll as the loyal States, still we imagine
there are very few who could entertain re-
vsngeful hopes regarding the people Of the
Southern States, and most sincerely do we
believe that there are still less to justify acts
Of retaliation, certainly such notions do not
tend towards returning good will.
The great war through which we are now
sruggling has unquestonably debased the
National character to very low level. The
doctrine Of q military necessity overriding
Constitutional barriers is doing its work and
ornamen.ing the understanding with anon
alous ideas Of the power of governmen;
which acts through constitutional grants
The effort to obliterate the erea, Jetfcrsonian
doctrine Of State sovereignty and the insig
nihcance Of the General Government, outside
Of the limits granted, is another source OF
dsbasement which will make the sacred
name Of liberty but term OF expression and
fear But from such errors how msny cor,
rupting sentiments follow, and yet it will
hardly be believed, Notwithstanding every
charge Of those who honestly oppose the
policy of Mr. Lihcon, that he gives encourI
agsment to acts dictated solely by spirit Of
either by Congress or the Executive, AS mil
itary necessity or otherwise, would nfalIibly
end in the most bitter and savage warfare
known in the annals of recorded time. And
yet We observe. at time too, when every
thinking mind should be engaged in the con.
sideration Of just and dspassionas terms Of
reconciliation, that Senator Howard, of Mich.
igan We believe, from the Military commit
tee, introduced January 18th, "A Bill propo,
sing method OF retaliation for the treat.
ment Of our prisoners by the rebels It
recommends that rebel prisoners be placed
under the control of officers and men who
have themselves been prisoners u the hands
of the insurgents, with instructions to give
the rebel prisoners the same Treatment as
our own men have received from the rebel
government" Can it be iha. we as nation
seek low revenge, and deliberately strive
70 put the same upon record as a statute Of
the psople' Indeed, i. may for aughl we
know, be a law Of the land while we write.
Must the innocent be made to suffer, FIR
either the wilful disregard or the more prob
able inability Of the rebel government to
feed, clothe, and render comfortable our poor
unfortunate soldiers whom the fate Of war
has thrown into their handsl Shall the
American people by statute bid for the poor
follows whose good fortune has survived The
wo's. that they measure out, (under instruc'
sions,) and gloat over a rcvengefuI retaa.
tion decreed by a great and Christian peo
pie.
We are not disposed to multiply words on
proposition so inhuman, as well a. an.aco.
uistcal 10 every attempt a. a settemen, for
psaze aud the reunion Of the States. We
firmly believe that an earnest love of liberty,
ofcountry, and the reins,a,ing of mutual
good will, should condemn such retaliatory
policy A patriot and statesman must dis.
cern \ vas, difference between millions of re,
turning friends and the return of millions
with intense hatred ranking in their hearts,
and ready to rise again in rebellion should
occasion suggest more favorable success.
MULcrED.-The suit Of j. Downes Wilson
against the proprietors Of the S. F. Bulletin,
for libel. in publishing the ''Story OF Prom
isiog Nine" disclosure Of what was known
- the Santiago mine swndIe, resulted in a
verdict against the defendants for $500.
IhA R,,llal;n l. LIZ L. - 1