Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-05-19
THE LATE COMPROMISES WITH
THE REBELS.

The reader viii smile at the aboYecaption
and ridicule the idea of any sane man, greai
or small, insinuating that there was a com
promise with any of the numerous rebel lea
ders in the late surrenders. The disposition
to laugh, however, at such puerile and ri
diculous stupidity, viii not remove from ou
midst the impression endeavored to be Gre
ated among the ignorant and credulous by
certain unscrupulous partizans. Itisa prom
inent article Of the faith of the valiant and
hapless leaders Of the Copperhead Democ-
racy of Bedford county, to maintain the very
semblance of consistency to be jewel.
They believe that the desertion of an up
ro oted political principle would breed lack
of confidence in their disciples, which might
lead to results involving the very existence
of the Party, or its entire overthrow This
has been their dogmatic course for number
years. We are happy to be able to tell
them now, however, that this game is ex-
hausted, that the people are becoming ac-
quainted with the exploded dogmas which
they have so long, and with so much hardi-
hood, feisted upon them. The policy which
has long been followed, that of making the
people believe any thing, and do anything
in the name of the Democracy,
is about in the same stages of dissolu-
ton as the rebellion. Though it viii take
years to convince the leaders Of this potent
truth they have been so long accustomed
to misleading the masses, belieing and de-
ceiying them, and when they dosettle down
to facts and principles they will be as closely
scrutinized and suspected by the intelligent
of their own party, as the convict who has
just returned from Cape Colony or Van Die
mans Land.
five understand the term compromise, it
means mutual agreement to settle differen-
ces with concessions of claims by the parties.
A mutual agreement without the consequen-
ces of fear, oompulsion, or other unwilling
motive. And we assert here without fear
of contradiction, when an arrangement is
entered into readily by a beaten party, to
a~oid worse alternative, it Is no compro-
Rsise, it is surrender The word eompro-
mise has covered a multitude of sins, but NO
one has ever, until now, so roundly abused
it. As an illustration of our idea, Gen.
Lee asks Gen. Grant on what terms he viii
receive the surrender Of the army of Nor
thern Virginia. These are almost the pre-
else words Gen. Grant encloses his terms.
Gen. Lee scrutiniEes them closely. He sees
that he not only surrenders himself and ar
my, but Slavery, State Rights, Southern
Confederaey, and everything but life and
pTtrate property, but to save the latter, il
must be done, the terms must be accepted.
And this is compromise, forsooth? How
much Ike compromise, indeed The one
contracting party asks for the terms upon
which he viii be permitted to surrender hi,
army, the other dictates the terms upo1
which he will grant him life, and then tn,
poor miserable toady, who has been unfortu
nate enough to have claimed at the outset O
the rebellion, that our troubles could only b,
settled by compromise, for consistency, tell
his ignorant and deluded followers that tn,
SURRENDER was COMPROMISE. TIL
man who can be duped in this way, we hav
no doubt, viii die a Copperhead, and b
ought to.