The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-01-26

Hicf of Interests and Enduring An
tagcnism-Dclus Drcnmcrs Drag
ged with Anodyncs-Univcrsn Spoil
alton 10 Follow Pcace-NO Disfimc-
ton Between KecOnstrucfiOn and
Subjugarion.
From the Richmond Sentinel Jan. 90.
No wilder hallucination could take
possession of the human mind, than the
belief that we could ever again live with
the Yankees on terms of equality, or
come under the same government with
them, except as conquered people. Diff
fcrences of habit, sentiment and feeling,
and diverstes of interest which wise
legislation and conservative statesman
ship might have recOncilcd, have, under
the councils of madmen, fit to disturb
the peace of all tho world, hardened into
an enduring antagonism Violent ana
exclusive opinions at the North, have
borne their legitimate fruits. Force has
been substituted for reason and all the
healing arts of craftsmanship. War has
torn two peoples asunder, and placed be-
tween them an ocean of blood that will
remain forever; for never can true recon-
element grow where wounds of mortal
hate have pierced 50 deep. Let us not
deceive ourselves in this matter. Let no
weak dreamer drng himself with the
iodine of reconstruction, nor lay TO his
soul the hattering hope that life would
be tolerable without our independence.
Mr. Lincoln has indeed vouchSated totell
us that he will cease when we lay down
our arms So the war ceased after the
battle Of Hastings, but the universal spo-
latiOn of property, deprivation of all per
sonal privileges, and the tolling of cur
few bells illustrated the object for which
the war was undertaken, and kept long
in memory the bitterness of the peace by
which it was followed. But worse than
all this-worsc than anything 10 he found
OH The darkest and saddest page of hu-
man history, wOnld he that peace we
should gain by abandoning our struggle
for independence, and bowing the neck
to our enemies. Then Mr.. Lincoln i'll his
own elegant phrase, would run his conrts,
and through their instrumentality conf
plete the work of robbery, and spoliation
and ruin. Not only ciU all oar property
be Swepi from as into the public cCf0S Of the
Yankees, or BE- dirided ont in portions ard
rcrards 10 a hjreiiHg sOIdie,y, bW Judicial
nurd,q'S wiH be the order Of he day All
the dark and malignant passions of a
vindictivc people, drunk with blood and
vomiting crime, will he unlca~hcd upon
us like bloodhounds upon their prey
Between reconstruction and snhjugation
there is no reason why We should draw
distinctions it would be il distinction
without difference. Lincoln has taken
anxious paiAs To assure lis of this. The
only reconstruction, the only peace he
will allow, is by submission. Thsis sub
iugation. The reconstruction of South
ern drcamcrS, Is not conceived OF at the
North. But even could we submit upon
terms which would not be allowed us,
such reconstruction would be only subju-
CATION in form, scarcely respectable
enough to he called cheat. Both mean
slavery the North; life without honor,
and afnture without hope. There would
he no practical difference between it and
unqualified submission. How vain the
effort, how foolish the wish 10 recon
struct. upon any terms, the Union which
we peri>hed through the bad faith OF
those whom we should have 10 trust
again Let rs pledge ourselves, if need
he. afresh To this resolve. Let us swear
by the memory of our immortal dead; by
the sufferings of the past, and hopes of
the future; hy our rayaged fields and des-
olated homes; 10y the tears and sorrows OF
widowhood, and cries of helpless orphan
a"e; hv the blood of the slain that calls
TO Us tom the ground, thar We will
never, never have part or lot III any gov
crnment which, in its every department,
executive. legislative and judicial, is
under the sole aud exclusive control OF
those who can offer lis no guarantee tor
the future. but the broken faith of the
past This is what manhood and liberty
require. This was the spirit that fired
the hearts of those who fell so molly AT
Tnermopylae. and of those who con-
auercd 50 glorieusly at Marat hon; and
such. too. the spirit which dictated the
ever-memorable reply of heroic William
of Orange, when, posing himself upon
the center OF his own great SOU, he sol
ennlv declared before God that he would
never abandon his country, however des-
perate her cause, but would defend her
TO the last extremity, and die in the last
ditch. We have but to catch this spirit
TO reconsecrate ourselves to our liberty,
and TO pass from heart TO heart the sa-
! cred fire of devotion TO our country's
cause. and we will-we must-be free
! Let it be remembered that the boon of
liberty is never denied to those who are
worthy of it; and they alone are worthy
/ of it, who, i'll her sacred cause, are de-
termined to do or die. 1t is so written
/ in the book of fate; il is so recorded IN
/ the history of nations; it is so revealed
/ in the providences of God, and pro-
claimed in moral agencies, which sway
the destinies Of the world. l.S