Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-12
From the Washington Chronicle, 9Th
THE AUTHORS OF THE REBELLION

Whsn the rebellion ehall hava basn finally sup.
pressed, and the people Of the ,uth have had time
to look around them aud inquire into ths causes
which have led TO their ruin, they will infallibly
trace them to the wicked and unprovoked attempt
{, overthrow the National Govern nent. Tns very
depth of their nisfortunes houseless and homeless
In many instances, bankrupt in nearly ali, with al
most every family 10 mourning, their cherished In
stltutlon of slavery destroyed, will cause them to
remember the wealth snd luxury, the peace and Sc
curity which prevailed on the day that the slave
holding aristocrsts and demagogues of South Caro-
Ina set the infectious example Of attempting to
throw off their allegiance to the G2verunsut of the
United States They will ask themselves IL those
reasonable attempts were in any way justified BY
the circumstances. They will read the history OF
the war aud ss origin, asd thsy will search In vain
for one single act Of oppression which they suffered
or one single menace OF oppression which should
have induced brave people, tenacious OF their
rights to take up arms Ia advance Of ths overt act.
Their friends a. the date of the passage Of ths seces
sion ordinance Of South Carolina, December 90
1860, were In authority. Every Law on the ma
tloual statute book hsd been framed by them and
de -iied majority In the Senate guaranteed them
against the repeal of tiose laws for sons years to
come The President elect was pledged individu-
ally, and by his party, to respect the rights OF the
STATES to manage their domesti, stfsir The C)n-
satution protected that right, and any attempt to
disregard 1t would have caused !asgs proportion
of the psople who elected the President to turn
against him
1t Is clear, therefore, that tae rebellion was with
out iustifable cause II OH iaa.ed In the dtsap-
polLted ambition Of political leaders, and wal not
san stoned By majority OF the people IN the States
which wee dragged Into H. These facts Will infsl-
nbly bs recognized by the Southern pe1pe gEe1 the
failure OF the rebellion shall leave them free to think
and act for Themselves and the conclusion 70 which
thew will arrive will b. that thei- real enemies have
been the unscrupulous slaveholdins dsmagogres
who brought on the war Taere need De little sp-
prehenson, therefore thai teose wicked men will Ie-
gain O, retain their influence over the people And
the probability Is that they will be mors odoua than
the name of Aboitonist ever was 10 the south. L.
stead Of re-electng the leaders OF the rebellion to the
high places of power, the people Will CRY for ven
gsance upon them, and the Government Will be call
ed upon, By regard for humanity, TO protect TIC
Confederate chiefs from lswlsss vengeance. This IL
bv far thu more probable Issue OF the most wicked
rebellion of which tbs history OF nations afjtds a.
example.
In almost every other instance, rebel!ors cave re
suited from the Injustice and tyranny Of governments
ard the Rebels were deeply wrorged; bui IN t1e
present case the revolt hss been made by sa7ehod-
Ing tyrasts against free government IN order thai
they might have the unrestrcted privilege of extend
iug and perpetuating the rlcst odious form OF des
not SIN which the world hsa ever seeu. l. vas ts
benon In which TIE masses Of the white people had
no Interest, and which, could bring then nothing in
any event, but loss arf ruin. Il was rebellion In
which the blacks could have no Interest Dot In itf
failure; and the only paries who could. under any
circumstan es, profit bT Its success were the slave
holders and their profit could only be in the g-ea
lie ,nse It would give them TO trade in the 2des az
souls of their felow-telngs. Macy Shareholders were
wise enough TO fcreses the consequences which were
sure to follow the rebellion, and to oppose It. Some
were oppc ,ed to the objects sought aud ali such are
deserving Of sympathy but there need he little sFpre
bensop that the active promoters e. the rebellion will
he able to reasset their former authority eud Gu
e1ce among the people. That Authority and iLfiu-
encs were DUE not to the force OF reason ror even
% p-eiidice but TO the terror which was Inspired
! nv the bugbear Of abolition. There yas always In
tbe South latent consciousness that slavery WIS
violation Of the eternal laws Of God, and that Its
onlv sure support was fcrc9 To oppose any inca
sure OF any policy which its friends claimed 70 oe
essential to its preservation, was to be the tool rr
the abstto- Of abolitlorisro and TO be An sbci-
ZIONIST was to be a fend ocarrate. It was, thee
fore ALWAYS in the power of the Pro-savary dena-
gorues to strike terror by raierg the hue and cry
hat slavery was In danger. The reign Of terror in
France was short-,lved, hut IN the South /. LATED
| thirty years. and in South Carolina and the Cult
Statcs from their frs. settlement. Toopp Sc slavery
| IN those States was 70 be a tack-heaue1 demon
spd to hesitate in tie support CT TIE EXTREMIST
measures which the ma gra.es deemed necessary t.
lie preservation, or to the Advancement Of It's int
rests was to be fathlees and false 1t was the
use O. tais weapon which gave them their power.
1t slavery is now dead. the mask IL taken from the
face Of the monster and It's hi3eous defer nifty IS re-
yelled Il has, by the ambition of its champions
overwhel ned them with ruin, Ia common with the
macs of ths white peope and the only sooc t3eS
have done IA the result of their defeat. There Is it
te danger therefore, that they will be able to resume
their SWAY over TIE rnipd5 ri she people. Many I?
them have p9rshed already othcTs will Jet ps:iSSa
or 70 bsnished the country but In notve1t can th'