Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-06-16
RICHMOND WING.
WH. SMITH, proprietor.
~~~-1~--~-~~s~-~~-~ -
FRIDAY MORNING.........JUNE 10, 1861
Reconciliation.


Mr.. Seward in come letter or speech in the
early part Of the war, promising the restoration
of the Union, pledged himself that It should b
not a coerced and rePugnant union, but that re-
lations of amity and brotherhood betEeen the
states and citizens Of the bslllgerent section.
Saould be fully restored Certainly since, whether
We will or no, we are 70 live together, it is desi
rabe that peace and good will should suosisl
among Us. IL requires but very lit;-e kaoHleds'
Of human nature 10 instruct US how such Tsla
tions and feelings are most readily created anc
most certainly preserved. Yindlctiyeness, ma
leyolsnce. insults, taunts, the fierce cry Of some
for blood and Of others fer impoVCrisha ent and
disfranchisement-these are not the means by
which people who deem themselves unfortunate
but not guilty, and who recognize in thar con
querors no superiority save in numbers and re-
sources, are to be won back to wiliag allegiance
10 the Government or 8 sincere utilization with
their late enemies. It is cheering sign, though
that such influential men a. Greeley, Gerit
smith and others who have always been most raai
caIy opposed the South, should now ineulcA.C
generous and kindly conduct towards her peo-
pie, and that journal Of the standing and Abl'
ity Of the New York Times should expresI itself
in the considerate terms employed ir the follow
ing article, taken from late issue
We are tco exacting also in regard TO the po-
lite i action OF the Southern people. WeeIpeci
them now that the war is over and q ey are
beaten, 70 Cecome a. lhce net only loyal citizens
obeying all the laws ana sustaining July the IA
tioua. authority, but tkOrOOGh-gOln Abolition
lists and advocates Vt negiO suffrage. Anything
short Of this We consider halfway loyalty, and
think they have not been whipped quite enough
ysL We denOUnce them as stIli Secessionists at
heart and call Tor their exclusion from the rights
oi citizenship.
lhis Is unreasonable and uswise. We have
really nothing 10 do with their hearts. We have
no night 10 exact the complete change OF Senti-
meut and ieeiing which We demand. We have =
right 70 insist that they shall O0ey tie law, that
they snail acknOw ledge and respect the national
authority, and conduct Themselves rs peaceful,
law-abioiDg citizens. Ii they do this, We can
demand nothing more. They may believe In
their heaTts what Jhey please; they may feel as
they ike about the war aud the Government
they may be at heart rebeinOus still but that is
really none OF our business. We cannot control
their opinions or their sentiments; We can and
must cOntTcl their conduct; but that IS all Nor
% lt reasonable - expect that the mass Of the
Southern people Cau Or viii become suddenly de-
. voices OF doctrines and sentiments which they
have hitherto adhered, aud against y hich they
have staked their fortunes and their lives. Men
do not thus instantly change their " hole natures
on compulsiOn, and any UstentatioUs pretensons
vi such u change would be hypocriticaL
The great bOly o. tie southern people were un.
oues.iOnsby honest and sincere Ia the opinions,
the preJudlcss and the Tesentments which led
them 20 rebel against the Government; and il
would be folly 10 suppose that those feelings
Tould all be az once eradicated by the simple
fact that they have been beaten 10 tie field.
radical change IN the sentiment Of the southern
ueOpe concerning slavery aud the purpose and
umper OF the national authority, can only be
wrought by time, by wise. laws wisely adm,nis
tered. and by their experience OF the new cOndl-
tiOn upon whch they cave entered.
Nor shOuld Se desire 10 break the spirit or
crush the selfrCspect q the people Of the south
EN- states. Their courage, their resO,ute aud
te.eImiLed spirit Is now among the price
less possessions of the whole country. Il has
been our eusmy, but hereafter il is 10 be our
friend. IL has been turned against US, and has
ysinly sought our destruction; henceiOrth il
tights only on our side and swelis the power
and the courage with which We may con-
front a world 10 arms. 10 would be suicidal in
US 70 crush or destroy tive should be destroy.
Ing a part OF that which is 10 give US the proud
est place ever held by any nation on the face Of
the earlh. The Rebel South has yielded to our
arms. They confess and feel themselves over.
lome-sUb-ued, subjugated.
Prom no quarter do We hear the faintest hint
Of any wish even 10 renew the contest 10 Is not
for us 10 poison the wound We have inflicted on
their pride, nor 10 stab, with insulting blows the
dead cody Of their ambition. Far wiser will il
be for us 70 prove to them, By our civil policy,
that they have been quite as much mistaken IN
their judgment Of our principles as they were in
their estimate OF our physical power.
But above all things let rs be patient. The
n i'm hftIa M
TEN which are now in progress demand time for
Thar lust development