The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-06-21

MAJOR GENERAL SHERMAN, IL his
speech at Chicag9 several days ago very
forcibly expressed the idea that the war
being over the time had come when sec
tional animosities should be forgotten,
and every possible effort made to heal
the wounds inflicted upon the South by
the struggle itself The energies of the
Government and of all our statesmen
should be directed to the restoration OF
prosperity and peace to every part of the
land President Johnson is evidently
prompted by the same nIagnanimous son
timent that General sherman so elo-
quently uttered at Chicago. lie has
lately spoken words of wisdom and friend
ship to the Southern people, appreciating
as he does the condition in which the
war has placed them His late precla-
nation authorizing the re-establishing Of
civil government in the States of North
Carolina and Mississippi, and also his
proclamation removing restrictions from
trade throughout the South, demonstrate
his purpose to do everything in his pow
or to restore the shattered States to their
former prosperity. AS an exchange very
appropriately says, it is astonishing to
see how many individuals and presses fail
to comprehend that the changed circum-
stances of the country require CORE
spending change of tone. While there was
war there was some propriety in the use
of exasperating language towards the en-
crimes in the darkest possible coiors was
at least natural, though we doubt if
there was time during the war when
the people needed to be inspired with
hatred in order to fight well for the
Union But now the war is over; the
rebel armies have surrendered, and are
di ;armed and disbanded; the whole
South lies powerless at our mercy; what
do we want nowl The work to be done
by Christian patriotism is to bind up the
bleeding wounds Of tne nation aud as
suags the animosities bred by civil strife.
We want true union and concord i'll the
quickest possible time and by such means
rs will make these blessings perpetual.
Are these ends to be gained by reproach-
es and invectives; by prolonging the
spirit and the evils of war after the war
itself has terminated ? There can be but
one answer to these questions.
Our soldiers understand this They
show no animosity toward tue rebels
they have conquered On the contrary,
they fraternize at once with them, and
cenuuer them the second time by kind
ness There is not one Of our fighting
Generals who counsels harsh aud vindiC-
tive measures toward the subjugated.-
1t takes civilian in epaulettes to do it,
and only those who have watched the
war at a safe distance echo the cry for
vengeance If the people of the South
could understand the real feeling i'll the
North they would be reassured There
is no such spirit ofvengeance there as is
indicated by some Of the newspapers.-
They are mere echoes of the War Depart
ment which has not learned that we
have entered upon an era OF peace. Irea-
son will be punished, but not in any
spirit of vengeance or bloodthirstiness.-
The Government has the chief instiga-
tors of the rebellion in its hands. hey
will be calmly and deliberately tried;
some may be condemned to death; If any
of them are sparedit will be by acts OF
Executive clemency. If one or more OF
them are hung it will be to demonstrate
the reality and the enormity of the crime
of treason, and the power and duty fthe
Government to protect itself against
traitors That accomplished, not a life
will be taken for vengeance, or to salts
fy abstract notions of justice And as to
the people of the South generally, the
Government will be magnanimous and
generous. The people Of the North will
not permit it to be otherwise -LoRisvilI.
Journal, June l6.