Semi-weekly news., 1865-04-27
The Times and its Obligations.
FROM tire New Orleans Picayune

From tire New Orleans Picayune:
We presume that the public mind
has been prepared for some time past,
for the reception of the highly ir,por-
tant news which was received here
yesterday by telegraph. The opin-
ions expressed by Gen. Lee beftre
the Committee Of the Confederate
Senate, 4 few weeks ago, relative TO
the means at his command for the
furth"r carrying on Of the war, must
have produced that effect, and sub
sequent military events must have
greatly deepened it. 1t was but q
mere question of time. and W. think
the result can have surprised but few
IT any rejecting persons.
1t is not now the time or the occa
sion to 60 into an examination, either
IN vl!sdication or condemnation of
the CAUSES or the motives will! Which
the terrible civil war now virtually
closed was inaugurated. Whether
there was good cause and lauda-
bic motive at the bottom Of it; wheth
rr so far as respects the people Of the
South the inception Of the war was a
mi mi~concrption Of the head or q cul
pahle error Of the heart; whether they
We're betrayed into it by ambitious
and self.seeking leaders, or whether
they honestly believed it was was the
only means that could protect their
social system from ruin, is not now
the question to be considered. 1t
cannot be denied. as very frankly
says leading Journal Of New: York,
the Times, that the couraS. and en-
dnrance they have displayed in ma
king the experiment, though it must
b. admitted to have failed, cntitle
Them to respect. In these qualities
they have shown themselves to BE-
true Americans, and their claims up
ON the charity and the respect Of
mankind, are enough to nev,tralize all
the heart-burnings nf the war. Grant
that the experiment WAS an error.
most dearly has it been answered;
aud 10 1t:an-as again truly says our
liberal New York cotemporary-can
be- sure, that if he had been, South
ernor and subject to the same inf1u-
ences, liz would not, under any cir
cumstances have done the same.
Our business is not. with the fu-
tur- "kcdeunt Saturnia rcgna"-
The dove that has strayed SO long
from our ark comes back ut last with
the long hoped for, long prayed tor,
olive branch in her beak. Let us
welcome her return as the harbinser
OF Il peace that shall hcncetorth know
no rupture. "There is nothing that
preceded the war. or that occasioned
it," says the Journal we have already
quoted, (which ought to br pcrpetu-
ated as Il cause for sectional strife
hencrfrrth and it viii be the duty of
the whole country, both North and
South, to recognise this, and to guard
against the renewal Of such strife, by
ch~rish!nS every kindly s.ntinent.' -
The hearty reconciliation .f the
South to the North, will depend quit.
rs much upon the generous bearing
OF the Northern people as upon the
W Sc policy Ut the administ ration
We shall have TO rid ourselve. not
only of every hostile feeling -nsen-
d..r,'d by the war. but Of all tn. sec
tional feelings that sprang from the
political controversies which prrced.
ed The war. This is not a difficult
task.
The Government must have To- al
ty as we'll as Submission The keep
ing down Of any part Of the Repub
lie by the strong arm merely; would
be opposed TO every republican princi-
pie. We caunot make vassals Of the
Southern people without making our
whole constitutional system a mock
cry. Th" mere moral effect Of such
an inconsistency would blast every
vital element in our free institutions
The Government would only betrav
itself if it should undertake to bend
Southern necks to yoke Its duty
will be to save Southern hearts.
Its business will be to inspire conf
d-nce and re-create attachment.
This spirit. manifested and acted
on as principle by the Govern n-nt,
should be frankly y aud honestly cher.
ist-d by the South as we'll as the
North. Destiny seems to have de.
creed that We are to be one nation
and history has shown We have mutual
interests that are best conserved and
advanced by acting together. We
have found in times past, that in Uni
on there is strength. and we have
found, in later times, how great are
the perils Of divisions.
We cannot close these hasty re
marks without referring to one fin.