The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-24
Former Rebels.

The New York Albany Evening Journal
says it is ecmplained in some papers that
most Of the men who are now taking a
prominent part n Southern reorganization,
were active rebels during the war. This is |
tree, undoubtedly. Bot We do not see how |
the fact is TO be avoided. Nearly al men Of
peculiar ability or influence in the States
which seeded, were in some manner iden-
tilted with the Confederate cause. Those
who were loyal during the war, are too few
IN numbe and two weak in power, to con
troll and mould their communities.
We claim 10 have abandOned, with the
close Of strife, the spirit which it excited
10 stand ready and willing to welcome back
under the flag, AID into The old communion,
tbo.e who became the misguided instru-
nents Of sonsble conspiracy. II the re-
pented and converted southeTne-s meet u
halfway. in esrnestntss and truthfulness,
the fact should create no other sentiment
than that Of rejoicing. It Is q favorable
eneurv that those who are nov most eager
70 repa;r the disasters Of secession, are they
who had the largest stake in its success, and
have therefore beea most Inundated by it's
overthrow. No better evidence C .uld be
given Of the completeness Of our triumph.
Il wss this very thing which Northern enc
mics Of the Government and sympathizers
with rebellion. most periinsciOusly insisted
could never occur.
In the State Conventions Of Mississippi
and Alabama, ex-Rebels have taken lead
ing par. Those in the former State intro
dueed he clause in the Cen titution VIII eli
recognizes the final abolition Of Slavery, snd
passed il BY an almost unanimous vote. In
North Caroline, Gov. Holden fiuds himself
sustained with eordislity by men Who are
fresh from the defeated Confederate srmv.
In Virginia, the Unionists who were such
during the war, are Joined by tbousands
who were in the Rebel movement-like
Henry A. Wise, who says; Eve thank God
for this war: - we now see that il was q
means IN the hand Of God for tearing from
us a black idol, from which we could lot be
separated otherwise than BY blood, AID fire
and sword" Even Gov. Hamilton ofTexas
Radical Of Radicals in his opposition Il
everything savoring Of treason, is sppoiBt-
ing secessionists to prominent Offices in his
gin.
No man has more reason 20 hate rebeli
than President Johnson. Some of those a
the North who are preaching a crusade o
vengeance and destruction, might learn 4
profitable lesson Of christian charity auC
wse pdtri tism from him. After be took hi
noble sand in the s.n to, in 1861, he be
came the especial Object o. ha red. A pric
YVES srt upon his head hired assassins wen
chosen to dog his footsteps and take his life
some members Of his family were murders
and others driven from their homes hi
property was destroyed until be could cay
81 earrg all my worldly possessions in
carpet bsg aud an approving Coincidence.
Ye, out OF this storm Of fiery Perseeutio
aud hatred, with the memory Of his wrong
fresh upon him, be is ready 10 ssy " "
will do everything in temper Of forgive
ness and love. and nothing IN the spirit
hatred and revenge" This is the grsn
purpose Of a large minded man And
embodics the truest and wisast diplomacy
II We expect q Union indeed--a Unio
which shall bring to all portions Of II
country, Ieaee, happiness, and prosperity
wemusi repress the inssne and misehieyo'
demand ior signal punishment, and lear
60 be msgnanmcus. The President and b
advisers are tgreed as 90 the p Icy Of mere,
They understand the entire field, and ali n
necessities Il presents. And they are SUI
ported by the mot enlightened ssntimer
Of the North. The measures OF the Az
ADMINISTRATION viii work the haPpiest result
unless they are hampered and RETAINED
such hot-hesd impractieables as Charl
Sumner, who would prison or al, franchi
every lsading rebel. or Thadms Steven
who demands sweeping and mereile
toadscasion Of property in the South.