The mountain Democrat., 1865-11-11
IL the war Overt

The Richmond Wing, having been sup.
pressed after its first Issue, has been per
mitted to resume publication, with prom
Use, we suppose. that hereafter it will not
say anything offensive to the ears of roy
alty. Er0us tbe Ry~t ;o~'~>- ~. ;Nn ~
I pearance, tde fdG0~ins is taken:
We suggest the above inquiry, not that
we have q particle of doubt on the sub
ject ourselves, but because the tone and
language Of the Northern press in con-
nection with the singular and distrustfu
course Of the General Government itself;
would seem to indicate that in their judg.
ment the war is not over. Let US endea-
vor to undeceIVe the people of the North
and the authorities at Washington on this
point.
In the first place, then, we assure them,
in all candor and honesty, that the South.
ern people. at the present moment, are
emphatically the most pesceable and the
most peaceably disposed people on the
face Of earth. There is not man, NO.
man or child in all our borders, whatever
their regrets in regard to the past, in
whose mind there fingers the fainteSt SEN
timent of opposition to the national au'
thority. There is not one who does not
sigh for peace, for quiet, for security, or
who does not honestly intend to abide, in
good faith, the results of the war. If
there be q solitary rebelfoIs or refractory
spirit among US, he keeps his ridiculous
thoughts and purposes all to himself -
So far, then, as the people Of the South
are concerned, the war is unqueStionably
over7xpermanently at an end. And We
sincerely hope that the Government at
Washington and our considerate North
ern friends will at once recognize and
acknowledge the vital fact, and conform
their sentiments and action to q state ol
peace.
We repeat that. in spite Of the repre-
sentationss Of few sensational newSpa-
per correspondents to the contrary, there
is no wish or disposition on the part OF
any sane Southern man, no matter what
his opinions or conduct before and during
the war, to continue resistance, for a sin.
gle moment, to the constituted authori-
ties Of the land. From the very mo
| nCIIt bNE SuILCluCI vi kuC OOOluSbi
armies the war Was practically and forever
at an end and the Southern people, civil
ians and soldiers alike. promptly and wise
ly admitted the fact, by forthwith resum
ing their usual avOcatiOnS and employ
ments Nor at any time since the sur
render has there been any exhibition o
violence, turbulence, disorder or refracto
ry disposition, on the part OF any of oul
people.
Frankly acknowledging themselves
whipped and overwhelmed by superior
numbers, all have demeaned themselves
with quiet dignity and manifested a sin
cerely loyal and patriotic spirit and oil
are now resolved to support the Constitu'
ton and the Union With honest hearts
and honest minds. And none are more
peaceably inclined or more intent on the
discharge of every duty incumbent upon
them, under theme order Of things,
than the brave, gallant and noble soldiers
OF the South, who. for four terrible years,
endured, without a murmur, trials, hard
ships and sufferingS, such as no people
ever endured before.
Nor can too much praise be awarded TO
them for their orderly and g,ntlemanly
conduct since their surrender to the ar
mics of the United States If there is
the slightest spark Of insurrectionary
spirit existing at the South, it is not to be
found among those who lately composed
her grand heroic armies. But we again
repeat with emphasis, that there is no
warlike or factouS disposition prevailing
among any portion OF our people. We
are all pcaceable, docile, well disposed,
law abiding citizens, and wish to be re.
garded and treated as such both by the
Government and the people of the North
And surely. if We ever had so great an
itching for another fight, would We be fools
enough to attempt to bring on another
when we have Ito means of resistance at
all? Are not the Southern armies dis
bandedr Is not every man in the South
disarmedS Is not the use Of even the
smallest sort of u sword cane SternlyprO.
hibited? What absurdity, then to sup
pose that anybody in the South is dispos
ed to create disturbance! And if we
are not thus disposed and if We have no
arms at our disposal, why the distrust
which seems TO pervade the Northern
mind and even the policy of the Govern
'ment itself, in regard to usy Why such
large standing armies in our mldst?-
Why such unaccountable delay in substi-
tuting the civil for the military authority?
Why is it, too. that even the common
convenience of mail facilities is withheld
from Us?
We make these interrogntories in order
to call the attention of the authorities at
Washington and of our Northern fellow
citizens to the actual facts of our present
condition, our temper, disposition and
purposes. We wish TO disabuse the
minds of the people of the North and Of
our rulers of the mistaken impressions
under which they appear to labor. We
are all peace men here now and loyal cit.
izenS of the Government OF the United
States, and We wish to enjoy the real and
substantial blessings OF peace, and to en-
joy the equal rights and privileges of
common Government. In numerous let.
ters and addresses President johnson has
proclaimed that the war is over and that
peace exists. The like announcement
was made from thousands of rostrums
and pnlpits throughout the North on the
last Fourth of July. Let US all, then,
North and South, rulers and people, ac.
cept the aforesaid declaration as fixed
and glorious fact. and let US be friends
and brethren once more, in all sincerity
and truth.
E-~ Vr.ns AGO Tho Gan Joca Nor