Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-10
from the Ne,1 York Times, 7th inSt.l
THE NEXT STEP.


While the military strength of the rebellion re-
manned unbroken, We opposed, as uGwise aud un-
necessary, any proierS of peace 70 the rebel Lead
erS or any ostentatiOus tender OF "termS' 10 the
rebel army. So long aS the rebel Government hciu
its seat in the capital, and was backed up by the
compact and powerful army OF zen. Lee the g,ea'
MAJ of the rebels had something at once to lean
uDon ami t. fear. They were, willingly or unwii!-
incl subjects of that government, and any step
thew might take toward breaking away from their
allegiance to il would subject them to such pun
sbment As absolute and irresponsible power, driven
to desperation, OF necessity inhcts. The one in
dispensable condition tor their return to the Union
was the destruction of the rebel army; until that
was accompl shed all proHers Of peace from Us
seemed to them like mOckery, and all tenders o.
mercy w,r, far more likely to sting and exaSpcrate
than to win over to the Union cause.
But now the case is very different. All the CIR
cuInstances of it changed. The rebel army has
been substantially destroyed. 1t may still lie for
midabe for local mischief-but a buwark o
the rebel Government, it has ceased to exist 1t nj
Lon e. affords shelter for the rebel authorities
Those authorities themselves are fug tives. The
rebel President aud Cabinet have fed before oul
troops. They have no longer cap.tal-they have
n practical power or authority. The rebel Govern
ment de flcto is extinct. Our army is now in con
GiIon practically, to release the great OF their
people frSm the abject allegiance in which they
have hitherto been held. Aud, therefore, We think
the time has come for doing it. Unless We are mis-
taken in Overratng the magnitude OF Gran d
recent victory, and the Importance OF the rebe
hIght from Richmond, our authority is far re-
stored over all the rebel territory to justify it!
assertion and its practical exercise. We can ne
longer be tainted with issuing proclamationS which
we have no power to emf rce-with IN liking promis
which we have no power to keep. We are no longer
offering mercy to men who neither ask nor need it
and to whom, therefore, such offers are insults
We can moreover, now justly aud properly draw
line Of distinction between the army and the peo
ple-Letwecn the leaders of the rebellion and those
whom they have betrayed. And the sooner We
draw that line, and make it the basis of policy
in dealing with this question, the sooner shall We
make beginning in that great work OF social and
political reconstruction which lies before Us.
We should now, therefore, welcome PRoCLA-
NATION from the President to the Southern people
90 earnestly Us should have deprecated it a
month ago. If issued then 1t could only have
reached the Southern leaders; now it can reach
every town and every neighborhood in the South.
ern States. We do not think the time has yet
come nor are We certain that it will come hereaf-
ter when complete amnesty, including restora-
ton to all the rights of citizenship, may wisely be
promised TO the leaders Of the rebellion. But to
the great mass of the Southern people to the rank
and Ale Of the rebel army, to all except those who
have made themselves directly and personally re-
sponsble for the gigantic crimes and Sutferirgs OF
this war; no assurances of pardon and of prot ct
be too earnest OF TOO DTOa1. W nat we want o.
the Southern people is not simply obedience, &C
ouiescence submission TO the power of our national
government; we ant their confidence in its Justice,
their pride in its flag, their faith and devotion to
the republican principles on which il rests. We
have convinced them of its strength We want now
to convince them of its benehcence. We have
proved that it is useless fr them to resist its
AUTHORITATIVE want now to show them that il is for
their best and highest interests to stand by and
sustain it to the end Of their days. The only way
to bring this about is to relieve their hearts from
the feelings of fear and apprehension which the
penalties they have incurred may well engcnder
aud then to open promptly and broadly for their use
the channels OF trade and industry by which Their
old prosperity may be restored.
For after Il it is by deeds rather than lrords that
we are to do the needful work of ion II
the Southern States and the sooner we can lift III,
heavy hand of military power from Soutl m town,
and Southern trade, the better for az cone. I'D -
The government espec' ally should lose no l. '.
waving all those rigid regulations which fall vii,
crushing weight on the helpless families of those
hitherto engaged in tho rebel service, while the,
fail to touch the otn lerS themselves II is unwi.t
as well as inhuman to wage war upon women anC
children, whom the armies have LETT behind aft Il
these armies have been routed and DESTROYED
Magnanimity is always the best policy for nation,
and great communities, even more than individuals
Nothing so degrades the character and dims tn,
glory of any government needless crueltie
inflicted upon the helpless and unresising. Ant
while even now nothing should be done by on
government inconsistent with lis dignity and ue~
manent security, the time has certainly com
when IL can consult other necessities than {. rs
which are purely military, and aim at other ob
ieets than those which war alone can accomplish
THx LAST OF TIE R Blu Rans-Tte bld c
the Mississippi river, from Cairo to the GUT over