Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-25

TN view of the .calamityIover which the nation
mourns, it is proper to recur to the fact that on
the second or third day after the occupation of this
city by the Union forces, while the confusion and eX-
element incident to the sudden change were yet at
their height the President, unattended except by a
few unarmed marines and friends, walked from the
wharf at which he landed thro the crowded streets
until he reached the late mansion of jeff Davis,
mt citing with neither harm nor insult, but receiv
ing, on the contrary, the enthusiastic cheers and
admiration of people delivered from oppression
and distress. The life Of the President could have
been easily taken on that day if any one here had
aspred to the infamy of an assassin; but the pee
ME were true to their old and instructive love for
the Union and their respect for law and order, how
ever much they may at one time have leaned to
the Rebellion. Therefore, We feel safe in assert
ing that the murder of the President was in no
sense connyed at or nstigated by the people in this
part of the country. On the contrary, We have
heard nothing out denunciatiOn of the deed on all
sides, even from those whS have been prominent
Secessionsts -believing as they do, that whatever
may have been the political principles of Mr.. Lin
hearted man, friend to the Southern people, land
that his liberal course, already commenced, in the
hour of triumph, would have entirely restored that
fraternal feeling and harmony which heretofore
characterized the American Union.
Those malcontents in the North, called "South-
ern sy mpathizers," basking in the sunshine of
freedom and plenty could we'll afford to lend their
cheap sympathy" so long as they were free fr ON
the tyranny and privations which the people here
have had to endure for the last four years; but II
they had been in "Dixie," and had experienced
some of its blessings, we are quite sure they
would have been cured Of their sympathy" long
before this And we would tell them that the
peopls here thank them not for their sympathy,
which has now culmin ated in the death of their
best friend. If they have any sympathy to be-
stow, il should be directed TO the relief Of the
wretched masses who are and have been down.
trodden and enslaved by the defunct obligarchy.
They would be doing better service by lending
their assistance TO the effort of smoothing the
troubled waters engendered by this terrible con-
aict, now happily drawing to a close, and of re-
storing peaee and happiness, rather than by stri-
wing to rekindie its dying embers.
The war spirit in the South has assuredly died
out. If, after the Rebel organization and its lead
ers shall have been swept from power, every Fed
eral soldier were withdrawn from the country, and
those so inclined allowed to preach rebellion and
secession till their tongues dropped off, we firmly
believe not one person in one thousand would vol
unteer to take up arms again. If this be not so,
then it is indeed singular how universal has been
the desire to keep out of the army, and how nu-
merous the schemes and tricks resorted to by the
class Cenominated "skulkers." On every hand,
long ago. citizens and soldiers have expressed their
WEAKNESS and disgust at further resistance, and
yearned for the day that would bring the war to a
close, let the result be what it would. Nothing
has kept 1t up during the last two years but organ
ization. from which Individual relief was hazard
GUS This destroyed, it is at an end forever. For,
with anything approxmatng to the good oil times
we have seen, the people Of the North may rest
satisfied that but few, If any, here are willing to
experience again the blighting scourge with which
we have been punished during the last four years.
THE GREAT CHANGE which has occurred,
among other conseq fences, involves the diff
entity of adjusting debt, contracted whsn Con
federate Treasury notes ware the circulating me-
dun. Several expai!entS to remedy the difficulty
have been proposed but no oos OF them seems to be
adapted to all cases. For instance, that Of COM
muang debt contracted In Confederate currency
for Its equivalent In specie or UnssiS;a currency
which at FIST sight appears equitable, will be found
on reflection, to apply unsqually to different kind
q .,,.-octs Rants Of real property, for example
had been Increased In a much les, ratio than cths
thiugs-tss average being, probably, four or hv
times the old rates. Next to thase, the hires o
slaves were tia least affected By the appreciates
currency, the cost OF sssdlns aud clothing tAer
being In fact tbs chief sxpease u the hlrs's. o
the other hand, the p;icss Of clothing, provision
/ and merchandise generally, hli advanced TO de