The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-20
THE RADICALS

vision between the President and hi
party. Foolishly fancying that The
cloud talk" Of the opposition in the
North indicated strength in that faction
which had opposed the war aud tn,
policy of the Republicans ever since the
first gun was fired on Fort Sumter, the
Southern people at once allied them
selves to its fortunes, and commenced d
bitter and relentless warfare against the
Republicans-the only men in the coun.
try who had the power to deal Justly
and even leniently with them. 1t was
the Republican party, and not the quasi
friends of the South residing in the
North, and known as Copperheads, y
that brought the war to successful
conclusion. 1t was that party that was
the conquerOr, and not the small faction
which had thrown all possible obsta-
Giles in the way to an earlier adjustment
OF the difficulties. But for the needless,
soulless. and aimless opposition con-
stantly kept up in the North by what
was called the peace-at-any sacrifice"
faction, whose false sympathy first
deceived the South into war, and then,
by holding out false hopes and making
false show of strength, confirmed it in
its, obstinate resistance to- legitimate
authority, the war would have been
ended almost as soon as begun-or at
least as early as 1S62-the Union would
have been reconstructed on its old basis
and slavery would not have been inter-
fered with. But the stubborn opposi-
tion of these factionists confirmed the
South in its hopes of eventual success,
and the struggle was prolonged, until,
as measure of necessity, the Republi-
cans were finally compelled, sorrowfully
enough, too, to proclaim that the war
could only cease with the overthrow of
the primary cause of 1.-THE institution
of slavery-and when guarantees should
be obtained which would insure per-
petual peace. They were dragged to this
alternative by the persistent opposition
OF the pretended friends of the South
at the North, and the continued persist
ance of the cabinet of Mr.. Davis in
its refusal to accept any terms that were
not based upon recognition of the dis
solution of the Union as a,a .faH accom-
l'h. On this issue the Republicans
went into the Presidential election of
lS6f-and the question was fairly cam
vassed. The result was the triumphant
election of Abraham Lincoln and An.
i-e,,- Lei, '>..---,,. .--....~'',o friaJoriJy,
against the combined opposition of all |
other demonstrating the extremists
'f both sides, and that small class who
we're, and always will be, opposed to the
abolition of slavery upon any grounds
whatever. Thus the question was sim
'llfled; and henceforth, it was under
TODD by both Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.
Crimson, and by all the Generals of the
rmy. and all the people of the North,
nat the war was not merely to conquer
peace, but to forever put at rest the
ause of quarrel, and silence negro
citation for all future time.
In this position matters stood when
ne southern armies were one by one
cheated, and the cause of the South was
nally and fully surrendered as lost. .
It this prompt and happy termination
the struggle, the republicans of the :
orth, and all good democrats reioiced. {
hey did not exult over fallen foe-nor {
ID they show any disposition to do So {
at each seemed TO vie with the other in a
ping honor to gallant enemy, and in }
nding his aid towards healing the sad ,
ounds made by the long and bloody :
ruggle. About this time, by the occur a
nee OF a mournful tragedy, Mr.. John a
n became President. He was known
be man of strong nerve, of approved /
I'd devoted loyalty, and was thought to
'tertain the most bitter and revenge t
Feelings towards the South; and his /,
Vh party even dreaded the conse- G.
FENCES that might ensue from his stern a
I'd unrelenting nature And good rea- c.
was there to tremble for the south is
people, when we take into consider n
on his previous course and the Ian o
age he had always held in regard to ii
necessity of Furnishing traitors and b
'king treason odious. But, contrary to W
expectations,the President finding the u
position of his own party-even of its IL
'st extreme MEMBERSHIPS to deal N,
ltly and mercifully las well as Justly. r
the southern people, at once adopted 70
policy Of Cancellation and forgive -,
IS. He amnestied the great mass O + pt
people, and pardoned most of the tn
ders, almost before these favors had r.
IN asked, and restored them to their al
hts OF property and citizenship. All fir,
Sc things were sanctioned by the
'sldents partisans, the men who tin
'ted him, and they rejoiced in the ar
rs that were daily becoming brighter SO
return to good feeling and proper tn
outstanding in all sections of the ou
'htry' The republicans asked moth ne
from the South up to this of
'ept coincidence and good nature. They alb
not seek an alliance for political or th,
W purposes, nor even evince by word Gr
act desire that the eontI,ar,, ,.ox.,I. | -,