Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-01
How TO Do II.

in '' the last ditch" They had resolved to do
OF die, and failing to do, they died heroic
deaths. Let glory and reverence hallow their
memories forever, But many that were under
similar bonds To the grim monster have con-
sented to live Accepting life, they were and
are bound, in law as we'll as in honor, to certain
conditions, expressed or implied. That man
who survived the Southern Coniederacy who
laid down his arms and returned to ms nome,
be nc who he may, is pledged to the Union ana
TO the abolition Of slavery; and, by consequence,
he has promised all things necessary and anell-
larry to these two chief matters, and, ~ JOro con-
!scieptiq. he must renounce all things which
initiate against them. This, as We understand
him, is what was meant by General WISE
when he said, in an imprOmptu address TO
portion Of his old command, last Monday night,
1--WE have grounded our arms. He, their
{" General. had surrendered, and 1t was ooHd
a. tiie surrender IfhiS hearers, chose who had
" fought in the ranks of the BlueS,) would al
low their old General to issue his last order,
abe would say surrender, and let It be bona
{" tide surrender not crouching, Servile sur
., render, but Surrender upon the point %
q. honor" OblgatonS-ariSe upon the very ma
ture of the case. No elaborate Subterfuge, no
mental reservation can eyade them. Ii We
have not submitted in good faith, then are we
poor indeed. FRANCIS the First Solaced his
high soul in misfortune with the proud eXcla-
nation" All is lost >dUe honor" But we, II
faithless in any manner, matter or degree, while
Invested of all else, also sacrifice our honor
If any man is not Subdued 10 the very form
and pressure of the times, let I'm manifest
il like man. We Will briefly show him how
to do it. Fling away hypocrisy and fly to armed
rebellion emigrate TO some strange land whose
laws and customs are opposed TO all his habits
and instincts, and where he viii aSsuredly
never have a voice in affairs or, finally, let
him reverently seek hiding place ~ the side
of some of the glorious dead, who lie as thick
in the ultimate intrenchmentS as "Autumn
leaves in VallambroSa!" In these three are
presented the only honorable alternatives to
the unconquered spirit that will not be bound.
Factions opposition to inevitable measures
angry murmurings against what IS, and what IN
the stern, logical sequence Of events must be
exasperating conduct and language towards the
dominant powers; persistent encouragement
and Indictment to hatreds and prejudices that
should be wholly ignored, If not sepulchred at
once in irrevocable oblivion; and the general
exhibition of a temper that will not accept the
situation that will not accommodate itSeH 10
IL. L. n,fhinCr
gotten nothing and progressed nothing since
that fatal year of eighteen hundred and sixty
all these things, ii such there be, and we kno"
that they are not eOmmOn, We advlsedly amrln
20 be breaches OF solemn promise, and rehec-
tion on the general conduct and spirit Of our
people, besides being a ridiculous display oil
impotent peevishneSs. Such men are insen-
sible to the dignity of manly submission, and
forget " how sublime thing it is To suffer and
be strong ?" To endure misfortune with lOrII-
,vde. 10 bear wrong and loss with hrmneSS, to
submit TO those things which VIC cannot prevent
with equanimity if so to bear ourselves iE2y not
neutralize the rancor of radical malguity, Il
will at least rob defeat of shame, and invest
failure with the dignity and lustre OF heroiSm'
There is a wide difference between this
.unsse and that mean servility (which crooks
the pregnant hinges of the knee, where thrift
may follow tawuing." We condemn alike the
slayish trucker and the captious oppoSItiohiai'
The true bearing lies far from both these bad
extremes. A conduct and feeling are recon-
mepded that shall command some conSidera-
= t-..v, fI..sr-
tain our own selEreSpecJ, and that, by It's
moral influence, shall protect the State from
Sropg. This is claiming much for department.
But What other defence have We We have
resorted TO arms, and fought as never people
G,pobt before. In vain. We have looked To
all the nations Of the earth. In vain. We
have appealed TO the Constitution. Again, IN
vain: for all its knots aye looSed or cut 10y
.oCr radical oppresSorS. The Constitution Is
altered. or altogether ignored, to eject our
Abasemeat. The President, it is true, WITH 3
devoted baud, is battling inanew ThermophyIe'
But every ill-adyised word or deed from us
Seakens his hands, and inciteS the enemy 10
rsaeWed and fercer attacks, leS-whether an
efficient defence or not, department now Is
,..r chief reliance, and Mr.. TrRyEIDsoP Is
justified
Let rs 90 naeCe into detail about this matter
till every one can see plainly "ho" 10 DO H.
,sad will approve the plan. In the very nrS'
Mac II NAV be avowed that. had our people
had their will, the Southern Confederacy "ouid
be nov in iourishing existence, ana slavery
would be as corner stone But the Con
federacy is geoe, and SO is slavery. The states
age under martial law treedmen'S burea"N
reign and our representatives are excluded
from Congress. We had Rs art nor part IN
accomplishing these things. Yet NC recognize
the facts; and they urge policy upon ~ that
there would be no need for if Ne were really
free. In the second pl-ce, we are not moved
TO the policy by any hope that concessions will
conciliate or Propitiate SUMNER, STEVENS, OF
any of their followers. To yield 10 such men
i, but to invite further attack. Give an inch
and forthwith they rapaciOusly demand An ell
Yet. while We will refuse everything To those
men, we must concede much 10 the sO-ealled
progress Of ideas and the force of existing
facts. Moreover, We ought 10 yietu something
much, to ANDREW JOHNSON aud his eoadjutor,
the moderate men Of all parties. COnces
sions to fixed and memorable circumstances
and concessions to friends are reasonable an'
Just. The former is but'submisslon to neees
sity, while the latter may, and, indeed, must
20 further and grant something out Of graft
tude. To refuse to do so much, Though radi
ealism may gain a sop thereby,) is to show t
the enlightened world that We are impractical
BILE, moody, mOrOse malcOntents, that deserv
all the cuffs and kicks that may be necessar.
10 overcome Obstinacy and stupidity.
Why should any stultify themselves by nov
feeling, thinking, speaking and acting Tor b.
attempting or affecting these) as they did il
1867 Have the past five years taught no
thingP It is absolutely necessary that We cas-
many things, many once dear and cherished
things. far behind US, and face the present
However repulsive, with steady and penetrating