The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-08-14

ern Statesmen. !
Editor of tie BseNing Post:
MY DEAR SRA writer in your pa
per makes severe animadversions on the
Hon. Alexander A. Stephens, provoked,
| it seems, by letter written by him 10
me. His assuayiye tone, the patriotic
feeiing. the resigned, se1f-denying devot
| edness with which he acquiesces IN tne
| fnrtnma metal ont to himself in common
w;tL his fellow. citizens of the South, ana
,o,,1d now tuIn adversely itself TO good
ooconnt by making it rebound 10 more
49, more cordial, and secure union
tbon that which preceded hostlht!es,
Ends no federation. 1t is amazing, after
the borrid struggle in which our kindred
IF ali the States have been decimated,
that anv one should now be found un-
willing to be appeased ana 10 renew t
fraternal feeling. MI: stephens glGae
crime, in the eye OF the fOsss con.
utor, is, that the same spirit now an
n n" Ill anneaIs-his speech to the people
" Gaorpia to arrest the revolutionary
conflict at the opening by preventing
the secession of Georgia from the Union
and which now pleads for its restoration,
having in the interval stood by his State
and the Soutb But is there anything
| unnatural or objectionable In this Do
| we not see the highest intelligence anu
| noblest sensibility that adorn our nature
drawn to the side OF those VINO pave
fallen into error from honorable motives,
although these motives may nave Deeh
| instilled into the community by artiul,
| intriguing, selfish men for selfish ends at
war with the public goodg Does not
every candid mind now perceive, that
looks back to the thirty years history OF
| secession, that it was a war OF sections
that gradually brought to the issue ana
trial of battle, by the ambition OF
| a few political leaders who availeu
| themselves of the difference in the
GREAT common interests North and South,
Which had prevailing sway over the
minds of masses in the two sections TO
produce the belief that there was an IT.
reconcilable incompatibility between
them. rendering separation inevitable!
Everybody knows that there were null
titudes of enthusiasts on both sides VINO
urged on this quarrel; under the delusion
that it was mere matter of discussion,
which would be terminated by peace
able separation, or pass Oft like other
political questions, by collapse of the
| inflammatory feeling melted by debate.
All such disputants and the great body
of the people were taken by surprise on
the outbreak of the war, organized by the
secret cabal of conspirators. But when
the war came, in spite of all appeals of
sober-minded patriots to stay its fury
when the thunder of cannon had begun
what could the lovers of peace in
either section do but submit to the force
with which they were surrounded in the
States to which they belonged? General
Lee said to my father, when he was
sounded by him, at the request of Presi-
dent Lincoln, about taking command OF
our army against the rebellion, then
hanging upon the decision of the Virgin
ia Convention, "Mr Blair, | look upon
secession as anarchy. If / owned the
four millions of slaves in the South,
would sacrifice them all to the Union;
bnt how can draw my sword upon Vir-
pinia, my native State" He could
not determine then; said he would
consult with his friend General Scott,
aud went on the same day to Rich.
moud, probably to arbitrate DIM
8 culties: and we see the result. 1t is
hard for a noble mind to tear itself from
home, kindred, friends, and native soil
) and 90 into opposite ranks to crush them
, all This was the case of Stephens as
we'll as Lee 1t was the case of nearly
every elevated soul in the South when
the Government of the United States
delinquent in all its duties, had failed to
make prepare tion to arrest violence at
the outbreak, and cure the phrenZy by
binding tin the beginning, and prevent
; its running ON until it became a st ctional
war, aud IN effect, national lCar, in its
, influences on the people of both sections
who wore brought to consider the success
of the one the subjugation of the other.
AS the South grew weaker, and began to
atacger under the heavy blows of the
~ aantic North all her brave Spirits Cal-
lied 20 her support Even the slaves
we're moved hy the natural instinct, for
when al tbe white men, young nd old,
had left their homes, their women aud
children to be protected att fed
by their superior strength, they
would not desert 10 our uquer-
INC army as it marched through
the shrinking South but fled with
its panic-stricken families, ana gave
them aid and comfort. IL this did not
the blacks prove themselves q loyal pea
! pie? Would not the white mao have
proved himself q recreaDt il, undA ,uch
circumstances, he had gone over 70 the
invaders When the affairs of tho South
were absolutely desperate, and President
Lincoln had sent message II ting
peace on terms that Mr.. Davis al o, { time
seemed inclinedlto take, the conn I>siion-
ers appointed by him-Hunter, ST. phens,
and Camphell--were all anxious 10 cou-
clndr ittr war on tho terms our ~, sdent
prop ~ a. These "eLt, men were for
union aud peace. SIR. Davis, WHO had
in charge he cause al the South, INSISTED
ON independence. Could the commits
slnn,Ts violate the trust which, accord
ing to the shape given by events to the
caus" they represented, and which they
wer, bound to consider that of a whole
people, was committed to Mr.. Davis {!
Could they take upon themselves to say
it was treason. and commit all that con-
cerned it to the drbifTam of Mr.. Lincoln I?
The aspects to which ! thus aiiude
show that the spread and continuance
of u war puts n new face on
that which, at its inception, was trea-
son. The war upon King Charlie I. in
its inception was treason. 1t ceased to
he treason long before the English Com
| Il Al, ctn1 q