The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-06-13
OUR COUNTRY.

A. 'SA0N W. SS0 NV W. -. --.t.s
Estates your country now7". III,
4 ~ suppose d." be replied, iaa49.
1iug, "aJ1sas sna7 another 'tos'''e" o'sa VI
1wr4s soyzHras4s. y1t1 HiarArs 2
"Aud do you think there FDl DO an
4 s.her' robellioag" I inquired. ,..'
"Not Il tho United States Govern.
! ment acts properly" was thereby, "but
1Southesn Blood won't stand any oppEss:
|.ion."
AZ suppose" said I,;*"that Southern.
l ers intend to obey tho laws g
/ 20, of course" hs replied, IL Intend
! to do that, u long Is there is peace"
"That IT," said I, "you will be obadi.
! eat to the Laws a. long as you are COM
pollsd to- -. I.
"Tbat's about the idea, Twas the cam
90 aA av,Y do you think" said I, "shs Gov.
orumsut should feel grateful to you for
| such obedience as thatF' ',
| "Ipdesd I do, be answered; ~ link
il should feel grateful for eusry hour 1 do
not fight again't H."
EQUALITY OF THE BELLlaERrNTs.
After some farther remarks be asked:
"If the GOVERNMENT considered us equals
during the war, why should We not be
looked upon as equals how 2"
at did not SO consider you, my friend.
| It looked ppol you as insurgents on.
gagged ip the commission of an enormous
crime"
| pWhy2 Didn't it treat us as bsllig.
srsnts?"
alt recognized the fact that you were.
It never recognized your right so to DO.
It insisted you wsre committing treason
all tho timo."
But if we vcro recognized as emo.
mics, how could no DO traitors 2"
"Tho characters are entirely consis.
tsnt," I answered. 1.-THE more traitors
the more enemies, for traitors are the
worst enemies country con have"
TRAITORS TO THE SOUTH.
"Well," said he, ~ cannot SEQ it in
that way. I think both parties were
engaged in honorable warfare. I don't
think any the loss Of a Northern man
who fopghtin the Federal army: I con.
slider that tho only traitors in the whole
business were those Southern men who
fought againGt tho South"
"Why," said I, "they looked upon
the whole United States as their country.
How can you blame them for continuing
faithful to it, when you and others were
striving to destroy it7"
"Vc.y WE'LL" he replied, with moro
warmth than he had yot manifested. ~
say thcy wcrc traitors. I dcspie them
my.eV, and I 'hou teach my oh'ldre" to
hate them toreuer !"
DEFINITION OF "MY COUNTRY"
"And you think, them" said I, "that
man should regard as his country tho
peculiar ucction in which no happens to
liver ...
"Certainly," said he.
! "But," said I, did not understand
You TO Gay that you consider the United
sstss!s Al yoqF country for the present.
eyes"
.Well, pow suppoes 2 sabelliou should
break out against tho Government in
Now England, would You not assist to
suppress i'll"
"V I danI hiue in. Nsv England ]
.ooald; i I did, I couldn't"
FOREIGN WAR.
"Supposo the Government should be.
come involved In war with foreign
power" I asked, edo you think the
Southern people would take sides against
the United States2"
"That," said he, ".could depend upo"
circumstances, and upon Uhat nation the
war pas uith."
This ended tho conversation, and the
gentleman took his leave with many OK.
pressions of kindness and good will.
TRUTHS DERIVED FROM THE ABOVE.
I ask for this statement the candid
aud scriou, consideration Of your read.
ers. am much mistaken if it does not
assist in demonstrating to their minds
two propositions, Of whose truth have
long since boon convinced:
LIST. That among those who partlci.
pated in tho rebellion, tho very idea Of
patriotism is lost, and cannot BE- 70
stored.
| I'd. That it is q dangerous egror 10
suppose that those who bore arms 10 the
service Of tho rebellion, arc most likely
to DO friends Of the Government.
| From these two truths follow 9 third
That on no account should these meu
ever again, under any circumstances, be
permitted to. weld political power- =.
To haad over to their coptrul The
ballot boxes Of the nation or Of . single
American State, will be folly 90 stu
pendous, that the historian who records
tho consequent destruction Of our coun'
try, will, while shedding tears over bel
fall, be compelled to acknowledge thai
tho Republic was too uuwise to live:
! Soldiers B0unties,