Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-27
RICHMOND WING.
o.~--~~~--~-~~~~~-~~~~ (~~0~~~-0~--7---
SATURDAY MORNING......JAN. p, 1866.
Re-Oneninp Old Wounds.

We sometimes doubt if year hence the
Radicals will allow US to call our souls our
own. From the manner in which their orators
are abusing US in Congress, VIC should not be
surprised, indeed, if they soon reach the con-
clusion that we have no souls. They deny Us
public faith, private honesty, ordinary intelli-
gence and the humanitieS, virtues and SYM
pathies common to all civilized men. They
call US barbarians and declare that we are not
fit for political association with them. This Is
the burden of all their speeches, and yet they
appear to think it the strangest thing IN tine
world that we do not love them. True, Mr.
FEssENDEN was kind enough 70 express him
SELF the other day, in the Senate, in the fol
lowing manner:
"Mr. FEssENDEN said he desired a full resto-
50 ration Of the Union as speedily as possible
" He was opposed to the imposition on any
" people designed to form part Of the Govern
q ment, Of degrading conditions Of any KIND
" He would not degarde the South IN any
way" 1t is not often that a Radical speaks
so handsomely Of us-so seldom indeed is such
language EMPLOYED that we feel under some
OOuRdllOu 10 MI 4 H1N'o''N|-'" ~-N-Nf
FEssESpEN acts and votes with his party, and
the measures of that party tend to nothing but
our degradation. But it is something not to
be called by ugly names and accused of every
crime in the decalOgue, even when, in point Of
fact, we are dealt with cruelty. Harsh measures
can be submitted to, but harsh words are not
easy to bear. They rankle, and are never for
gotten. Harsh measures and harsh words, to
gether, are intolerable. We are now getting
both every day at the hands Of the Radicals
In attempting TO prove that We are not fit
for political association with them, they con-
clusively show, by the unmanly means they
resort to, that they themselves are unworthy
of association with any people possessing the
commonest attributes of manhood. When we
thus reply, they call us inSolent and treaSona-
BILE. We submit without complaint to all the
measures of the Government, but when any
set of men are mean enough 10 insult and out
rage us in that Capitol which was built as much
with our money as with theirs, day after day,
because they see US pOwerleSs, We feel that we
had as well be dead as alive, if we cannot be
permitted to hur their insults back into their
teeth. In good faith we long ago resolved to
let by-gones be by-gones, to do all in our power
to heal the decorations of war, and to restore
former friendly relations. Under the wise and
benefcent guidance of President JOHNSON, aud
assisted by the patriotism and sympathy Of
such men as General GRANT, We have felt this
TO be a labor of love. We now find ourselves
checked by this fell spirit Of radicalism, which
recklessly tears open the wounds that were
fast healing, mOcks at our earnest efforts, irri-
tates us by vituperatiOn aud insult, and sets
steadily to work to undo all that the President
has been engaged in doing for the last nine
months.
These men are committing a crime against
this country greatly exceeding m atrOcity the
crime of secession. They are dividing it out
to the various factions Of their party, after it
has been saved by untold sacrifices and, to
perpetuate the sscendancy Of that party, they
have resolved to break down those two
pillars Of constitutional liberty-PrcSident
JOHNSON and General GRANT.
A newspaper, whose tone has usually been
moderate, and which has recently been friendly
to the South, the other day admonished South
ern newspapers to be discreet in their Ian
guage, and to avoid irritating expressions. We
allude to the New York Times. The editor Of
that able journal is a leading member Of the
House Of Representatives. lie every day hears
Southern men illuminated and wantOnly in
suited by the men whom he is vain essayiug to
restrain. Can ne expect us by silence to ad-
nit the truth Of their accusations, or can he
expect US in denying them altogether to re-
strain our justindignation Theyare the mento
be held back, not ourselves, forthe strong hands
of the law are already upon US. We do not
complain Of the discipline to which we are sub
iected, but we do and have right to complain
of the insulting language that is daily applied
to US, aud to express our scorn for the men
who basely insult the helpless.