The national Republican., 1866-12-08
NEED OF A HIGHER ORDER OF
STATESHlA -. -

the intention OF reading moral lectures to
Senators and Representatives. in Congress !;
and yet in view of the apparent disregard
by some Of them, Of those high motives and
considerations which ought to be cardinal
points in legislation, we esteem it to be our
duty to nuke few remarks upon the sub
ject. They are suggested by the continued
evidences contained in the reports Of the
daily proceedings Of Congress of apreserved
and nourished sntipathy against the people
of the South. ..... -.... ..7
Nothing is truer, we suppose, than that o
nation-any nation-relinquishes oil claim
to Divine favor whenever its rulers disregard
the conditions upon which that favor is as
sured. Nations are but aggregations Of
individuals, and enjoy collectively no immu-
mites which the same individuals separately
do not. q, No promise Of Divine favor has
been revealed to us except upon the condi-
tion among others, that the supplicant for it
forgives the trespasses Of his fellow.men.
The whole idea is embodied in our Lords
own Prayer, and is tacitly accepted, we sup
pose, by intelligent people throughout all
Christendom. ..r.
That Divine favor is necessary to the
happiness and prosperity Of any people
need not now be averred or demon
strated. Nobody will deny 1t whose judg-
ment is worth anything whatever. Nor
will it be denied that the Supreme Author
Of that favor ought to be suitably recognized
and respected, both by words and actions
But when we reach the vital point of for
giving the trespasses of our fellow-men as
the condition precedent to our forgiveness,
there's the rub" All men desire the forgive
ness of the Almighty; but all men do not
like to forgive the trespasses Of their fellow
men. In other words, they don't like the
conditions Of salvation and would, if they
could "amend that constitution" Germane
to this is the disposition to quarrel with the
idea of killing the fatted calf and making
merry at the return Of the prodigal son. In
the language Of Senator NYE in his speech at
Rochester, months ago, some people land
statesmen too) cannot perceive the propriety
Of making such o scandalous use Of "veal"
Hence, like the elder brother" mentioned
in that beautiful parable, they either affect
to think or really allow themselves 10 be-
lieve that any and every attempt to welcome
our lately "erring brethren" Of the South
back again to the family table is an insult to
human nature. And yet, Notwithstanding
our quarrels with this benefcent doctrine, we
ought to be candid enough with ourselves to
admit that it is the only one whereby any
Of us have any assurance Of happiness be-
yond the grave.
Now, although it Is admitted that our
Southern brethren committed high offence
against the laws in their attempt to destroy
the life of the nation, they were overbornt
by the Government and compelled to submit
to its authority: and although there is soms
friction among them while adjusting them
selves to the new order Of things, there exists
no evidence anywhere of any intention tc
rebel as o community or organized people
again. Individual acts Of violence should nc
more be charged upon whole community
in the South than the whole people Of Phila
delphia should be held responsible for indi
vidual crimes in that city. None of the dis
turbanees which have occurred in the Soutl
since the war terminated have been agains
the national authority. They have been in
ternecine entirely, and have evinced no hos
tility whatever to the Federal Government
So that it may be taken as settled fact tha
the people of the South as q mass, with her,
and there an individual exception, have re
turned to their former if not better allegi
ance. And the peace proclaimed by tn
PRESIDENT actually exists. OF that ther,
cannot be a rational doubt. Then, why d,
not Senators and Representatives rise up Il
the moral, if not religious, behests Of the oc
casion and exercise the Christian grace o
forgiveness? Why not To say that the lat,
rebels committed great crime avails moth
ing They have been sorely punished for i
worse, indeed, than any other people
mentioned in modern history. Any fur
ther punishment merely bruises broker
reeds and savors of cruelty. To say tha
they ought to give security for theil
future good behavior before they are
forgiven avails nothing, for it can neither
be given nor accepted. All suggestions ol
that sort are as baseless as the fabric Of O
dream. They are wholly delusive because
they are entirely impracticable. To say
that they must stand mute in the criminal
box or in the pillory awhile when they, as q
community, can neither be tried nor pun
ished, avails nothing, because such proceed
ings are mere mockeres of justice. To say
that majority Of their constituents are ye,
unwilling to forgive the late rebels avail.
nothing, because when the masses, as they
frequently do under false leaders, get wrong
it is all the more necessary for statesmen t,
be right, and to stem the current Of popular
prejudice, if need be, until the "second sobe
thought" comes to the people. The resul
of any and every view we can take of tn
subject, therefore, is that any further exclu
sion of the loyal people Of the unrepresente'
States from participation in the affairs Of tn
general Government is not only nexpedient
unwise, and unconstitutional, but is moral.
and religiously wrong.
We advanced similar yiewa durin0 th,