The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-03

have spoken. Surely, it is not strage,
If we, In commonwith our whole people,
cherish feelings of enmity towards q
party which is SO hostile to us, or, II
wronged and outraged, we sometimes
give expression to our bitter hatred OF
those whose single aim Is our humilla-
ton. Is it human nature to submit in
silence, when we remember what we
have suffered, and what is exacted OF
US? We believed that injustice was
done US, and after exhausting every
other means of redress, we appealed to
the Ultima ratio of the brave. The
longer purse and the stronger battalions
won the day; and accepting the bitter
issue, as we did the manly gage of bat
tie, we frankly submitted to the powers
that be. In return, what has Radical
ism permitted us, and what does it de.
mand?' sF YLI1
We have been allowed to go to oul
desolate homesteads, there to make foi
our taskmasters-as did the Israelites OF
old-"bricks without straw" Smitten
upon one cheek, we must turn the other
spit upon, we must be thankful; taxed
to support the Government, we must
share its burdens, but not its privileges
having dared to hope that justice and
regard for constitutional lights had moi
utterly deserted the national Congress
we must bow in meek acquiescence al
the contumelious rejection Of our Repre-.
sentatives and, upon pain of renewed
charges of disloyalty, neither press moi
ruined people must utter one word, save
of rejoicing, when they see slaves made
masters and masters made slaves. Oui
present Loyalty is the fruitful subject Of
investigation; our fidelity to our oaths
the mock of every demagogue, who
because he does not know how to be
magnanimous, cannot conceive how we
may be honorable.
We do not believe that these insults
and wrongs are approved by the United
States officers as q class-especially
those of the regular service-but, one
and all, they are under the control O
the dominant Radical party, and wheth
err willingly or not, are doing its bidding
from cutting off our buttons to vetoinl
the proceedings of our Legislature
Our correspondent is, however, again
mistaken, in conceiving that we near
tocharge them with attempting to forct
themselves into our society. On the
contrary, the better classes of these of
ficers-and we presume that he will
admit that there are gradations-havt
not, SO far as we are advised, sought 1T
They know too we'll what we have suf
fered either to ask or expect this recep
ton. Where duty has thrown them il
contact with our people, we think tina
they will not deny that they have beer
treated with courtesy and respect
Further, every instinct of propriety
forbids us to go, and they aOOutd despis'
as in their hearts If aoe did.
Adversely has not been without itl
sweet uses to us; community of interest
of suffering and bereavement has drawn
us very closely together. We have los
well nigh everything, but our society
still remains to us intact. We can gathe
around our firesides and revive the
memories of our lost cause, withOu
being denounced as traitors for not being
stoicks. There, if nowhere else, we car
tell over the long beadroll of our knight
ly dead, and exchange "reminiscences o
the loved ones who are sleeping upor
the circle of battle fields which girds the
land they defended with the dauntles!
shirt of that Scottish ehivalry, which
fell around their monarch upon the fielt
of Flodden in zone unbroken ring"
Is it unnatural, then, that we cling tc
this society; that we deprecate the intro
duction of an element so utterly uncOn'
genial? Is it wonderful that we fee
called upon to denounce the brutal in
difference to the Past that those Of oul
own people exhibit, who are now ready
to mingle in social intercourse with the
officers of armies that desOlated oul
homes and devastated our fields; that WI
| look with adherence upon those whit
are eager to take in friendly grasp tn,
hands that are red with our brothers
blood =?
1t does not so appear to us; and we be-
lieve that we have done rightly in en-
deavoring to put down this thing in it!
very inception. Yet we are for submits
sion to what defeat has made inevitable
we would have the southern people &C
cept the situation fully, and adopt them
selves to 1t, even though, in many
things, it is against their convictions
They owe their allegiance to the Gov
eminent. But to require the people 0
the south to confess themselves guilty o
treason, and to meet and make merry
with those who have recently been ar
rayed in deadly conflict against them
and to fall in love with military govern
ment, would only be to tempt them te
hypocrisy and duplicity.