Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-10-27


bic or and fair 6ghts. they engaged IN
the conresi expecting both, and Know ing
that the war would b inl It's ca'anitles,
which they would have 10 endure. You
do not hear them complain O! the severesI
engagements in which they may have
been worsted, or Of the conduct OF the Of
fcers and men who fought against them
on the bloodie.t fields, and with whom
they conended, IN arms, and for victory.
But there is recollection, which time
cannot eface, Of cruellie', and plunder.
ngs, and conf ,graIons, not necessary
for the purposes Of war, and oi'en'lmes
commired, apparently, in the wantonness
Of powpr, if not of malice. Il is with
compressed lips that the Valley people
repeal 10 this day the words of an officer
HIGH in commend, "thal he would SO de-
vsstale their beautiful country, lhat crow
should not be able to fly over: it. without
carrying his provisions with him" For.
4hey remember that while they were with
J ackson, bravelS carrying on war, their
wives and children, their mothers and
their sisters, were sllt al their homes, thus
threatened 10 be desOlated, entitled by
their sex TO the humanity and con MISE
ration of soldiers, though their enemies.
There are something's to be forgiven
many-many;-and there are some that
cannot be forgotten. It's not IN human
nature.
Whv do We mention these things
Surely not to excite or keep alive haired.
For a far different objecs Now that
peace has come. we are Tor cultvstlng the
arts OF peace. It would be the dlrest OF
al necessities that would compel any
right thinking man, living in this section
of country, ever again 10 wlsh TO engage
in war, or desire TO see war renewed.
II. with US,
Remembrance wakes with all her busy train,
Swells at our breasts, and turns the past TO pain,
it is accompanied with the Hope that the
agony Of lhe past may never be renewed d,
If il can by any human possibility be
avoided But we want our Northern
Ifellow-cilizens 10 look al what has pas,
sed, in Virginia, and TO ask them, if, con-
slderng the Subjec; from what their wrl'
rers call their own "stand point they
ought not TO come to two coGclusons :
irst, tha, even regarding The war as they
regard it, they do no, think that they have
already inflicted injury enough upon US
and secondly, whether. ii the harmony
Of the country is ever 10 be revived, and
lis union restored, they do not in their
souls and conscences believe lhat future
or further oppression, or even what we
regard as oppression, is Aeilher eHpedI1ni
nor proper mot expedient for tae gen,
eraI good, and not proper for themselves.
They have a delencrlrss people, suffering
what we have imprr(ertly sketched, and
lin such feelings as We have attempted
TO descrbe-leeIings honorable and natu
ral-in their power. Sholld they use
.ha. power, for the nobIest or for the
wors, of purposes lris for ,hem-t to de-
eide. And as they decide so II will be
for The future woe OF veal OF the ach0fe
courtry. LET lhem, regarding the South
regarding Virginia, as they may-look
al what has lrsnspired inrhe South and
in Virginia. and ask themselves if they
want distress. if they have no! inflicted
distress enough ? If they want injury, if
they have not seen injury enough
OUgh, they not TO salisfed-ssiialed-anG
ough, they not to be willing 10 -"let US
alone - alexandria Gazette.