The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-04-07
THE WAR rs OVER.

The late civil war in the United States COM
menoed with the attack on Fort Sumter in April,
1861. It closed virtually on the second day OF
April, 1865, when Richmond WAS evacuated; the
capture Of the virginian Capital having been the
great object Of nearly all the strategic movements
of the war.
The President, doubtless, considered twelve
months sufficient length Of time for the inter-
mediate period of tranetion-a years political
purgatory, which, it was reasonable to suppose,
had thoroughly cleansed the late transgresscfs OF
tho last trace of treason, and rendered them fit
and meet for return to the full and glorious
BILE ssings of the Union.
Mr.. JOHNSON therefore celebrated the anniyer-
sary Of the fall of Richmond by issuing pro-
clamation, wherein he states, that inasmuch as
all the causes for continuance Of var against
certain States, or for The military occupation OF
the same, have ceased, the war is now at on end,
and the q. 8. troops are To be Withdrawn from the
several States. Martial law will cease. Military
tribunals will give place to civil courts The Ha-
beas Corpus will once again become something
more than mere empty sound
The papers of the President (as indeed his
acts also), have been characterized by great SIM
plicity, the most strenuous logic and strict ad-
herence to the law of the land. Every document
appears to US stronger aud more marked By these
characteristics than it's predecessors; and ac-
cordingly we find this proclamation surprising the
late veto messages even in clearness and force OF
reasoning.
Mr.. JOHNSON gives a recital Of the several En-
ecutiye and Congressional acts and proclamations
bearing on the status Of certain States. He shows
that President LINCOLN declared these States to
be- in insurroction in April and in August, 1861
that the United States Senate, in July, 1861,
adopted resolution stating that "this war is not
prosecuted on our part in any spirit of oppression,
nor for any purpose Of conquest or subjugation,
nor for the purpose Of overthrowing or interfer-
ing with the rights or established institutions Of
those States but to defend aud maintain the su-
premacy of the Constitution, and all laws made
in pursuance thereof, and to preserve the Union
with all the dignity equality and rights of the
several States unimpaired; that as soon rs these
objects are accomplished the war ought to cease"
He further afirms that these objects are now
fully accomplished; that he has satisfactory evil
dence, moreover OF the fact that the people lately
in rebellion are now quite "loyally disposed" and
that they have complied with all the requirements
and conditions precedent; that the policy of the
Government, from the beginning of the insurrec-
ton to its overthrow and final suppression, has
been in conformity with the principles of the Con-
stitution (set forth in the proclamation).
From these several premises he then draws the
conclusion that the time has now arrived when it
becomes his duty, as Chief Magistrate OF the
country, to declare that tho "insurrection which
heretofore existed" is now at end and is hence
forth to be so regarded.
Let us thank Mr. JOHNSON for reinVesting us
with the boon Of citizenship for reinetating us