Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-06-08
ALEXANDRIA.
FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE s, 1866.

FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE s, 1866.
The Edinburg Review in an article on the
Reconstruction of the Union as strongly
anvi-slavery-as much in favor Of the course Of
Inc Federal Government as decided in its
'7indcation Of the supremacy of the Union,
- the most loyal of our countrymen could
;esire, yet candidly admits, that, frequent
= before the war, the Northern States and
:aople gave evidence Of hcr belief in the
3octine Of secession, quite as much, il not more
:aan the Southern States or people ever did
t vas only after secession had been actually
carried into effect in the South, that they
,7heeled round and became violently alnton, and
:epudiated State Rights altogether. 1t quotes
ne former sentiments of Josiah Quincy, of
and boldly adyoca-
ling secession, if Louisiana were to be admitted
into the Union-ot Mr.. Rawle: Of Philadelphia,
and even Of John Quincy Adams himself. It
refers to the enactment by the Northern States
.: Personal Liberty bills, intended as practical
qualifications Of the Fugitive Slave Law-to the
universal and constant denunciation of the
Constitution, and the preaching of disunion by
the ant-slavery party at the North, and to The
general cn2eavor in ali the Northern States to.
set the decision Of the Supreme Court in the
Cred Scott case at defiance It might have
enumerated hundreds Of other instances where
;he secession element and the secession doctrine
were exhibited, at the North and West, when
ever the action Of the General Government was
thought to trench or bear hard upon the inter
ests or even the prejudices Of the Northern and
Western States 1t might have quoted the
most ultra State Rights doctrines from Chief
Justice Chase, Gen. Butler and hundreds of
others of the now most flaming and furious OPP
ponents OF the very sentiments, which, forpar-
~ purposes, they once avowed and protested to
entertain. These, men and these people preach
ed disunlons'..l and secession once, to as great
an extent as they were afterwards IN the South.
DOCS It comport with conmoa honesty thatthey
Should Cypress people who acted upon their
belief, and did what they often said ought to
be done? And this is the reason why, in the
present situation of the country, we refer to
the subject at all. We desire to ask the
present ''belligerent politicians who are for
striking PROSTATE foe, who are hacking at
the limbs of the dead Percy, ;; if they ever turn
back to remember how they applauded the
teachings of their leaders when they were pro-
claiming and threatening resistance, and invok
ing the protection Of their own States? And
if they do, if they ever ask themselves, lis our
course now proper, right Or just? Let reason
answer ....-... a.. .... 49,. H..
Lord Lyndhurst once said, at public dinner,
With reference to the numbellesS lnarvcls OF
Of the press, that it might seem a very easy
thing to write leading article, but hat-he
would recommend any one With strong convic-
tons on that point only to try! We confidently
appeal 10 the experience OF ali the conductors
Of the leading journals, convinced that they
will tell the same unvarying tale Of The utter
incompctency of thousands Of very clever peo-
pic to write articles for a newspaper, which
are at all, worthy of publication --.
Some Of the Republican journals, whose
hearts incline to mercy aud whose editors
do not breathe slaughter and vcngeauce al the
time, contend that if 'punishment" is thought
necessary, the South has already been sufficient
y punished, " in confscations, burniags, dis
tGesses, calamities, and all the ills thai, flesh is
.,e;r to, OF can be inflicted and that The South
22n leadc1s, having received an extra allowance
q shat sort Of punishment, more ia not requir-
x zo- any purpose of State policy, and should
1o ;,iScountenapced by sense Of common hui
,ra2i;y. ..a.
Cen. Mcneil, who was dashed numerically
~ {. -cccnt speech by Gen. Blair, for alleged
&3"iei%y 20 Confederate prisoners, has published
! reply and defence, in which he not only
arrows the blame upon his superiors, but says:
4. literal compliance with the orders Of this
,,>llisrT department for the year 1862, would
ave caused a series Of military executions be-
:o:a which this one would have faded into in
significance. What can those orders have
oeeu? ...
TIE counsel of Mr. Davis have lett Rich
'.olu, first to visit Mr. D. in prison. and then
C return to their homes They made very
adorable impression, and were treated by the
citizens there with great hospitality and kind
cess. They made no application for bail, be-
cause Of the intimations Of probable relief from
y ashington, and for other reasons. The coun,.
7e: are very sanguine of the restoration of Mr.
javls to liberty at no remote day.
hlr. Davis, of Kentucky, occupied the SEN
sic yesterday with forcible defence of the re-
construction policy of President Johnson
here were about dozen Senators in the
chamber. Its the privately announced intcn-
s:or Of the Radical majority, in the Senate, to
81 their opponents speak as much as they
but +S, ,Sb how L., 10 10