Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-06-07

denI6 before q EGueral nag, aHC uiiiAO 0oL-
emn obeisance to it. General Pope ad-
monishes and reprimands the civil Cover
nor of Georgia for having ventured to ex-
press ali opinion on the reconstruction act.
General Schofeld threatens to suspend the
Richmond Times for having alluded with
some pride to the prowess of the defenders
| of Virginia. All this is mild in compari-
son with the attitude taken up by the ht-
mnphdnt politicians Of Neto England. The
| avowed intention of the reconstruction
act" was that as soon as the people OF the
South had made up their minds to grant
the suffrage to the negroes, to repudlate
their debts, and disown their late leaders,
| they might organize State conventions, re-
establish State governments, and return
representatives to Congress- The Radicals,
however, finding that they have it all their
owA way, begin to think of insisting on
still harder terms. Senator Wilson, har-
arguing whites and blacks at Hampton, in
| Virginia, tells the people that they will be
readmitted to State rights if they will only
promise to ''return Union men, Even
this is too much for the old demagogue,
| Stevens of Philadelphia. He writes a let
ter, in which he solemnly denounces Mr.
| Wilson for having promised SO much
| What right has he to promise it when there
is no such State as Virginia, and no one has
authority to say when or how it will be re-
cognized There must first be punishment
for the guilty and conhscation of the pro
perty of dislOyal men. By this man, and
such as he, the restoration of the Union is
indefinitely postponed It is by his fault
and that of his fellows that the prosperity
of the Union is at a stand still, that the
southern fields are relapsing into primitive
wilderness, and the southern people are
starving OF emiGrating from their homes.
America has been fitted by nature to be a
Paradise on earth-why will her sons do
their best to make her hell
The Release of Jefferson DavIs-OpinIons
of the British Press.
From the London Times, May 1G.
The Americans, when they interceded
with our government for the lives OF the
Fenians convicted in Canada, did certainly
not preach what they were unprepared to
practice. See the conclusion of the war in
the North, though severe on the Southern
community, has given way to no animosi-
ties against individuals. No one has been
put to death in America for what the North
has declared to be treason very few have
been molested if they chose to acquiesce in
the restored rule and to take no part in
politics. The leniency of the government
has, however, been carried to it's furthest
point by the release on bail of Mr.. Jeffer-
son Davis after q captivity of two years.
| Whether he will ever be brought to trial
seems to be still uncertain, but we may al
most predict that i'll any case the punish
ment inflicted on him will not be extreme
We can soc that in the case of America this
is the wisest policy, and that it is best not to
give renewed rancor to the animosities of
the South by any act of severity. 4 SINH
lar forbearance would have its good effects
in Ireland also.
From the London Telegraph, May Is.
At last the ex-President of the late Con-
federate States of America has been re-
leased from his captivity. Jefferson Davis
is no longer Il prisoner in Fortress Monroe
The telegram which conveys this announce
ment explains that the release is on ball.
and that Mr.. Davis is under bonds to APP
pear before the court in November next !;
but it is evident that the intention to bring
him to trial has been abandoned. Indeed
his imprisonment has been for more than q
year past considered reproach to public
justice, and the most eminent of the Re-
publican leaders have not scrupled to de-
nOunce the prolonged confinement without
trial as disgrace to the country. The
case, however, was one with which no gov
eminent would have found it easy to deal.
At the time when the assassination of Mr..
Lincoln had thrown the whole country into
/. frenzy of passionate desire for vengeance,
and when Mr.. Davis was supposed to have
instigated the crime, the government might
easily have obtained a verdict against him
at the close Of the war. Fortunate was it
for the good name of the American people
that difficulties hindered such proceeding
till the passions of the country had time to
cool.
From the London Star. May IA.
No more remarkable proof could be af-
forled of the clemency of the American s to-
wards political offenders At one time pub
lie feeling was strong against Davis; now it
has cooled down into Indifference if not
contempt.
How to Judge IL NcwspRper.
There lis a world of good sense in the
following extract of an article in the Oak
land california; News. That is exactly
correct when it says that paper can only
be judged by its % general tone:''
All people are prone to express their opin-
ions before they Lave properly considered
the subject concerning which they so read
lily give their judgment. We will generally
find that the less profound and thoughtful
men are the readiest to give opinions
But men of good attainments sometimes
err in judgment, because they do not ex.
tend their observations over a period of
time sufficiently long, or because they do
not examine enough facts. Among those
things peculiarly liable to be prejudged
upon insufficient elimination, is the pre-
vaiEng sentiment of a newspaper.
People will, sometimes, after hasty Pc
rusal condemn Or approve of one, and
will, upon the appearance of the next issue,
reverse their opinion. There are few news
papers in which articles of bad taste, errors
of fact, and occasional recklessness in as
sertion, may not be found-but paper
should be Judged by its general conduct
and reputation, rather than by any particu-
lar paragraph or article. There is no edi-
tor who can possibly, day after day, and
week after week, see and know of every
line which is to or does appear in daily
issue. and he should only be held response
BILE by the reader for the general tone of
the journal he conducts. The too COM
mon Impression that an editor writes Tor at
least sees before publication) all that ap-
pears, leads to very false impressions, and
often induces people to consider him any
thing but consistent
Novel Causes for Divorce.
It is said that in Indiana " cold feet - are
loI e.