The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-02-22
Nerthern Pledges.

The North was called to arms in 1861
by the cry of protection to the Union.
In all the Northern States this was the
vatchword. Politicians repeated 1t
from the stump, preachers from their
pulpits, lecturers from the desk, and
the soldiers sang the praises OF the
Union, rs they turned their faces to-
ward the South. The charge against
the people of the Southern States was
opposition to the Union. Congress de-
clared that the war was waged solely to
restore the Union, and that when the
rebels laid down their arms il would be
restored. The war is over. The people
in all the Southern States have submit
ted to the national authorities. The
States have remodeled their gov
ernments. and from the Potomac
10 the Rio Grande the au-
rhority of the Federal Government IS
undisputed. In this state % national
affairs, patriotic men in all parts of the
country are calling upon the dominant
party to fulfill the pledges made at the
beginning of the war. The following
appeal from the Richmond Enquirer Is
full of point, and should he pondered
by all Who really desire speedy restora-
ton of our country to peace and consti-
tutional freedom:
We appeal to all men of honor Mt the
North, to respect the pledges and as
surdpces under which they waged the
late war, and invited US to lay down our
arms. We appeal to them to observe
their oaths to support the Constitution.
We appeal to them not to overthrow
and revolutionizc the government winch
they profess TO venerate. We urge them
not to allow any insane hate of the
South, to unite them in measures JUS
ti6ed only by the most scandalons false
hoods. measures wholly without excuse
in actual facts; and cruel and arbitrary
beyond any example in Russian ukase
or Chinese edict. We implOre them to
rescue the Constitution from being made
the sport and expedient of party, to secure
party ends through abused constitution
al forms. Where is Hberty-what has
become of republicans rirtae-when States
are blotted out for their r0tes, Presidents
inpcachcd because they are an obstacle
to a partV, and the judiciary dishonored
and overthrown for holding the scales OF
Justice in even poisei We call upon the
men of the North to save themselves
~ Il,
country from the irreparable injury OF
the contemplated proceeding!
Let them look ut it. Do they suppose
the South will be quieted and recon-
structed by the course proposed Could
any amount of force applied to Massa-
chusetts, make her people receive in
uuiet the disfranchisement of all her
Republicans" and the rule of her anti
war Democrats. The ease is more than
parallclled here, for the exceptions to
The prevailing public sentiment are
much fewer. And what is the
character of most of the so-called
"IInion men" whose sway Is tC
restore the South to the repose o.
the sabbath. Mr.. Boyer, in the debate
ppon the Eliot bill, showed that theil
moral standing is not misunderstood
To ordain tlfe rule of these men as tn,
permanent regimen Of the South, wonlf
necessarily require the continual main
tenance of large army to make u good
besides exposing them topersonal Peril'
which armies could not prevent. In,
thousand tales of horror now falsely told
to Justify il, would become realities
When men are maddened and reckless
they cease to calculate and cease Il
fear. When they are driven from hops
they are driven to crime. The distres.
that urges to suicide prompts 6rst t.
homicide. Committees might indeed
be appointed to dilste on 1.-the horribl,
state of Southern society,'-but scenes
far darker than We have pictured viii
be justly chargeable against tho North
iy it shall Twantonly and gratuitousl!
drive the South into such desperate
? circumstances. The sasages who GOV
ers his prisoners with ightwoot
. faggots pricked inte the flesh, en-
then sppiies the kindliug torch. make