The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-29
AN IMPORTANT NATIONAL QUESTION.
ssShnil the Era Of Good Feeling be Inaugu-
rated e"-Appenl to the North and Soush-
The South and General Giants Administra-
notwithstanding Movement In Yirxiuin.
IRON the Richmond Wing, Dec. 2s


IRON the Richmond WING, Dec ISL
The amnesty proclamation, designed as plea
SAINT Christmas surprise, is patriotic and humane
measure that deserves to be warmly welcomed in
every quarter All Americans whether their homes
be at the North or at the SOUTH who desire the nau
guration OF that policy that 'sshall tend to secure
permanent peace, order and prosperity throughout
the land, and TO renew and fully restore confidence
and fraternal feeling among the whole people, and
their respect for and attachment to the national
government" should now open their hearts and re-
spond to 1t in the right spirit
The great duty or the hour Is the paccati0n OF the
country and tile revival OF that feeling OF COM
munity and brotherhood that once prevailed. Not
only duty, but craftsmanship. the public good and
every private interest require that this policy shall
TO Congress we appeal in this behalf. We invoke
the national legislature to emancipate itself from the
passions OF war from hatred, malice and all I'M
chartableness, from narrow sectional and partisan
views and from all unworthy feelings and motives
and to manifest magnanmity that shall arouse all
the generous feelings OF the Southern people and
cause them 10 feel that they are recognized as hui
to respect-that they belong to the great American
family and are part and parcel OF the government
the way for and that their sages and statesmen aided
70 FSt the people we appeal to enaeavor to
men whose honor has been satisfied to extend the
hand OF friendship The war that has been fought
was made ana fought by the men o. TINS generation
Citation peace, restoration. They viii commit
great crime II they continue to live in enmity, ana:
uyiux, Ucqucdtl W ScucIdIAOu ou
and Intensified national feud.
For the people OF the South we also have some
words OF appeal and adm0niti0n 1t Is their duty to
aid In settling this family quarrel, and the
present period, we think, Is propitious TO
such q settlement. A man has been elected
TO the CHIEF Magstracy known TO DO
firm, to be free from fapatcism, to be uncorrupted
by lifelong political craftsmanship, and believed to be
patriotic and magnanlmous IL Ia our duty to show
to him, on his entrance upon his high Office, and to
the whole country on its entrance upon what we
hope Will prove new era that we earnestly desire,
yea ycarn for peace, concord and universal good
feeling. and that buryng the Ratchet ceasing agita-
ton and ren0uncng vain struggle, we have deter
Mined II possible 10 accept such ter1nS and condi-
lions as he and his counsellors shall make up their
minds to prescribe, trusting to their wisdom. their
honor, their patriotism and their magnanimity to
abate unnecessary humiliation and rgor.
We hare reason 10 klOc that Influences are at tc0rE
In highest Virginia circles looking TO this destr-
able end The best fnteteCts ana TIE pttest clldrdc
ters or this STATE seriously derotifsg them
selues TO the preparation ana organization or 7ned-
sures designed TO end strife, and TO SATISFY any fd-
t0ndt demand that can be made upon as.
IL may be that there are 3 few among US who pre-
fer strife to peace the sword to the poughshare, de-
cay to prosperity, universal ruin 10 universal wei
being. II such there be, they will be harmless when
all who hold different views shall place themselves
before the country In solid array. When they ind
that they cannot lead they will either follow or re-
main behlnd-monuments OF that wrath which can
not be appeased and OF that fatal enacity ofopinon,
prejudice and passion that survives reason and
ceases only with HE