Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-08-31
A SENSIBLE VIEW.

Virginia, as wei rs " "'i S 4-0'7>-1'
vo eopy from the Petersburg Inder, a paper
that is edited with signal ability:
II has been said that there must be two par
ties to quarrel. 1t is also true that there
must be two parties to reconciliation.
tits all to no purpose that calm, thoughtful
minds advise the South to burial of the past,
and frank advance over the futures thresh
hold-it is in vain that VIC call philosophy in
to requisition, and, rejecting that the United
States must be hereafter our Government, re-
solve to Danish the bitterness with which it
has been regarded-unless there is to be re-
ciprocal movement towards forgetfulress and
forgiveness on the part of the people of that
section which was victorious in war, and which
is dominant in peace.
We strive to consider the questions in
volving reconstruction from no sectional stand
point, and with no partiznn view. We seek
as far as possible National point 'Gppui, and
are disposed to credit each of the great COM
munities which geographically form the Union,
aside from their peculiar education, moral
tenets, and POLITICAL theories, as having like
honest motives, and seeking like honest ends
Therefore, we accrcdit the North, which is
the Government, with sincere desire for re-
union, and do not hesitate to point out the err
ror in which it fingers.
There are two interests touched by this
matter of rccoustruction-the one is that of
the State still excluded, the other, and great
err, is that of the Union, yet Incomplete
There is not State, nor city, nor business,
nor profession, in all the land which is not
more or less detrimentally affected by the con-
tinued exclusion of three of the Southern
Commonwealth, and the unsettled condition
consequent upon unnatural reorganization
of seven others.
a Government threatened with thousand
dangers, external and internal, needs to be
compact needs to rest on the hearts OF Its
citizens-not only as principle of right, but
as an essential of safety. All statesmen know
and act upon this principle; but politicians
often forget or ignore its existence The
monarch of despotic race, and autocratic
record, has lately gone among conquered
people to seal their allegiance by accepting
the iron crown of their ancestral rulers, and
Republican America should be no less prompt
to take the needful steps for welding its popu-
lation into oneness.
Loyalty is not all self interest, and Patriot
ism is not an empty name, but neither ever
attach to a dynasty or system unless in return
for benefits received they must be founded
on fact-on protection, on the just payment
by Government Of the equivalent to which
good citizenship is iDalienably entitled. For,
whatever be the truth in the Divine economy,
in the public mind with which statesmen have
to deal, it is fastened faith, ;mmovable, etcr>
nal, that Governments arc instituted for the
good of the people, not people for the main
tenance of Governments.
The loyalty which must be created in this
country before peace will be established, is
not the loyalty which obeys lawsuit that
which has love for and pride in the political
structure which is the emblem and symbol of
the citizens freedom, security, and prosperity.
Such feeling car. never be engendered by
requiring Of community every duty, and ex-
tending to it nc privilege. No matter how
faithfully class so situate may serve the pow
ers that be, nor how ardently they may strive
to revive the olden fire,
uosanna's perish on Their lips.
And their devotion dies "
Even if there were no resentment, fear
knows no worship which is genuine. 1t was
said at no distant period that "the Irish never
realized the existence Of the English crown
save us represented by a tax gatherer."-
Wherever and whenever this is so for any
length of time fcryent loyalty can have no
abiding place. De TocoUKvILLE exclaims
patriotism is short lived among a conquered
people, and that people which icels always the
power and never the bencfcence of ito govern
ment is practically conquered, experiences the
same humiliation, and learns the same obedi>
ent indifference. 1t is a source Of disquiet in
time of peace an element of weakness in
time of war. Shall we have such in our
system
Discarding all considerations ofjustico it is
the policy of the United States to reunite its
former component parts at the earliest possi-
BILE day, and the more voluntary the character
of the reformation, the better for the nation.
Every government has the clear right to con-
suit self protection in all its acts, but its
strength must always be increased rather by
the attraction of sincere, than the repulse of
doubtful supporters. Institutions are not to
be trusted to the guardianship of faction
1t is the ductuntiOn of parties which makes
stability. \ government cannot afford to tie
its destinies to those Of any political organfza
tion, nor to sacrifice its permanent interests to
the Temporary needs ofsuch. The death and