Year: 1865

cNi', equa'lzing government among
them.
Beyond all queaiian., as I viey
the case, the most vital and urgen
matter before the American people a
this time, and that which needs th,
closest attention and the most rigic
application of the principles of justict
and righteous law, is the settlement
OF the deranged portions Of our coun
try into state of quietude and socia
calm. The Amnesty proclamation OF
President Lincoln was most admira-
bIe and wholesome measure for effect
ing that end, had it only been applied
in wise and .iudicious manner. 1t
was calculated in its nature to soothe
the fretted and crushed spirit of the
defeated rebel, to teach him q truth
that he had never learned or entertain.
ed, viz, that the yankees are men
of feeling and sympathizing hearts,
instead of voracious demons, as he
had been taught to believe E; that they
are governed by the principles of phi.
lanthropy as they have professed in
all their movements for the freedom
of the enslaved masses of the South
and that the terrific struggle Of death
and carnage through which they have
so triumphantly engineered their
course was not for the glory Of con.
quest, but for the equitable and equal
rights Of mankind.


So soon as "the pressure was lie,
up" and the rebels bad professed tc
succumb, and before the public-rebe
mind had had time to reflect and form
discreet purposes for further action
the invitation was held out and press
ed upon the masses to avail them
selves of the glorious boon of the Am
nety proclamation. The event was
that they ran with rush and that to
acquire thereby an advantage for still
further wreaking their vengence upon
the Government and the Union men,
who were making strenuous efforts to
tranquilize the destituted elements of
social order. But all this could have
been held in control, had not the $780,
600 class been admitted so freely and
numerously to its benefits. That is
what has done the mischief. All the
lower classes, or nearly all, were men
without political power, or especial
ambition for the triumphs of the des-
potism which has SO long been the gen.
orator OF Slavery. And they had been
easily brought into civil order and de.
corum had it not been for the engineer.
ing Of the more naughty class, the
class of demagogues whose element
seem to be the aspirations of power
and clamor against every institution
and measure of which they themselves
are not the projectors.


am fearless in averring that, our
Government in their over anxiety for
peace, and a restoration of the Rebel
States have extended mercy" to the
$40, 900 class SO lavishly as to trans.
form it into measure of great cru.
city to the whole State" Those men
have come by thousands with their
hands stretched out for clemency, for
the purpose of using it as power to
do evil to perpetuate hostility still,
to the Government, and to regain the
same state of affairs as formerly, as
nearly as possible. They sought and
accepted pardon that they might make
it disturbing element, rather than
for the purpose Of establishing peace
and tranquility in submission to the
established order OF things.


Here has been fault in our Presi.
dent and his advisers. 1t is true that
no man could descry the intent of a
mans heart, or see the feeling Of in.
subordination that burned within his
bosom /; but caution should have been
used and those cases deferred until the
state of society had become settled,
and the masses made impregnable to
their attacks. Now the necessity fol
martial law is sensibly felt throughout
nearly all of the recently Rebel terri
tory. And from the mischief already
done by those men who are climbing
to power through the Amnesty of the
Government the time is deferred, nc
doubt. very materially. for all necessi
ty to cease for a military force and
for permanent adjustment of the
great tissue of social relations to bt
formed. Whether the error is discov
cred and is in the way of being cor
rected by our leading men in the Ma
tional Councils. or not, am unadvis
ed. But certainly it is high time, &C
cording to all ! can learn of the work
ings of the elements they have thu
set in motion, for the President ant
his associates to make rctrogad,
movement in that respect and tha
in short order. And l look for some
thing of that kind soon.


As ever yours,


PETER PERDY.