Year: 1865

Fr-m the Macon Journal and Messenger. JuIy4


One of the greatest blessings thai


Heaven can bestow, is promised the


''peace-maker." And certainly there il


not more laudable occupation in the
world than throwing oneself into the
breach, as Moses of old, and labor for
reconciliation between contending par
ties. Whatever may have been the diff
ferences separating the South from the
North, HOl0, as We have submitted our
causes to the arbitrament of arms, and
the verdict has been pronounced against
US, il becomes US as men of honor and
intelligence, to submit to the new order
Of things. Our proudest dreams of the
past have turned out dreams only.
There is not fabric Of the vision left
to build our hopes upon. 1t required
no small amount of self-denial, to relin-
qnish all these cherished ideas of South
ern Independence, for it had grown
with our growth, and mingled with
some of the best blood of our race. Yet,
we have lived to see all these fond an
ticipations perish. Now, the crisis is
upon us, and like men We must come
up and meet it. 1t is useless longer to
dream. Our peculiar institution is
dead, and far beyond the hope of res
direction. We loved it, because We
had been eradled in its arms We
thought it essential, because of our
early training And however much we
may regret its departure, now we can
say peace to its ashes" Again we are
under the control, and laws of the
United States, and it IS the only Gov
eminent to which we owe allegiance,
the only one to which we can look to
for pTotection-therefore it is our duty,
TO lay aside our prejudices, and cherish
anity and good feeling towards all of
her citizens.


Gov. Brown remarks, that during his
soiourn in the North, he discovered
much less bitterness toward the South
among the people than ne anticipated
And even that bitterness is wearing
gradually away, save in the hearts Of
some Of those negro loving and radical
abolitionists who are not satisfied with
emancipation, but desiring all barriers
in society broken down, and the negro
admitted into equality with the whites.
But this number is magnificent The
great mass Of the people, headed by the
President are desirous to see once
more this great nation united, and all
the jaring elements hsrmonized, and
peace and prosperity crowning every
home.


We feel assured that the great South
ern heart viii lay aside its bitterness,
and while charity shall cover up ali
past differences and transgression, we
will accept the extended hand of fel-
lowship, and unite cords which have
been sundered. There are few who
still indulge hatred and heap invectives
upon our conquerors, but so few in
number that their influence amounts
to but little. As good citizens let Us,
so far as Is in our power, forget the
past, and come up to the support
of the administration, so that civil
law may be restored, and equal
rights granted to all. To do this ef-
fectually we must take the oath pre-
scribed by the President, and then, by
our votes, place our best and wisest
men into position and power, irrespect-
i've of past parry differences. By so doing
peace will be restored between parties.
between seotions, and harmony and
good feeling viii pervade the whole
land.