The Lincoln County Herald

Many beautiful lessons of magnanimity are to be found decorating the pages of classic story--lessons which should prove instructive to those who are now in positions affording them opportunities for its exercise. Caesar, when returning to Rome at the head of his joyous veterans, allowed a statue of his rival Pompey to be erected in the Capital, and gave his followers place and power in the administration of the government. He indulged in no test oath-he used no shackles-he hunted no victims with a keen and savage thirst for blood, but with a deeper insight into the nature of the human hearts he granted full amnesty to all who fought against his Eagles, and endeavored to brace his throne with the affections of the people.

Indeed, no victory was allowed to the successful hero in a civil war, because it kept alive the animosities which should be buried "deeper than ever the Plummet sounded" in the graves of forgotten transactions.

When Sparta was conquered by Thebes no trophy was permitted in honor of the victory, because of a decree by the Council of Grecian States that "it was not fitting any record should remain of discord between Greek and Greek."

Instead of following these wise and humane examples, the South is proscribed from the seats of power, her voice is no longer heard in the councils of the nation, but she has constantly preying upon her vitals a ravenous horde of the carpet-bag fraternity, who still feed, vulture like, with accursed avidity upon her mangled and prostrate form. The ear of her peaceful and law-abiding citizens is constantly assailed by bloody orders of military satraps, and upon a mere suspicion of guilt are dragged before military commissions to answer charges and suffer insult.

The South had accepted defeat--had taken her vow of allegiance which she would have kept to the very last letter--the last syllable. Though the wild blast of war had desolated her homes and wreck and ruin crushed all the parts of her fair domain, still she was ready to let the dead past bury its dead. She invoked no jibes, no animosities. She drank deep in the bitter cup of defeat; but she would not murmur at the draught did not these red-mouthed fanatics, with "breath of Ate, hot from hell," continue to "cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war."