Relenting.
The Northern despot has shown signs of relenting, after a rather guarded manner.
He has issued an order for the release of all political prisoners, upon their promise not to aid the rebellion.
He announces as a reason or this that the rebellion is ‘"manifestly at the decline!"’ Of a piece with this restricted indication of clemency are the declarations of the detachments of the
Burnside, and other expeditions, to the people of a little hamlets they visit, that they doesn't mean to disturb private property — they won't steal any more from the people — they only want to get hold of Government stores!
The idea no doubt comes from
Howard — it is too shrewd and cunning for Old Abe. The arch-traitor begins to think that persuasion may do a little better if force all the time and every where.
The reason for a change of policy, of course, is a mere falsehood.
Neither
Seward nor
Lincoln have the magnanimity to make any concessions that are not extorted from them.
For a falling or fallen foe their tastes and malignities would be better suited by the most bloody revenge.
The active use of the gibbet and the axe would be far more agreeable to them than acts of clemency or general amnesty.
If they really thought the spirit of the
South was giving way, they would order increased severities and brutalities — a more wide-spread and indiscriminate desolation of Southern homes.--Concession from such men is the ever sure indication of their weakness and fears.
This is the only rational solution of the sudden amiability of a Government that has proved itself so heartless and despotic.
Like a dilapidated and enfeebled reprobate who contemplates approaching dissolution and endeavors to cheat the devil by a late repentance, Old Abe seeks to avoid an apprehended retribution by doffing his animal instincts and pretending to a very liberal degree of humanity and civilization!
His feigning is a good sign for the
South.
His kindness shows our strength — his clemency testifies to the power of a foe he has learned to respect, and feeling that he cannot overpower he has the vanity to think he may win him by artifice and dissimulation.
