The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-16
Douglas, Wise, Walker and Company-Shan
they b@ PardOnedI


they be PardOnedI
Fiom our special Washington advces in THE
mornings Issue it appears that some OF the
mere magnanimons friends of the Presidents
X snsas policy are castir about for the basis Of
sn act of amnesty in behalf of Douglas, Wise,
Walker, Stanton, Forney, and their rebellious
followers of the anti Lecompton democracy
The generosity of any such proceeding no man
could question; but the expediency of an act of
pardon to these rebels, after all the mischief
they have made is very doubtful Should they
plead guilty, confess judgment, and promise un
conditional loyalty for the future, they might
be forgiven and restored to confidence; but in
the absence of full repentance and confession,
the best course, we think, would be to cart
them off to the guillotine-two at time-be-
ginning with Walker and Douglas.
No administration can gain anything by con-
cessions to, and compromises with, party
traitors and mutinous conspirators. Jefferson,
the great apostle of modern democracy, never
submitted To anything like dictatlon from local
party leaders or sectional chiefs He made
himself, from the outset, the master of his
administration, and the recognized head
of bis party. So with Jackson; and, nume-
rous and powerful as were the plots
and conspracies to rule or ruin him, he proved
himself more than match for them all. On
the contrary, the accommodating, knuckling
and trucking policy pursued more or less by
Van Buren,, Polk, Fillmore and poor Pierce
rendered them the mere slaves of party mana
gers, clques and factions, in the Cabinet, in
Congress, and throughout the country.
The violence of the opposition politicians and
presses to the Kansas policy of Mr.. Buchanan
should be sufficient to satisfy the democracy
that it is the best course for the administration
and the party it represents. 1t is not likely, if
this policy were calculated to work out the de-
struction of the democratic party with the adop-
ton of the Lecompton constitution, that the
opposition would be so very ferocious in their
hostility. On the other hand, they know that
the defeat of that constitution will be the
speediest possible process for breaking down the
administration and the democracy, root and
branch; and hence they are straining every
nerve to accomplish the rejection of that con-
stitution by Congress.
As for Mr.. Douglas his very first act on the
assembling of this Congress was deliberate
insult to the President, and blow-intended
as a deadly blow-at the integrity of his admin
istration The disaffection of Gov Walker was
equally deliberate and offensive, as was that of
Stanton and of Forney; but as for Gov. Wise, he
is without the shadow of plausible excuse for
his rebellious and sngulary cratic conduct
But then our democratic peacemakers may
cry out that unless we come to some timely re-
Cancellation with these people their disahection
will cost us all the next fall elections and the
loss of the next Congress. Our answer is-what
of that? AS an Independent organ of the indie
pendent masses of the people, we stick to the
law ard its pains and penalties The law OF a
party in power, like the law which governs an
army, must be strict or there will be no end of
disorder and disobedience in the camp. In a
crisis like this especially, and with such de
serters as those under consideration, they
should be taken out and executed. The execu.
ton of the ringleaders will put an end to the
rebellion.
We may feel some sympathy for the forlorn
condition OF Mr.. Douglas, some pity for the
sinking condition Of poor Forney, and we may
regret the inexplicable folly of the bold and
brilliant, bat erratic and unreliable Gov Wise
II may be desirable to re-unite all the flag ends
of the party in the North in view of the
approaching elections for the next Con-
gress. But still, the paramount object is, that
the President shall be the recognized head of
the administration and the recognized head of
the party. Let this point be gained, and the
rest may be secured in good season. We think,
therefore, that in the absence of full recsnta-
ton and confession, Douglas, Walker, Wise,
Forney, Stanton, and others of these leading
Kansas rebels, should be taken out to the place
of execution, and that after prayers for the
salvation Of their souls, they should be
put out of misery. II would be great achieve
ment if they could be added to the list of the nu-
merous converts Of the present universal and
wonderful religious revival The time has
come. Let their political bodies be rendered up
TO the law; but give them a chance for their
souls. Let the law take its course.