The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-03-21

tian and civilized people
This day, if the power was with me, an am
nesty and free pardon should be proclaimed to
all, whether in arms or not, who in a presclib-
ed time give up their arms and the Rebel cause,
acknowledge the supremacy of the Constitution
and the laws, and agree to sumbit to them.
am asked what | would do with the lead
ers; / reply, I would leave them to the tribu-
nails and the punishment prescribed by the laws
they have violated, but am for the largest for
givencss consistent with the restoration of the
Constitution and the safety of the Union. All
are not leaders in this rebellion who have acted
as its noisy champions, through the press or on
the stump, or filed high places in the strife.
My policy would embrace all who are repen-
Itant. History records that the Jews, the ia
vored nation of the Almighty, again and again
resisted his sacred laws, and were again and a.
gain chastised for their rebelious acts. The
scheme of salvation under our holy religion is
| based on repentance. When God forgives the
repentant sinner, shall not man forgive his re-
I pentant fellow-man! Let us not be too exac-
| ting. Let us remember that we are but human.
The great truth should be present with us, that
s'To err is human, to forgive, dIvine."
|
people often rebelled against Jehovah, but Je-
hovah himself forgave the repentant sinners.
This is the lesson of the Christian religion. As
we expect forgiveness for our offences, we must
forgive If these misguided men who have
taken up arms against the best Government
ever seen, repent and come back to their alle-
giance let us receive them, and show the good
ness and the power of the nation in its power
| to forgive. Those who repent of this rebellion,
! if pardoned, will not go wholly unpunished.
They will have to bear the burden of conscious
guilt, the rcproaches of those they have bighted,
and made widows and orphans and caused to
mourn, and mistrust that must accompany them
to the grave.
/ would declare this amnesty and pardon as
a war measure. 1t may draw thousands who
feel that rebellion is not a remedy for existing
or supposed evils, and are earnestly and hope
fully awaiting to escape, as far as possible, from
the consequence of their acts. | would open
the door for them Many of the seeded States
have always been for the Union, and only a
wait the time they may safely take ground
for it.
| would declare the amnesty and pardon as q
| financial measure Of economy in this most eX-
pcnsive and wasteful civil war. l believe il
wouldIisaeitt, si &, promptly in the restoration OF the
five in restoring the Union and be most signal
victories our armies have or shall obtain. Ii
it shorten the war but fifty or one hundred
davs, it would save to the nation more thar
ten times the value of all the estates you coulo
possibly confiscate in accordance with the Con
stitution
You cannot confscatc the estates of non
combatants the old men, the widows, the or
phans, the insane or the imbecie, from what
ever cause, are out of the reach of the mos
inveterate enemies of the rebellion. ough
not to waste and destroy the property of thos
whom we don't intend to punish as Rebels
Their estates are part of the fixed capital o
the nation, and we want it as part OF the ma
tional capital to increase the annual production
of the country, to meet the unusual taxatlol
that must go with this war, and follow 1t 10
many years. ! have spoken Of and consldere
the co-restoration of the Constitution and tn
Union as fixed fact, and have the most per
. feet convictions of it. Yet we have dlfilcu!tle
to encounter.
The worst enemies of the Constitution ar
those whose constant cry is for the blood OF tn
Rebels and the confiscation of their estates
with the emancipation of slaves and who +
reach their purposes, would trample the Con
stitution the rights of property, and the prin
q ciplcs of humanity under foot, and blast iorev
Eer the prosperity of the nation. Such me
= propose to establish, through Congressional a'
ton provisional governments over the secede
| States.
| am clad to see our Union armies advar
cling. although the weather is bad and the road
7 almost impass:ble and hope they will no'
. strike heavy and quick. We want no provi'
ional governments in the State under Congress
ional action The Union sentiment is stron
a enough in Tennessee, and | believe will
. strong enough in all the Seeded States whe
s,pported by the Union armies to take posses
= sion of the State government and bring thel
r. under the fold of the Constitution There ca
: be no fear about the supremacy OF the umo
= sentiments in those States
: There is sound logic and convincing eloquent
i in the material force Of our Union armie
: Do not be surprised, as the armies advance,
:, find that the work of restoration is more proml
and decisive than the work of Secession, al
! far more unanimous Kentucky had no hea
: for the civil war She thought and felt that
e ought not to have been, and hoped her volt
q for peace would be heard. When she four
: that hope was vain, she girded on her arm'
: and determined to strike for the Constitution
n the Union, and the flag. Last in the field, 81
n wants to be first in the work of restoration.
;. have felt and hoped with Kentucky, and n
d heart and judgment are still with her
d If Congress is prompt, and efficient in actio
q with efficient aid from the Executive Depar
l. ment, see no reason why the Constitution al
o the Union may not be restored within the ne
d ninety or one hundred days. and more til;
h half this immense army returned to their peac
N full homes and their usual industrial pursuit
y May God grant this, and give us peace ana
L IL arI In.a,e lro