Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-07-13
Peace.

York Herald asserts that the cabinet Off
GERS are discussing terms Of reesnstruction
andlpretends to give the provisions sug-
gested. The source is too unreliable and
the proposals too absurd for US to place
any faith whatever in the report, but let
us look for moment at the alleged prop
OsitOns, and discuss their merits as if
they had been offered.
One member, tits said, is in favor Ofa Pres
idential Proclamation offering an amnesty
to the people Of the rebel States, suspend
ing the liability Of the cOnfscatiOn aci,
and Offering free pardon TO all but militia
~ and civil leaders. Even to these he
would give theirprOpOrty, and leave, as the
only penalty for their sins, an inelligibili-
ty to Office. This, we do not hesitate to
say, would be gratuitous humiliation up
on the part Of the Government which the
people are not ready to endorse. We are
beginning now to accomplish what for
two years and more, We have been striving
for with all the nisdireoted power Of tho
nation. Our homes have been made desc
late and our hearts Wrung at the loss Of
the nOblest Of our families. The country
has incurred an expense which nothing
but an adequate benefit could reconcile us
to, and a debt has been entaiIed upon US
and our children which we will willingly
pay if we are thereby to gain permanent
peace and prosperity, but otherwise, not.
To partially remunerate us and our Gov
ernment from this burden of expense, it
has been ordered that the property Of
those who have caused the war and its eI-
pense, shall be disposed of in partial pay
ment. No measure of public equity and
safety is more universally conceded to be
just than such an one as this. To rescind
it would be to say that we were wrong in
imposing it; and to say that we were
wrong is to acknowledge that the rebels
were right. It is more it is putting
premium upon rebellion. The property of
loyal men is taxed many poor Union
man must lose ali benefit of his past in
dustry by obeying the call of the Govern
ment into the field, or part with it to pro-
cure exemption. And yet they acquiesSe;
but let rebel property escape scOt-free
while loyal property is thus taxed, and
they can justly complain of the partiali-
ty toward rebellion.
Rendering the rebel leaders Ineligible
to office, would be, to SOutherners who
thrive upon their lust for power, a great de-
privation, but as punishment for the most
heinous national crime, it is weak and in
efficient The great masses of the South
must, from necessity, sink into Obscurity
upon the close of the war, but for the
leaders, more immediate and tangible pen
slties are demanded.
The plan thus proposed embraces no
provision for prohibiting future outbreaks |
of rebellion. Should a peace be patched |
up upon this basis, five years hence might |
see another accession and another civil
war. It does not touch the cause of the re-
bellion, but leaves it to seethe and foment
as before until it breaks out in a volcano
of bloodshed. Should it be carried into
effect, Mr.. Seward might predict war with
more assurance of fulfIlment than he has
SO often prOphesied an early peace.
But the Herald gives another plan, the
credit Of which it aseribes to Mr.. Chase.
This one contains some, at least, Of The ell
ements Of a peace which might be perms-
nent Under this, sIqUsry the grand
cause of the rebellion-is to cease alto
gether in the United States after 1876, ex-
eept in case Of minors who shall continue
in slavery until they become Of age, while
those slaves of forty years or over are to
have a choice of remaining under their
masters or becoming free. Loyal States
to receive compensation for their emanci-
pated negroes, but no compensation to
be allowed TO rebel States. Another pro-
vision provides for q National ConYen-
ton with a view of striking out Of the
the three-ffths representa-
ton, and providing for the emancipation
Of slaves IS above noted.
While the former scheme omits any pro-
vision for the major crime--tbat of sls-
yery-this one negIects to say anything
Of the penalties attaching to those whom
Slsvery has led into the overt act. Both
are therefore deficient, but the last strikes
at the root, while the other merely pruned
the branches. In the matter of restrain
ing the rebel leaders from Office, the latter
plan meets the case better than the other.
By destroying the three fifth represents
lion, the greed for power is greatly cur
tailed, and the foundation is laid upon
which to make the exclusion effective.
Whatever objection there may be to the
details of the emancipating provisions of
this latter plan, the design is good, and
It would meet the question which has very
been asked, Of what is to be
done when the war is over and slave State
.Rdeayors to re-enslsEe those colored ber-
sons who have been freed by the Emanci-
patton Proclamation. The amendment to
The Constitution, when ratified by three.
IOurths Of the States, would be binding 10
prevent any such attempt. But Mr.
Chase has proposed no such plan. He un-
lerstands too we'll that such scheme
would stultify the Administration, by con-
iicting with the Proclamation which has
declared that the Slaves are aZTeq5,, free