Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-14


As was to be expected, that portion Of
the press whose loyalty is questionable,
hss been thrown into q bOundless rage over
the Proclamation af the President. 1t was
though. by some, hut with little ground Of
hope, that be would break all those
pledges which, in the name Of the nstiOn,
he had made to the slave population Of the
rsbeIlieus districts that he would consent
70 some reconstruction whereby the igno
ninious Wretches who have plunged this
people into 3 wild maelstrom Of death
might return to the full enjoyment Of cit
iEsnship, BY simply desisting from their
bloody work. In their over-snxiety for
these conspirators, they would have the
President abase himself in the eyes Of the
civilized world. That would be to offer q
premium on treason, to oOndOne the most
ssupsndous guilt, to mock the majesty Of
the Republic, and dethrone justice and
mercy. That man is Wilfuuy blind who
does not see that, day by day, the conVic'
tIon O. deepening that the life Of the repub'
lie depends upon the death Of its chief in
tsrnal foe. This conviction is attaining {
uniVsrsality aud sbsOluteness that is sub
line. It is dominating over all party is
sues and party prejudices. It's suprem'
manifestation is seen in the army and il
the rsbsllious States themselves. Mel
who once faltered ow live in the brigh
light Of strong religious convictions
What then is this proposed amnesty bu
an embodimtnt Of the will Of the people
What hut their mighty voice IroclaimiDg
unto slI lands the msjesty Of the republic
its power, with flaming sword, to vindicsti
its right to live despite the plOttings o
slavery and the Vaccinations of foreign
fSssH
The opposition journals fail to recognize
the fsot OF the Presidents right to maxi
this Proclamation. The power to do SO ii
fully vested in him by the constitution. 1t
is his to issue Proclamation Of Enamel
patton as a military measure. 1t is his Il
grant pardon for such guilt as that Of th'
RebelIious States. he can dete rhine th'
conditions. He has done so, not from any
desire To trim his sail for another Presi
dsniAl campaign, but strictly in accOr
dance with that honest wisdom which thu
far has worked his course.
No more difficult problem was ever pro
posed to q great people than that Origina
ting in this Civil War.
It contemplstes the restoration Of StsteI
IN rebellion, 10 their former position under
the Constitution. The relations of the
State and Federal Governments are there
fore involved. To maintain these rels
tons intact and yet remove the source o.
all our woes, is s question whose solution
in the minds Of some Of our statesmen, il
found in the sword alone.
The gordian knot must be cut, say they
The States have committed .fsiO de Sc hy
the cot Of rebellion and reduced them.
selves to the position Of conquered prov
Inoss. Evidently the President does Dst
9 eept this view entirely; nor does ht
rush t, the opposite extreme Of pretended
conservatism. By the laws of the nsiiorE
these men have already forfeited theiI
lands. The Supreme Court treats them as
alien enemies. Aud yet the President Of
fsrs a generous amnesty which both policy
and principle demand as the only one rs
tional and practicable.