Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-08-10
CLEARF1ELD, PA, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 10. 1861


whole mass of Federal appointments are
poised every four years upon presiden
tlal election. inten.ifying and debasing the
struggle for power, and sowing the seed:
OF corruption broadcast throughout the
land. Purity, economy and Justice in
government become almost impossible
under this system, and their restoration
and maintenance demand its amendment
A change by which the great body of pub
lie officers would hold fer fixed terms
and be removable only for lawful cause
would be one Of great merit and wisdom
and is among the most desirable objects
to be sought in our public policy.
AMNESTY.
Another proposition pertaining to re-
construction Is, that as TO individuals there
shall be amnesty except for particular
offences. All the excesses OF a State Of
war cannot be visited with judicial pun
ishment. Both necessity and policy re-
quire that, at the conclusion of such a
struggle, the mantle of oblivion shall
covei the past. A nation torn by civil
war demands repose at its conclusion, that
society may be reorganized and that the
passions and decentralization produced by
war may disappear before the renewed
action OF moral forces. Laws of confisGa-
ton and treason may be polite and ne
cessary to prevent insurrection or to check
u IN the outset, but they become iuappli-
cable when revolt has ripened into public
war, and one entire people are organized
against another. Penal enac,ments when
directed against whole population are
odious and useless, and their tendency is
to 7rolong and intensity war, and to EN-
barrass or prevent its just conclusion.
lhelr Office is to Chastise individual
offenders within Government Jurisdiction,
and not entire commnnies contendng for
independence or other public object. The
laws OF war necessarily and properly obtain
between the parties to war pending the
contest, and dispace or supersede those
OF municipal enactment. Amnesty, there
fore, within the limit OF public safety, fol-
lows of course the termination of such n
contest as that in which we are now en-
gagged.
1t may be added that clear Justice re-
quires that Unionists who have fed from
the revolted country should 90 restored
to their estates, and that the particular
wrongs upon them should as far as posi-
bic be redressei
| A CONTRAST.
We have thus taken notice of several
questions connected with the subject of
| Reconstruction and indicated our views
upon them. How much opposed those
views are to the policy of tho Administra-
/ tion will appear on the most cursory ex-
animation. They point to the determine
tion and settlement Of disputes upon a
just and reasonable basis, and to the Sc
curity of the country against the recur-
renee of war hereafter; while the policy
OF the Administration points to simple
alternative between the su6jugation and
Independence of the South. If we sue
ceed in war, we have conquered country
10 hold and govern as best we may and
II we fail in the war, a rival and hostile
Power will be established beside us. The
Administration has no instrument for ma
tional redemption except physical force,
which it has shown itself hitherto in
competent to WELD, and whether it sue
ceed or fail, the future is encompassed
with dangers. Representing radical and
violent elements of population among US,
its party interest require of it an uncom-
promising and hostile attitude not only
towards the Confederate Government but
to the whole Southern people. In fact,
the President virtually announces to us in
his bogus State proclamation, that he can
trust no men in the South except under
most stringent oaths of approval of his
policy ana within the direct military IL
huence Of the army. Under the present
Administration, therefore, each party to
the war strives for a clean victory or an
utter defeat, and no agreement between
them except one of disunion is proposed
or is possible. We submit it to our coun-
trymen that this statement of facts pro-
nounces the utter condemnation of the
Administration and establishes solidly the
argument for Its removal from power and
this, too independent Of the other consid-
eratons which we have presented. 1mpo-
tent in war, incapable of securing just
and speedy peace, competent only to
waste the blood and resources of the peo-
pie, il stands as fully condemned in its
policy against the enemy as it does in its
measures of internal administration. And
we are justified in concluding upon the
whole case, that if the Union is to be res
tored, liberty preserved, and prosperity
renewed in this country, those results
must follow the defeat and rejection of
the Administration by the American peo-
pie.
THE DEFEAT op MR. LINCOLN REMOVES
THE MAIN OBSTACLE TO REUNION AND RE-
STORES AT ONCE THE JUST RULE OF THE Con-
sTITuTIoN OVER The ADuERING STATES,
CONCLUSION.
There are but two classes of men in this
country who may rejoice in the existing
conditions: FIRST, Those who make money
out of the war, and second. those who de-
sire 10 achieve emancipation by it. As
10 the former, their thirst for sudden
wealth is gratitied and it is not in their
nature TO regret deeply those calamities
which fall upon their ellow-countrymen
but from which they are exempted. And
as to the radical Abolitionist, his cup of
enjoy ment is almost full. He believes
that emancipation will take place or the