The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1864-12-21
" Save. the Union !"


Mn. EplrI1oR I notice in late "a! s: issue
Of the Kanawha Rep"tlica"' a very VEGA
effort to excuse or apologize for the con-
,no. ~. ccrtain individuals in this town:
which has lately been brought to light
,brou.h the colupns of your paper,
evidently. abiding to the structures upon
,be conduct of Mcssrs. Smith and Hale
Tho writer "regrets to say that there
arc some who claim to be loyal men, and
supporters Of the present administration
who think that Abraham Lincoln and
his advisors do not properly understand
this matter" Now the persons TO whom
he al!udes beg leave to say that 'ncS
think no. such thing; but think 'na'
q" Abraham Lincoln aud his advisors do
understand this matter precisely. The
terms, of the Amnesty which Abraham
Lincoln and his advisors propose. apples
to all such us lay down their arms and
return to their allegiance, mkc The oathS
prescribed By the Proclamation, n"' gre
eri1encc ofthc sincerity Of htrir intentions;
| (which, if not the exact words, Is Its sub
s,auce and spirit.) But We opi"c that
the writer's view Of the matter is more at
(aul, than he afFirms that Of those to
whom he alludcs to be, if he thinks that
these men are entitled to the benefits ol
the Amnesty Proclamation.
They have come back it is true, but
what else have they done? Have they
taken the Oath Of Allegiance to the
Government2 Have they done anything
for the support Of the Government that
they were not compelled to do? Have
they manifested, either by word, thought
or deed, any devotion to the Union
cause more than they did when DOMINIC
the robes Of Office in defense Of the
Rattle Snake" and Stars and Bars
II ask, in what instance have they
in letter or spirit, complied with single
requisition Of the Presidents Proclama.
ton, except that they "camc back ?
On the other hand, have they no, p"s.
iiivcly ind pcrsistcn'y refused to take the
Oath Of Allegiance to the Government
of the United States? and by such
refusal publicly aud deGan,ly advertised
and cd their hostility to the Union
cause. I confess the charges made
against them in the JOURNAL, rs copied
from the Fairnont National, are grave
ones but the Editor, in view Of the
grave character Of tho charges, mag
unanimously opens bis columns 10 theu
for their refutation. But do they max,
any such atteupt? Not;at all. The
President never intended the benefits OIL
the Proclamation of-Amncsty to extend
to any such cnscs; and it is positive
insult to the Union men of the Kanawha
Valley to insinuatc that their dissatislac
ton with the presence Of those 'individ
uns among US, under such circumstances
is tho result of enry, OR want of mag.
nanimity to "forgive aud forget" crring
human nature, or to attribute it to per
sonal malice or revenge There is nc
law, human or divine, that requires for.
giveness Of injuries without repentance
and ask where is the evidence of re.
pentance? But the writer 10 the Ma.
iionat has evidently hit the nail on the
head when he says thut they found they
could (" make more money" with the
facilities and Advantages they had gained
by their sojourn in rebcldom, BY buying
up the paper Of the broken Bank at thi.
place, after contributing hugely to the
b1ahing Of tho bank, by process wei
known in this community, and then tax
ing advantage Of tho imbccilty and
frailty Of the late much lamcntcd Pres
ideut, by threats and otherwise, after
first securing the ablest counsel in the
place to assist in carrying out the pro
grumme. 81 ..'. - r..r ......I,..,
| Let. those men. or any others, who
may think themselves aggricved by tho
articles 10 the JOURNAL Of this week,
which caused such deep and .,pious
regrets in the mind Of the Republican,
correspondent, bring themselves within
the pale Of Mr. Lincoln's Proclamation
Of Amnesty. Let them show by their
+" conduct and obedience to the laws,
that they are entitled To be treated with
respect, and they will be treated with all
the respect to which repentant rebels
are entitled. Our loyal citizens are. be
hind none in their sympathy for, any
Emisguided rebel who has been seduced
into the rebel army, when he lays down
his arms, acknowledges (in proper form
his allegiance to the Government thai
4 gives. him professionalism State and
Fedcral-and whose actions correspond
4 but IN aftem nt m otipn, ,t;,o 90. Till.