New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-20
DAWsON,s OLsvE-BRANC

Just while our gallant soldiers were resting
! from their long grapple with the enemy, with
the sweat Of the struggle still upon the brows
of the living and the death-damps not yet dry
upon those Of the slain, certain Mr.. Dawson,
NJ G. for Pennsylvania, arises in the House
and asks leave 10 submit resolution. 1t is the
opinion Of Mr.. Dawson that in the hour OF
triumph and cxullation Of victory, We should
tender the oliye-branch OF peace as an exchange
for the sword" This is all very pretty and po-
etical; considerably theatrical, not to say melo-
dramatic; and as Mr.. Dawson was intent upon
making an exhibition of himself in the charac-
ter of pacifcator. we are rather surprised that
he did not advance tow ard the Speakers chair
with Quaker hat upon his head, and Quaker
coat upon his back and an amiable smile upon
his pacific face. We do not know that we are
disposed to quarrel with any man for being in
the abstract, a friend Of peace; but it is very
clear that, until all the laws of logic are re-
pealed, and consistency struck out from the
catalogue OF public virtues, no man who holds
the doctrine of non-resistance has any right to
be member Of our House of Representa- yes,
the chief duty Of which at present is to vote
money for all manner of ammunition, and TO
employ professional people to expend it judi
ciousy.
Mr.. Dawson is for ga proclamation Of amnesty
to every State which shall lay down its arms"
But the gentleman appears to have forgotten
a. In, q, ba Of bo .l..ltt
which the General Government must entertain,
or else tumble into unspeakable absurdity, no
State as such has yet taken up arms, or can
take them up, whatever even majority Of the
unprnciped inhabitants of such State may see
ft being instigated by the devil to do. Crimi-
mails may stand in need of "an amnesty"-no
State requires it, nor is it in the power Of tie
President to grant it, even if il were asked for.
The moment the General Government begins TO
truck and dcker and chatter with the Rebels,
a. if they were States that moment 1t recognizes,
at least sufficiently for great deal of mischief,
the authority Of the States to make war upon
the Goyornment-an authority which they
never had, or never lost, if they once had it.
II does not seem to have occurred TO Mr.. Daw-
son, and the rest of his ingenious band of pacif-
Gators, that the followers of Mr. Davis are quite
as much rebels against their own private and
particular States, as against the United States;
yet so it is; and when we concede to the Rebel
Army treaty making power, we substantially
surrender whatever Of loyalty may still be left
tba TO bo ,,f f,t ~
who consider the Bill of Sale Of single negro
as a patent of nobility.
What does Mr.. Dawson mean by Gam
nestyl" Does he fancy that those who have been
SO lately at each others threats are to fall under
the benevolent magic OF his little resolution,
lovingly into each others arms, Sobbng out
sweet words of reconciliation and renewed fra /
temityl Amnesty, indeed Amnesty for that /
infdelity ito liberty which has brought us to
this shame before the nations Amnesty for
plaged armories, and riAcd dock-yards, and .
plundered Treasury Amnesty for the taking
If hundreds Of thousands OF lives, and every
such taking off, in the sight Of God, and man. /
and the law, aimuTdcr Amnesty for this lr-
onious drain upon the wealth OF the lanG-this
destruction Of It's pcace-this crowG.Lg sorrow
these accumulated hcrCaycmcnts which have
HE'D The hcmcs OF the Republic with agony
amnesty for all this WHY, moraly. We might
- we'll giant thcsr loons III hey have a,le,.
or. Because, a. We lce to rcauer Go rcA.a.h.
,m mild-m.ndci AlcMbc, for Pennsylvania Is
in' '""'".r amuiops oi aniAc.'y, lat of a Ger