New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-04-11
m.GNANrusTx IN TRIUMPH.


p MAGNANIMsTY IN TRIUMPH.
We had hoped to print herewith the Pres-
dents Proclamation of Amnesty and oblivion
to the partisans of the bafiled Rebellion, and we
do not yet despair Of receiving it before we so
to press, though no portion Of it has yet been
received We are apprised, however, by tele-
graph from Washington, that its tenor was pub
licly debated in that city yesterday, while our
State Senate *as agitated by kindred discus
sion. We cannot shut our eyes to the fact that
strenuous efforts are being made to Swerye the
President from the course to which his judg-
ment and his feelings alike incline him by stls.
matizing it as involving infdelityto Principle or
to Party Others will-be heard on this point
though We were TO keep silence; we claim,
therefore, our equal right TO set forth our views
that they be accorded such weight as they shall
DC deemed to deserve. ,f
We hear men say" Yes, forgive the great
mass Of those who have been misled into rebel
lion, bat punish the leaders as they deserve"
Rut WIN CON aoo urately draw the line between
leaders and followers In the premises' By
what test shall they be Discrimination Some
of the arch-plotters Of DiSunion have never
taken mp arms in its support nor have they
held any important post in its civil service.
Whore is your tombstone Of leadership We
know none
Nor can We agree with those who would pun
ish the original plotters Of Secession, yet spare
their ultimate and scarcely willing convert
On the contrary, while we would revive or in
flame resentment against none Of them, VIC feel
Ear less antipathy to the original upholders of
"the Resolutions of '9e"--to the disciples of
Calhoun and McDufie-to the Nuuifers of
1882 and the State Rights men Of 1850
;han to the John Bells, Humphrey Marshalls and
Alex. II. II. Starts, who were schooled in the
National faith, and who, in becoming Disunion-
lists and Rebels, tramplcd on the professions Of
a lifetime and spurned the logic wherewith they
bad so often unanswerably demonstrated that
Secession was Treason. Whether they weakly
Yielded to the madness Of the hour, hoping that
20 they might ultimately "ride the whirlwind
ind direct the storm" TO some ill-detined but
Denefcent purpose, or surrendered their judg-
nent and their loyalty to that impostme of
. State Sovereignty which they had always
leld in just contempt, or were driven by sheer
owardce and fear of bodily violence into a
curse condemned by all their better impulses,
We protest against any discrimination whereby
his class shall be screened or favored. Wecon-
ider Jefferson Davis this day less culpable
raitor than John Bell. i9n
But we cannot believe it wise or well to take |
he life of any man who shan have submitted to
he National authority. The execution Of even
)ne such would be felt as personal stigma by
every one who had ever aided the Rebel cause. |
Each would say to himself, g l am as culpable
Is he; we differ only in that | amdeemcd OF
little consequence" single
Confederate led ont TO execution would be
pvermore enshrined in million hearts az a
conspicuous hero and martyr. We cannot
realize that it would be wholesome or saie-wel
are sure 1t would not be magnanimous-ip give
the overpowered 'disloyalty of the South such
shrine. Would the throne of the House of Hano-
yer stand more firmly had Charles Edward been
caught and executed after Culloden Isl
domination in Hungary the more
stable to-day for the hanging Of Macy Sander
and his twelve compatrot Generals after the
Of Vilagos' s.,
We plead against passions certain at this mo.
ment to be fierce and intolerant; but on our
side are the Ages and the voice Of History. We
plead for a restoration Of the Union, against q
policy which would afford momentary gratif-
cation at the cost Of years Of perilous hate and
bitterness. $40 ei..'it
We have borne for quarter of q century the
unjust imputation Of hating the South, when
we hated and Sought to subvcrt only Slavery,
the scourge alike of South and North . and the
sole cause Of discord between them We have