Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1865-09-23
JEFFERSON DAVIS.

We publish to-day an eloquent appeal
from Mississippi lady in behalf OF sym
pathy and mercy towards this distinguish
cd captive. We would enforce il with ar
guments derived from our standpoint Of
American citizenship, asnll sufficient with
out any reference to personal or sectional
sympathics AS citizen Of the United
States, We should earnestly deprccate n
harsh, much less bloody cXpiation Of
political offence in the person Of Mr.. Davis.
We know how history would characterize
such deed, and how, before history makes
up its record, the living authors OF itwouId
DO en- He'd on TO repent it, Mr.. Davis alive,
and the recipient of the clemency OF pow
crful and magnanimous Govern mcnt, whose
sword has swept from its path every enemy
TO its authority, and Mr.. Davis dead, and
consigned to his grave by n judicial ser
tcncc, when the war had ended in the COM
plete triumph Of the authority Of that Gov
ernment, would present mighty contrast,
upon which those who are bounding on the
Government to his ruin would do well TO
ponder.
Let the latter take place, ard on the in
slant revulsion in the public feeling will
be sure to take place. From culprit the
political prisoner passes at once to the role
of martyr, and thevcry men who thirstcd
for his blood would trcmblc at their share
of the awful responsibility, and join in the
cry of shame. The Government of the
United States must not shock the sensibili-
ties of the civilized world by the first in
stance of execution for political offence.
We implore the President to spare us the
stigma which all mankind will brand upon
90 A bJTt bn
mission of such deed We implorc him
to stand firm against the cry of bad men
for his blood for the honor of the country,
and for the patriotic desire he chcrishes to
heal the wounds terrible war has inflicted
upon q sorely stricken land. Thereis honor
and nobility of soul in store for him upon
the records of posterity, if lc snatches the
victim from the clutches of the hungry null
titude. There is peace and joy in store for
him to requite the mcrciful deed, and when
the fires of sectional strife, now fast wan
ing, have completely died out, there will be
the sure plaudits and well done, of whole
people, saved by the courage and mercy of
one man, from an act which would be po-
litical blunder even greater than crime,
to punish Jefferson Davis, for policy even
more than justice, counsels mercy and am
nesty. Every good citizen proud of Amer
lean name, should pray God TO spare the
nation such catastrophe.
One position We hold to be certain, and
that is that Mr.. johnson has nota friend in
the nation, personal or political, who, adj
hitting him to be Of sane mind, would ad-
wise him to deal severely with Mr.. Davis.
We lookers-on, see clearly what it seems
ought to be apparent to his Judgment, that
his enemies are committing him to decd
of violence for the purpose Of prccipitating
his own political ruin. Not being able to
govern him, the Radicals seek to destroy
him, and they believe that when they have
driven him en- to this act of blood, they will
have effectually damned his political avail
ability for any party. We trust that the
President may see and avoid this snare of
his enemies and this trust is expressed by
one who gratefully acknowledges the great
good he has done for the country since the
war closed, and who desires the opportuni-
ty to warm that feeling of admiration into
one of fast political faith and friendship
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