Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-03
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS CONSID-
Erred.
AMNESTY. CONFISCATION AND EMAN
CIPATION.
From the True Democrat, York, Pa April 49,

From the True Democrat York, Pa April 49,
NOW that we are assured OF peace it becomes
intelligent people consider what is TO be the next act
in mis- great drama whose opening scenes have been
rrsuohf with such a fearful shedding of blood We
mus carefully eXa mine the position which now
cupy aud having candily ascertained what's necessary
N he dome lot rs determine 10 fully AIRY out those
measures which calculated 10 insure our safety the
welfare OF our nation, and tue peTpetuation OF free in
sttutOns ln order 10 successfully carry out such pro-
iects we must dismiss from minds all prejudice and
passion We must pa; away all feelings OF malice
and desires for revenge and. luung ourselves
shove the petty stue ealOuSeS and chickering's Oi the
b5ur into HE uure air OF exalted patriotism calmly and
d-passionatey proceed 20 the great and nobe work Of
raorra ui7iup our government on more stable fOuIda
/ ton than has before uputld A. three gtaphic
ouasop- of the highest importance % Us, and which
se destined To- aect unborn mlions demand all of our
saracty prudence and discretion, and the future not
only ot This c0uniry but OF free institutions 10 be
aHe,ed by the wisdom with which they are considered
ana determined These questions are Amnesty C0ntis
cation and Emancipation Frai, then, what shall be
mo po, which government shall pursue upon the
ati,n of amnesty The aW as 10 now stands forever
iisfraurhis-s all who have served in the Confederate
army above the grade Of a Colonel and We believe all
bo have held civil Office under the Coniederacy. We
do moi think that the interests Of our country demand
surb sweeping act Of punishment as this We do not
believe that the South eau ever be made loyal and true
| If such policy shall be pursued towards its people.
| There are many men in the South who have served
the Copiaderacy both in the field and in the civil
vice thar found themselves SWEPT AWAY BY THE FIERCE
/ rpp plEllC OPINION that gWpnt
over the south in lobO ana laol and who yielded
because they could not help it. The avalanche
| of secession carried away many good ard true men
T.oU tefr allegiance. With the Governor the
/ eyi.Iaturr and Convention ARRAYED AGAINST
rpyn Tie state treasury and the State arms in the
possession of the leaders IN rebellion they the people
were without authorized leaders and in fact but
unarmpd mob They saw the folly OF attempting 10 re
sist the -weInns food. lHEY MUST EITHER JOIN WITH,
OR HF SWIFT Az Al BY THIS PIERCE TORRENT. And If
they Wu- cupy some position, Whist more natural than
that heg should ha aspirations TO rise as high as they
could We repeat that many were thus forced into the
rsU OF rebellion, whose hearts never gave one single
uu lion ia unison th disloyalty and treason. Many
more were grasppd in the iron hand OF memorable ne
rassv aud were forced 20 the rebel cause 10 pre-
serve themselves and families from starvation Are eth
or of the two classes named objects OF Indignation or
COMMUNICATION or part think that they demand
our most generous sympathy and should he received in
no oUr arms as brythers and be treated citizens OF
-ommon country There is however another
class con whose guilty heads the law should
IAN with all It's crushing power. This class Is
comDosad Of rHF LEADERS or THR RFBELLIOE. For
tbe there should neither be sympathy clemency.
They have forfeited AL rig TO ne called American c
ems and should eNplate their treason upon gaiOws
bigber than that upon which HamRn hung. Let
these par7cdes feel the most terrible vengeance of the
outraged ana usr;ed law, and let their punishment be
"a fearful that no in our country will even contem
r,ta the crime of treason, without thrill ofnnuter
abe horror Let this band Ct leaders be externnated
root and branch but let Us win back THE PkoPLE by
ganarositv uaglauimity and b1 the most noble Glenn
srcv Then n regard 70 amnesty, let US PUNISH THE
PRrxR MOVIES INsrIG AToRs OF THE Rebellion and
restore Tho people 10 OF their rights under the gov
ernment What thea shall we do in regard 70 Confsca
ton9 We answer let the property Of the influential lea
ders be confscated and applied 70 eimbursug those
who have been robbed Of Their property because OF their
adherence TO the Constitution, and their devotion 10
the Union But We would not recommend any gen.
era sct Of conf cation, and we think that this
pont demands the immediate attention OF the govern
mept Already considerable property has, under the
rrovons Of this bill Oh nged hands; and II tie Ad-
miostraton would avoid embarrassment and intricate
entangIeuents in this respect must promptly define
us policy and declare its purposes II those who have
rurhased prorery are 20 he protected in its posses
sor then must the government furnish protection 70
AN 10 whom 70 shall grant deeds OF warranty; but in
our op mon, there should be no general conhscaton
FOR il can only be accomplished by quad OF soldiers
around every home lead that Is so conhscated aud its
results you'd be 10 generate such brood OF litter
tends eaouscs and implacs bic hatrcds as would dis
tract our country for centuries Let IA then have upon
this subject conhscatOn applied 10 the proper only
OF the chiefs OK the instruction and let all the rest retain
possession OF their property on condtlon OF thelr
loyalty and fidelity 10 the government. Lastly
what shall We 10 in regard 10 the question Enamel
patton suppose tie South now seeing the hopeless
ness OF their lay down their arms and submit
themselves 10 the fghtu authority Of the government
how will il meet them upon this question IL cannot
saw YOU shall not return until you have given your
states free Constitutions There IS no power, and we
believe wish Of the American people TO nSht them
until they shall emancipato their slaves. We can not
set up the doctrine that State By an tnsurection re-
duce5 itself TO territorial condition, which, IN other
words would be saying that they have practically Sc
ceded We can not for one moment entertain the idea
that secession possible under any circumstances
The true doctrine in our judgment is that the laws of
the United States not abolished IN the lnsurec0na
nv states. That when the insurrecton is queed the
laws sull remain aud II that be true, then the
general government occupies the same relation
n the state thar Il did before the insuIrection, and,
nv the parity Of reasoning the State must stand in
the same rest0u that IL dd before the attempt at re-
belEon But we cannot pursue this topic further at
present We only remove the curse OF slavery ct.
,.tpaIlv from ma bv adOpting the amendment 10 the
Constitution That once done, IL remains forever. lst
Let us punish the leaders but forgive the people ID
Let as repeal the conscaton act altogether or so mod
M n g 10 apply % only the Orignators of the rebellion;
and lastly let us Try % the requisite consttu
tona majority 10 the amendment of the constitution
We shall then cali forth order out OF chaos evoke light
from darkness and reOrganiZe government upon
srmanent foundation, satisfactory to the people Of all
portions thereof