The Portland daily press., 1865-10-20
The wholesale Pardon of Rebels.


,READFIEnD, Ocz. 1e, 1855.
To tAe EditOroftAs Press. &. 4
The old christian doctrine, that--@There Is
mercy for the greatest sinner" is found to be
true by quite portion ofthe leading rebeis al
the South. ~ --A-s---
The very men who originated the rebellion,
and gave their voice and treasure to sustain 1t
the men who sustained four gears bloody
,par to overthrow the government, are now
being pardoned, and elevated to a position,
where. ifthey cannot again insult the old flag
with impunfty, they can insult and domineer
over those who fought under and sustained it.
We may in the future, reach a standpoint
from which we can look back and justify 1ne
clemency of the President. most sinceioi9
hope that such viii be the case. But az
emit, the men who have fought Suno,or '-s
bled to save the country-tne ~'."'"' "Ho
have sacrificed ten thousand Oh 'neli oons-
tbo ,,,;do,rs whose husbands by thousands
49, en-, mon the battlefield or suffered
- 49,, Ieath in Southern prisons to save
~ country from the hands of rebels and trail
Tors 10 not, and can not rejoice, that these
very rebels and traitors are being pardoned,
and invested with all the rights of citizenship.
A proclamation, granting pardon to the
whole horde of Southern .rebels-Jeff. Davis
included, would have involved about the same
principle, and would have been but slightly
more Objectionable than the pardoning sys-
tenn in its practical operations at the present
day. 4Ih.tTag4
To make roters Of leading rebels, who for SO
many years have done all in their power to
destroy this governments and only ceased
their efforts from sheer cOmpuIsion, and at
the same time refuse the ballot to tens Of
thousands of loyal soldiers, who have suffered
everything but death for their country's re-
demption, simply because their skin is not a.
aohite as that Of South Carolina rebel, is GER
tainly disgrace to this nation, and just
God will call us to an account for the commits
| sion Of SO grievous wrong. PSI on
We may hope that our national military
strife is ended, and well may we pray, that the
American sword may never again be unsheath-
ed, for the suppression of rebellion, or to repel
| foreign invasion, but, Mr.. Editor, the great
moral struggle has but just begun. WA
Freedom and Justice must triumph in this
land, or we cannot remain Republic, sharing
the respect Of the nations of the earth, which
sjustly due great and free people protesting
the doctrine that call men are created free and
equal"
The man who will carry his sword, and per
i his life in his country's defense, must be in
vested with the ballot in his country's govern
ment. Ak'f1tfA LILA
The man who pays taxes, for the support OF
the nation, must have voice and a vote in
the election Of the men who direct and control
| the finances ofthe nation.
The laboring classes-the real bone and
muscle of the country, black or white, must
have voice in the government of this nation
Until this true Democratic principle be
comes practical thing, the great moral strug
| gle in the Nation will be carried on, and a;
sure as there is God in Heaven, victory viii
turn on the side of justice and freedom, and
all who dwell within our borders will become
citizens-AMERIcAN CITIZENS. They vii
be known and respected as such the world ov
er. And Mr.. Editor, where is the christian
where the true American citizen, who doe
not In his very heart of hearts feel to exciain
$50 mote it ben? f.gs3 HIM. E.