The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-11-21

. honors and It's citizenship and thus thro'
, life the monuments of the power, the jus.
tice and the magnanimity of the might.
est nation of the earth. The President
said that such may be the measure Of
punishment; that he had pardoned but
few who would come under such rule
that there are exceptions to all rules, and
there were both civil functionaries and
army officers who might be pardoned
with propriety. He said that he had not
yet gone as far in his amnesty, either
f general or special, as Mr.. Lincoln pro-
posed. He explained what is not gener-
ally known, that his pardons are mainly
of business men, many of whom were
| Union men, who mus. have pardons to
enable them to sell or mortgage their
lands, or to get credit in their business
operations and added that he had not
yet reached the consideration Of such
cases as Lee, Stephens, Longstreet, Beau
regard and others of that class.
He spoke freely of the proposed trial Of
Davis, and said that as yet the govern
ment had not taken any steps in the mat
ter. If he is to be tried 10 Richmond,
the trial must necessarily be postponed
until the civil authority is fully restored,
and then it will be question for consid-
Grafton under the condition of affairs
which may at that time exist. AS Vir-
ginia is still practically under martial law,
certainly wholly under military rule, |
judge that many moons may wax and
wane before We can have great State
trial. do not question the wisdom of
this delay, for it is certainly better for the
government to avoid the danger of defeat
in attempting TO convict of conservative
treason in Washington, than to force a
trial which might afford a technical
escape for Davis and leave the great
questions undetermined. 1fI were going
to guess on the subject, I would say that
Davis is more likely to be paroled during
the next year than to be tried, and if he
is ever hanged, he must do it himself.
The President is clearly adverse to con-
fscation and that question is practically
settled. Whatever might be the views
of Congress, confscation is not possible
with an Executive determinedly hostile
to it and with the pardoning power in his
hands. l infer, however. that on this
point Congress will harmonic with the
Executive, as a number of even the rad
ical leaders, such as Greely and Sumner.
openly oppose it, If our credit can be
! ~ I
years hence we shall all be wiser on that
point than now.
believe that the President will WELD
all his power to effect the admission of
the representatives of the rebelious States
into Congress during the next session.
The Senate being organized the question
cannot come up there until it is brought
up in order; but there will be strong
pressure to force the admission of the
Southern members by placing their names
on the roll when the House meets. This
Mr.. Mcpherson will not do, and on all
votes of instructions he will call only
those who are returned from States clear
! ly entitled to representation. The law
forblds him to do otherwise, and he will
be faithful to it. The question of their
admission will then agitatc the House,
and fear make a sad breach between the
President and Congress. The South is
encouraged by the petition Of the admin
lstratlon to be importunate in its demand
for admission, and it Is not improbable
that it will in the end be admitted. L
haVeseldom seen Congress struggle against
power and hold out to the end. The his
tory Of such conflicts is always dotted
with frail ones who fall by the way. Il
have ever felt that the revolted States
should take no part IN the government
they vainly sought to destroy until all is
sues arising from the war, and ali its logi-
cal results, should be settled by faithful
men. To the victors, not to the van
quished-to the friends, not to the foes of
the government does this duty belong,
and if it shall be otherwise, there are ma
ny who will tremble for the sefety of the
Republic.
On the future Of the freedmen the Pres.
ident talks well. He displays more sense
than sentiment on the question, ,and means
to solve the problem fairly as demanded
by civilization and humanity. OF their
ability to win position that will enable
them to be incorporated into our system
of government as citizens, he is not emf
neatly hopeful, but feels that it must be
fairly tried with an open field for the ne
gro. That failing, he looks upon colon
ization as the only alternative
1t would be foolish to disguise the fact
thatthe President, both by word and deed,
disclaims the position of partizan Exec
utive, and that he is not insensible to the
fatteriug approval of his administration
by the Democratic party. I do not mean
by this that he is in sympathy and fellow.