New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-14

groundless attacks damage their authors far
more than their objects.
But we have right to object, and do object,
to The Timts's characteristic attempts to wrig-
gle itself substantially on to our platform with
regard to the treatment Of the Rebel chiefs
Throughout the storm Of popular indignation
and wrath very naturally aroused by the assas-
sination Of President Lincoln, The Times foated
on the boiling current which we felt constrained
to resist. Now that the food has swept by,
leaving reason to resume its sway, The Times
glides into the eddy, and. moving in sort Of q
circle, labors, while looking both ways and
heading first one, then the other, to assuage the
fury which it has aided to excite. Thus, it now
says:
1.-THE appeals of the liberal presses OF England and
France for clemency TO Davis have better recon-
mendation. They come from friends tfied ana True
in Europe They will be received with respect, and
considered well . .
Liberals OF Europe long been against the infection
Of death for political ofenses. The French Republic OIL
LAS in ono Of its first acts abolished oil capital punish
men for political causes and II punished the leaders OF
u
exile In all the her popular revolutions OF that period
no judicial process whatever was instituted against
either potentate minister who had practiced misrue
GePT h OF sSsy IN ps~e Es peop
were with their oaths to be faithful 10 the no"
constitutions" &c. &c.
- This is in good part true, but not wholly
The English Liberals are not specially COM
mtted against the infection Of death for polit.
ical ofIenscs." They doubtless generally deem
such infection mistake; but this is rather a
reflections deduction from history-than q
profession. So Of European Liberals generally,
those of France excepted. And, even in
France, many of our prominent champions are
no wise affiliated with tho 4" Reds, nor com.
mitted to their views. The fact, therefore that
al the European friends Of the Union cause
which includes all the European Democracy
and many more--would dssusde us from inflict.
ing death on the chiefs of the exploded Rebel.
lion-is one of vast Significance. They stand
to us in the relation of Postcrity-of History
of Philip sober" They are identified with our
principles, our interests, our hopes, hut not with
our transitory passions. When The Times tells
its readers (truly) that these arc all against
hanging the defeated Rebels, it means sdroitly
to incline those readers to the same view, with.
out mourning the resentment Of those who
" would not be persuaded, though one rose from
the dead" The game is dexterous one: We
are content to exposeit, and pass on. We might
have saved q few subscribers by pursuing a
course like that of The Times but, having been
able thus far to walk erect aud live. We are too
old to learn to crawl while we shall be able to
stand.
We note with pleasure. - sign Of the times,
that the General Synod Of the Reformed Dutch
Church, now sitting at New.Brunswick. N. j.,
has unanimously adopted, among other chagac.
teristic resolves, the following:
"R.soi-,d. That while We have sympathy with that
false spirit Of charity bors Of Ussesaiis srt As~ss
terisnsm that would arrest the vndioaion 4 justice
and the punishment Of guilt. We counsel The largest
possible exercise 81 clemency toward the deuded and
the repentant fogvng their trespasses a. Christ has
forgyca U.s."
The logic Of this resolve IL fashioned
nftcr the simili,ude of rams horn, but, no
matter, since the spirit is right-and the counsel
good. And we feel confident that Christians Of
nearly or quite every denomination are now
prepared ~ unite in that counsel. Six weeks
ago, they were not.
AS 10 those who believe. or think they be.
ieve. that our Government may Justihably
land over to trial and punishment a. traitors
zen. X. Z. Lee and all other prisoners Of war
,aroled under his capitula,ion and those fash
oned after it, We beg them to consider, first,
he express terms of that equalization:
This THE snrrcndcrl done, each officer and man
will be allowed to return their homes not 10 BE- ds
rrbed BY Usied States authority long hey o5surs
heir parole and The lars in force nlus hey reside"
These conditions were framed and proposed
~ Gen. Grant, and accepted by Gen. Lee. And
Gen. Grant, in his final letter, says:
1.-THE terms upon which Peace can be had are well
Understood by the South laying down their arms they
will hasten that most desirable event sars fAsS,snds Of
uman Iires and hundreds VI millions Of property not
get destroyed.
Sincerely hoping That all dseuitiu may b s,itd
cit.out the los Of another Is subscribe myself very
especially. your obedieDt servant,
~. S. GRANT. Lieut.. Gen. U. s. A.
Can there be question ms to the proper force
md effect Of this languagel Is there one gen
raj officer in tho Union armies who holds that
he men shielded by this capitalization can never.
heless DO now arrested, araigned for treason,
md put Oh trial for their livesf If there be one
uch, We challenge him to stand forth and lot
he public have look into his eyes We do
lot believe there il one.
We might strengthen our case, If that were
ecded, by citing the debate ca the above terms in
ur g. ate Scnate nr tho darnur N iLnr, h., Gar,