The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-10-29
COLUMBIA.
Sunday Morning, October %. 1865.
Unnecessary Apprehension.

General Hampton and Governor Pickens
will most probably remain unpardoned,
and reserved, in companionship with Mr..
Davis, fol some terrible fate, such as de-
capitation or imprisonment for life, for the
crime Of having followed the fortunes Of
their native States. This is the impression
which Washington atmosphere has left
upon that gentlemans mind. We say
Washington atmosphere Psrpose!y, foT it
is quite unlikely that such o statement
could not have been made authoritatively.
On the other hand, another gentleman, who
must have been at Washington about the
very same time, and who was favored with
an interview by President Johnson, has
told us that the views expressed by the
President, and the moderation which they
manifested, did not permit him to partici-
pate in the correctness OF the rumor, but
that they rather appeared to him to fore
shadow an entirely different policy-that Of
clemency and oblivion. We are very much
inclined to believe SO, too, and we hope it
will be shown by his future acts, as We
think it has already been demonstrated by
President Johnson's past policy, that the
fears expressed will prove chimera. The
President has, upon every occasion that
called for it, stood hitherto as the only
barrier between the South and Northern
radicalism. Mistrusted by many Southern
men few months since, through his
generous and conciliatory conduct, and
the speedy removal Of grievances whenever
brought to his notice, he has gained, in
an incredible short space Of time, the
hearty cooperation and the good will of
the great mass of the Southern people. Be
it mere policy, or something greater-the
ambition to gain the highest honors of
craftsmanship, for the restoration Of the
eountry's prosperity alone-he is successful
in each, whatever his motive may be. For
our own part, we believe him when he
said, 'sThe only and the dearest wish Of
my heart is the speedy, political and social
regeneration of my country" and we are
prepared to say that the support of the
South is not all for which he aims. Incom-
patible as this conduct is with resentment
and severity, we should feel as if we
charged President johnson with insin-
ccri+y, short-sightedness and folly, were
we to suppose that he desired to make
martyr of any man who engaged in the late
war. But the President knows well enough
that revolutions are perpetuated and old
issues kept bleeding through martyrdom.
History proves it upon thousand pages,
and our hearts tell us so.
The radicals themselves, after having
evidently assailed President johnson for
his clemency, do no longer make the
pardoning of rebels a war-cry. Their at
tention is directed to quite other matters,
in no way involving the individual status
of any Southern man. They are even
farther than that. The Washington cores
pondent of Northern paper repeats lately
what he said on former occasion, s'That
he felt quite sure President Johnson would
not even put Davis on trial, but pardon
him Internationally )" and this is now the
general impression North.
When we seek for grounds, in view of
the Preside nt's past policy, upon which
he properly could refuse either pardon or
amnesty to General Hampton Or Governor
Pickcns, we must confess our inability to
find any whatsoever that would not apply
to every true Southern man. When the
fear is expressed that their pardon would
retard the reorganization of the State, we
say deliberately that nothing could more
promote that object. Both Hampton and
Pickens have cordially and sincerely sup
ported the Administration and now exert
their great influence in every possible
way to strengthen the arm Of the Execu-
tive of tho nation. We can cite no better
proof Of the honesty and patriotism Of
General Hampton, than when we call to
remembrance that splendid letter to his
fellow soldiers, which has since re-
ceived high praises North and South,
wherein he advises his companions-in-
arms To raroain at home and beor