Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-10-17
RICHMOND WING.
TUESDAY MORNING......OCT. Il, 1865.
UNIVERSAL AMNESTY.

OF the late revolution, we regret 10 OOSer'e
that few Northern journals still persist IN
their clamOr for the trial and execution oil
those fallen and unfortunate gentlemen
Why should not these mischievous disturb
ers OF the country's peace-these radical
foes to a speedy, harmonious and permanent
restoration of the UniOn-consut reason
common sense and humanity little, instead
of. in a spirit of madness and desperation, be
perpetually crying out for further persecu-
ton and more blood In our Judgment, II
is already the settled and deliberate opinion
of the country, n orth and South, East and
West, that to.pHniSh Mr.. DAVIS, Mr.. STE
PHESs, General LEE, or any other oil the
public functionaries of the late Coniederacy
as traitors, would be great crime and
still greater blunder. When the terms oil
LEES and JOHNsToN's surrender we're an
nounced to the world, there was not a
shadow of difference in mems minds as to
the true meaning of them. Every body IN
derstOod them to mean what the contract
ing parties evidently intended they should
mean. Every body understood them TO
mean that, upon the Confederate forces lay.
ing down their arms, officers and men might
20 to their homes and be secure from moles-
tation, during good behavior. No one then
dreamed of the prosecution of the surren-
dered Confederates for treason. No such
idea occurred either to the wise or to the
silly. 1t was an afte thought, and most
unkind and unfortunate one.
Moreover, the whole civilized world know
the fact that the United States Government,
for four lOng years, treated the Coincide
rates, not as traitors and outlaws, but as
legitimate warriors. 1t treated them thus
in hundreds Of ways and upon hundreds Of
occasions. 1t prosecuted the war against
the Confederates just as all the nations, that
recognize the laws OF nations, prosecute wars
against each other. Federal officers sent to
them, and received from them, flags of truce;
they exchanged prisoners with them and
made contracts with their authorized agents
in regard to paroles; and President LINCOLN
and his friends went more than half way
from Washington to Richmond to consult
with them upon the subject of peace. Sure
ly, there is no case on record where the
civil and military authorities Of govern
ment treated their enemies thus, and then,
after capturing them, executed them for
treason. If the United States were to do
such a thing now, in full view Of the facts
inst narrated, iA,would shock the moral
sense Of mankind, excite universal indigna-
ton and borrow, and cut them of from the
sympathies Of the world. Indeed, it would
lower our country's character everywhere,
and tarnish and dehle our national eseutch-
con forever. 1t would, in reality, be grand
triumph to the foes Of the Union in Europe
and a shame and regret to its friends the
wide world over. We speak thus candidly
and plainly, because we had no part nor lot
in precipitsting the people Of the South
into the wild vortex of revolution,
nor at the time, had We any SYM
patty or indulgence for those who did.
There is a still more important aspect Of
this matter to DO taken into account. We
presume that it is conceded on all hands,
that the one great and paramount object to
be kept steadily in view is the full and per-
feet pacihcation Of the South-the establish
ment, between the two lately estranged and
warning sections, of ths peace and harmony
and confidence and good will that should ex-
iss among all the constituent portions of
common country. Every thought of indulg-
ing in acts or feelings of resentment or re-
venge, every impulse to do or say what
would irritate and exasperats, instead of
soothing and eonciliAting, should be dismiss
ed from the minds Of all our people, North
and South, as unworthy, unpatriOtie, and
most mischieVous. Now, think for mo-
ment what would be the probable effect upon
the Southern people, OF the execution OF
their trusted and honored leaders for trea-
son. on account Of acts in which leaders and
people alike participated. Would it tend to
make them forget the old bitterness, and to
love the Government, ard to render cordial
obedience to itg Would it make them loyal
and contented citizensf Would they not
consider themselves held up to the world, in
the persons Of their punished leaders, as
guilty of treason and worthy of the death
of dogs, and spared that degrading fate only
a. a matter of undeseryed clemency and
mereyi Would they not be compelled to
understand that q stigma rested upon
their names and faint in their blood, and
upon the names and in the blood of their
children aud their children's children, to the
latest gOnerationi Aud would not thought
of all this, however strongly mems feelings
might be chained down by prudence, be like
an envenOmsd viper in hundreds of thou
sands of bOsOms, eOiling in silence, but ever
watehful of an opportunity to strike with
deadly effect
Such, at least, are our own deliberate and
matured convictions on this subject. And
we accordingly express the sincere and
earnest hope that President JOHNSON. who
has already done so much to secure to him
self the confidence and goodwill of the
Southern people, may ind it equally agree
able to his own feelings and compatible
with his duty to the country, to return to
their homes, without further harrassment,
ALI the leaders of the late revolution, from
JEFFERSON DAVIS to the humblest in misfor-
tune with hin.
DUry OF THE PEOPLE.