Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-05-18
Abolitionism and Clemencv,

To those who are verscd in the political an
social history OF our country for the last thirt
years, and conversant with the events of the grea
civil war which has convulsed the Nation il woul,
that the class most likely to be vociferous il
urging severe measures against the conquered re
bels of the South, would be the Abolitionists o
the former OF peace. If ever men were goad
ed by obloquy to that state ofmind that would re
gard revenge a luxury, surely the small band o
Abolitionsts who, through persecution and out
rage carried on for more than quarter Of centur
an intellectual warfare against slavery, should b.
found foremost in seeking vengeance upon thei
defeated enemies. Comparatively young meI
can remember the period when, in the North nj
individual who bore the dctested name of Abol
zionist, regarced "a little better than an out
law, and he was fortunate indeed, if permitted tC
discuss the wrongs OF slavery without being subjec
ted to personal violence In the South he had nc
rights, and if recklcss enough to be found there hi
life was the certain forfeit.
eff caught in my State I would help to hans
you to the nearest tree" slid Southern member
of the United States Senate to a fellow member
who, despite Abolition unpopularity, had found hi:
way into that body; and the remark was fair in
dex of the vindctve feelings of the slaveholdinc
class toward anti slavery men. Blu. the latter die
not seek war. They trusted rather to free discus
sion. the principles Of natural Justice and the ult
mate influence Of higher type of Christianity
which should recognize the teachings Of the Ser
mon on the Mount. They looked for no carly
triumph, and there were but few Of them who would
have consented to seek success through bloodshed
and carnage. but relying on what they believed
to be true principles, they we're willing to leave to
time and the results of FREQ discussion, the reali
zation of their hopes--thc extinction of slavery
from the American continent. Had their adver-
slries been wise, they would not have invoked the
argument of force. much less made war upon the
nation because all the people did not believe with
them thit slavery was blessing instead of n
curse. But, forgetting prudence and m IDLY dsre-
glrdiug all other considerations than revenge ard
a fincicd superiority over the non-saveholding
portion OF the people, they took up arms to perpct-
uate an institution that was in danger except
from their own folly, and which might have endur-
ed for generations if assacd by no stronger weap-
ons than those employed by the no. ,ombative,
and numerically feeble Abolitionists.
The latter believed that in some far off period
slavery would perish through peaceful means, but
few OF them were sangune enough to hope that
they would live to see its termination; vet .he
pioneers in the cause have seen it go down in the
shock farms, and now they can walk the streets
OF Ctlrlcston or Richmond, without danger and
without fear. Their former enemies and pcrsecu
tors are rowerless, and revenge is within their
grasp; but of the many thousands who dem nd
Ing the blood of the chief actors in the great revolt
which las filed the Land with mourning. we do not
recognize one of the prominent Abolitionisis Of
former Years. On the contrary, they unitedly
plead for generous mercy to the vanquishe1. Mr..
Garrison united with the cnfrlnchiscd blacks, in
singing songs of deiiverance in the desoate Gets
of Charleston, but he would not willingly shed the
hood fthe mcanest Of their late masters. Henry
Ward Becchcr, from the battered ramparts of Fort
Sumter. sent forth IN appeal for clemency in be-
half of those who had involved the country in the
horrors of civil and Gerritt Smith, but IA few
DAYS since, addressed the President remonstrancc
against shedding the blood of even the worst and
guiltest of the the defeated rebels. In this re-
markable letter, after dcprccating the policy of
punishment and revenge he SAYS:
al have glanced at the painful consequences Of a
harsh and unfair tire ttment ofour conquered
my. But how blessed would be the consequences
of a wise an kind treatment OF that enemy. Then
the South would be ut peace with the North; would
soon learn to like her; and would soon welcome the
tens ofthousands OF families that would immcdiate-
ly begin to cmigrate from the North to the South.
rhcn the North and the South slavery having pass
ed away would rapidly become one in interest, and
one also in character. Moreover, the whole work
would be blcSt by the termination oftbis most horrid
war in peace 50 full OF reason Justice and love.
Christianity would be honorcd and advanced by Il
peace made so sirkingly IN her own spirit. In
that spirit we cannot she'd one drop Of the blood OF
our subdued foe. If possessed Of it we should
forget and forgive, and forget the wrongs lone to
thc North and shall feel that the South has s.fcr-
enough. and that she deserves 10 be soothed and
comforted and no more afflicted by US"
The people Of the South hive been astonished
at many events ofthcir late disastrous war, but we
doubt whether they have been more surprised 1t
the acts of any oft Northern people. or even by
their own hopeless failure. than they will be when
they learn that the whom they hated most
are the most earnest andimportunate pleadcrs for
clemency to them in their day of adversity.-Ind.
Journal