The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-09-14

JASPER Y MOORE. 81
Gentlemen: Il regret that my official
engagements are snch assto :preyent me
from complying with your tiitiering re-
quest in time to effect Wbat is intended
by a publication of my charge to the
Grand jury at the present Term OF the
Conrt. Ii was not written, and would
therefore require more time, to prepare
il for publication than | eau how bestow
npon it 1t may not be amiss, however,
at this time, to allude very briefly to
that portion of my charge which was in
tended to reflect what | understand to
he the policy of the Governnlent toward
those who were, until lately, in armed
hostility to it, but who haye recently,
returned amongst MS to resume, as tar
as practicable their former relations to
the country. The object of the war upon
the part of the Government was TO com.
mel those who were resisting its rightful
and legal authority by armed forces, to
Law down their arms, and retnrn to their
allegiance, thereby restoring the Union.
and the execution of the laws under it,
wherever suspended Will view to
this object, Congress passed an act ap,
proved July 18th, 1869 which authorized
the President, ut any subsequent time,
by proclamation, to extend to persons
"who may have participated i'll the eX-
isting rebellion in any State, or part
thereof. pardon and amnesty. with such
executions and ut such timcSand on such
conditions as he may deem expedent Tor
the public welfare" o-t8 r.I.
In pursuance OF shis act President
Lincoln. on the Sth day of December
1863. issued his proclamation granting
"full pardon" to all persOnss who have
directly, or by implication. participated
in the then existing rebellion." with
restoration of all rights of property, en-
ccpt us to slaves, and i'll property cases
where rights Of third parties shall have
INTERVIEWED" upOn their taking and sub
scribinr the form of oath aliiiXed TO the
proclamation, excepting certain persons
therein enumerated, from the benefit Of
it's provisions. suppose n0one, at this
day. doubts the wisdom Of the policy
thus inauguratcd by the government
toward the persons engaged in tine late
rebellion. tGtl
It's tendency was to melt away the
rebel army, and thereby deinoralize the
Saulhrrn people. Time has vinaicated
it's wisdom. and thousands have availed
themselves OF the liberal fffNyfsions Of
the proclamation. 1t haA.raceiyed the
sanction of the country ard Vas esteem
ed and held as much thf law of the
land, as any act upon the ttatnte book.
lis provisions were eXeehfed in good
faithby President Lincolnsfrom the date
of its issue until his death which was
some time after the war was regarded by
every loyal man as virtually at an end
President Johnson upoIrhis accession
to power, seems to have adbpted the wise
and liberal policy of his Predecessor.-
Upon the 29th day of Nay 1865, he
issned bis ProclamationAof Amnesty,
which granted pardon to all persons who
were not enumerated in the exceptions
therein specified In addition to this,
Gen. Grant paroled the arny of Gen. Lee,
with the assent of the President, and re
ouired them to return TO their homes,
there to remain uninOlested so long as
they observed the conditions of their
parole 1t will he observed that the pol
lev of the Government, for the last two
wears, has been to induce rebellious su...
its tareturn 10 their allegiance anl hn 20 :,
and submit to its authority. As Il mat
ter of course, whoever complied with the
wishes of the Government WI entitled
Ia its protection. Submission - its a'i-
ihority on the one hand re4"ised it's pro
lection on the other. SnbmissiOn and
protection we're correspoulingdnties. 1t
mnst be apparent, then, to all good citi-
zcns. that it is their duty to aid the Gov
ernment in executing the wise and liber-
al policy iuaugurated by it towards q
misguided and erring people.
Instead of attempting to drive them
from their homes, by threats of intimida-
ton, the good citizen should discounte-
nance such lawless spirit, and set the
seal of his condemnation upon such q
course of conduct. If such course is
inaugurated, and pursued, it will embai'
rass the Government, create contention
and strife, and be productive of the most
unfortunate results The Presidents
have said by their proclamations, that
this Government is in substance admins
tered in the light of an enlightened chris
tian policy. in perfect harmony with the
civilization of the age, Who can Doubt
for moment that this great Government
to-day proudcr and mors powerful in the
rank of nations than any other upon the
face of the the globe, can and shonld be
magnanimous. Then let every law-abid'
ing citizen aid the Government in restor.
ing peace and harmony throughout onr
country. Let the returned rebel occupy
the place assigned 10 lin By the law
Let the law have its cssarse Ifhe has a
pardon, respect it, for itis the law: 1fihe
is fettered by the Law, it is charity to