The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-06-28
Some Signs Of the Times.

Gen. Lee executed, who had surrendered
by military capitulatiOn. 10 was very
doubtful whether such thing ought 10 Dee
be done. The last number Of that paper
glorifes Mr.. Seward As having been the
chronometer-never too fast nor too slow
I'm President Lincoln's cabinet: and thinks
he will be equally reliable in that Of Presi-
dent johnson. lie is now for 'Dl0gnan-
fnu.ty" 10 the fallen foe, although De was
for vigorous prosecution Of the war
when war vas unpopular. The JD"r"0i
also informs Us that Gust now the negro
suffrage question il entirely rampant
Senator Sherman says IL Is subject With
In the war-pOwers OF the President Pub
lie sentiment is blowing q gale ia that d'-
rection now. President Johnson, Secreta
~ Seward, AcCullOch and Welies slacken
sail and counsel circumspectiou. Tie men
who advised the utmost yigOr in war rec
ommend the utmost moderation in peace.
Public sentiment has not get adjusted IL
Sc If to their gait.
The Journal praises Seward a. being
even in bis course, while public opinion has
whisked before and behind him dozen
times: but he stands like the Oak 80 tnat
public opinion cannot overtum hial We
are also told thar statesmen are generally
tied TO fixed rules public sentiment rhs
BY impulse. Statesmen are generally
thoughtful: public sentiment doesn't ihink
at all. Statesmen generally think OF reac-
tons OF excitements: public sentiment
doesn't. II therefore follows that the see
ond sober thought which Van Buren, refer
red to is the one 10 be depended on.
2 The New York Tunes. which is sup
posed 10 be in some sort All exponent oi
the administration, is feeling It's way to-
wards an opposition 10 the execution OF
any Of the traitors. Concerning Davis, it
says: MANY writer's upon this subject as
snme that Davis cannot have been guilty of
treason, because he believed in State sove-
regnty and in the right Of secession. II
does not dispute this position. buf says:
Possibly this might save him from the
moral guilt OF treason, but IL cannot alter
or in the least affect the legal character Of
his conduct"
Surely man morally innocent is ht
subject for executive clemency. and the
Times goes Oh to prepare the public mind
for something Of the sort: There are
many, it must not be concealed who urge
that his execution would have a very bad
effect upon the public mind, and that.
therefore, however just it might be- good
policy forbids it. They urge that it would
make him in the eyes Of the Southern peo-
pie, and Of the whole world, martyr To-
his principles il is always danger
Gus thing to DO, DO matter what the princ-
pies thus attested are-that il would give
the rebellion name which would perpetu-
ate and to some extent sanctify It's memory
through all coming time"
Under the head OF Excellent Examples,
it praises the action Of Lee and Stephens
In applying for pardon: says their applca-
ton will command consideration: saws
"Lee has retained u strong hold on North
ern reglrd" "a sort OF ds.dsd postf.on".
and concludes that these great leaders OF
the exploded Confederacy Will be met in a
spirit generous toward the men who ask.
and honorable to the man who Is 10 de
eide"
In discussing Lees parole. the Times in
terposes in his favor the following piece Of
twadde:
"The question naturally suggests itself
In determining what construction shall be-
placed on Lees parole. what force le sup
posed il TO have, and how long. or 10 what
extent he understood il 10 he binding. II
there is any means Of getting at this it il
safe TO say that il is worthy of attention
For II We have obtained his surrender. Ow-
ing 10 his having understood the terms in a
certain sense, sooner than we should have
done had he understood them differently.
and his construction of the terms is one
which. though not ours, may be fairly pat
upon them, and which. there is a good rea-
son TO believe, he did put on them when he
laid down his arms, this Is consideration
which it will be impossible with any regard
TO our own reputation 10 disregard. What
ever Lee may be, and however little indul-
gence he may deserve NJ our hands. We
owe II 10 ourselves not even 10 seem To
break faith with him. The question. there
fore, did he understand when he accented
Grants terms. that they amounted 10 an
amnesty, Is worthy Of attention: and peg
haps the best way OF answering it Is 10 find
out what Grant thought himself Irhewas
Of opinion that the conditions he offered
Lee and his officers and men did not pro-
tect them against prosecutions for treason
after the war was over, Lee ma, Dee fairly
bound by his decision
3. The Petersburg, Va NetrS berates judge
Underwood, whom it traces ont TO have
been an itinerant schoOl-maSter for his Of
fetal action as Judge in the matter of the
indictment Of Gen. Lee We subioin the
following from the Ns,rS ~ a specimen Of
the loyalty" which obtains in virginia
Just now
The first official function Of "A public na-
ture which be discharges. Gu the return of
peace, Is to launch against a citizen of this
State, the latchets Of whose shoes he is un-
worthy TO loose, proclamation which. for
violence, olasphemy, and untounded aSper-
sion OF brave and chivalrous people. be.e-
gars imagery and defes COMPARISON y,
sooner had this charge been issued than lis
object was unfOlded in the summopino of u
cloud OF witnesses before the grand inrv ia
order 10 base on their evidence an indicf-
ment against Gen. Lee Gen. Grant conll
AFFORD not only 10 pardon Gen. Lee. but In
exhaust the etiquette of conventional r.
spect IN all his intercourse with him. The
Army Of the Potomac could dofr their hats
with the involuntary homage OF the soldier
70 genius, courage and chivalry. as tile OH
leader OF the Army Of Northern Vlr.rini,
passed Their lines after his surrender The
Northern visitors could vie with The rp.i-
dents ana natives of Richmond i'm payin..
MN the most touching marks Of res,ss,,
as he wended his way to his home tbran.,i,
the streets OF our capital. The sfai,r9r.
heroes Of Sherman could break ONT atr
cheers, not OF insult. but of appreciate.
as they passed his door in their triumnt.,i
march The government nj WASHINGTON
which has thought proper TO arrest Cover
nors and ex-GOvernOrs. commissioners and
congressman, bureau chiefs and blockade
runners, presidents and preachers. ha, NOT
iaid the weight Of a finger. or & threat an
me man to whom Gen. Grant has giyen his
soluler-Word for safeguard. No. the toni
f..rth ~.