New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-09-03
-BBRCMRR-wIsR AND
OTHRRWIsR.

We have been most anxious that, in the settlement
of our great National difference, the North should
deal generously with the South. Only let Slavery be
utterly snnihatod-roo,, branch and suckers-and
no cost could be too great to insure perfect recon-
element Of those so lately divided by the maddcning
strife Of Civil War. We lsbored and dsred-not once
only but perssteuty-to have that strife ended by
negotiation or treaty which should deue the rights Of
all parties and preclude the possibility of conscations
and executions for treason. Indeed, we should
have much preferred that the last billion Of
dollars that tho war cost should have been
expended in rebuilding and rcplenishng the homes Of
tho South rather than in continuing their devastation
So when at last the Rebellion had utterly collapsed and
fallen into absolute ru a. first thought was TO save
those engaged in II from further iD1ictons, our first
utterance a plea that they should be treated with
magnanimty. At the moment when the assassination
of President Lincoln Lad Infatuated the loyal Millions
so that their cara temporarily deaf TO the plead.
ings of mercy, when Andrew johnson, The Herald,
The Times and other Johnsonian oracles, were de-
claring that Treason must be made odious' By ven
geance and bloodshed. we did our utmost TO calm
the popular fAy which they were 80 needlsssly
aggrayatng and pleaded for Cancellation and peace.
Thousands Of subscribers left us, therefore, never to
return; hundreds OF greved but forbearing friends
wrote us that we were defying public sentiment-as
if we did not know the fact or if that fact might in
Guenee our course. Even down TO very late day,
the fact That we seeking to have Jefferson Davis
either promptly and fairly tried according to the laws Of
the land or liberated with his fellow insurgents, has
been used by The Times and its echoes to excite
against us the btterest prejudice throughout the loyal
States.
But there is Just one test Of magnsnimity that We
cannot abide, and that is the surrender OF the Black
Unionists TO the uncontrolled domination Of their
White enemies We cannot, even for magnsnimity's
sake be fahless and ungrstsfnl. The Four Millions
Of Southern Blacks were called TO her defense by the
Nation in her hour Of mortal peril. They were
promised their freedom in oase of her triumph and
our honor is pledged to the complete fulflmsnt Of
that pledge Whatever of sacrifice pecuniary other
wise, may be required the Blacks must be free ~ We
ore, with Ike guarantees that their liberty no snare
and no accident. The promise given in the agony Of
impending National dissolution must be kept in the
full sunshine of National deliveranoe and prosperity
Two hundred Thousand Blacks who enlisted to light
for the Union Of whom Twenty eight Thousand died IN
her service cannot, in full view OF Memphis and New
Orleans be left to such treatment as those they en-
listed to put down shall see 6t to aceotd them, With
out the blacklist perfdy and ingratitude. Tho mag,
nanimity Of guardian who should make present on
his wards estate to MISTRESS trusting that she would
deal generously by the rightful owner, must not Dc
initiated by our rescued country.
The trio Of Generals who invite Mr. Beecher TO pray
at Cleveland for the success Of Johnsons treat ibis
matter with most eloquent silence Knowing how
thoroughly thor ohapains honor end fame are bound
up In the National recognition Of the manhood oil the
Blacks they do not even venture to assure him tha
II such rare bird as Johnsonzed Black Union sol
der could be found, be should be made welcome at
their Cleveland Convention. They talk OF the
rights Of sll sections but have never word to oher
for the rights Of allmen. They commend "a generous
and magnanimous policy toward the people oil the
South but they manlfestly fail to recognize -Four
Millions Of those people as people at all They want
the Union reconstructed on basis OF :" Christian
brotherhOOd;" but they plainly fan to recognize
Blacks as included in that brotherhood OF
entitled to any rights bat such as the
ebsls, at once e1aspersted and chagrined by their
overwhelming defeat, see g. to bestow on them. The
Generals do not recognize even tho overthrow OF
Slavery. On MI Beschsr Is thus imposed task
harder than there was any need Of. They might and
should haze Offered him sQps excssA some pi|lston.