New-York daily tribune., 1866-02-22
ALL ON ONE SIDE.

We believe in magnanimity, lcnity, and the
utmost generosity to defeated conspiratorS and
rebels. We showed this when it cost something
to do so-when each ayowal of our convictions
as to what was the true National policy cost US
at least thousand subscribers. Others may
now outstrip us on this tack-ii can be done
with perfect impunity-but when there was i'm
minert danger that the National ax would fall
on thc neck of the PROSTATE and helpless South
when the daily uttcranccs of President John
son were no, rapturously hailed in The Daily
Nars and The Richmond Enquirer-we proved
our devotion TO a merciiul policy at some per-
sonal sacrifice
We believe in magnanimity now as then.
We want the Southern States restored to their
old position in the Union at the earliest day
thi, week-n0w. We want nobody killed, nor
beggared, nor even disfranchised, merely be-
cause he has been bitter, impacable Rebel.
We are more than willing to let bygones be by
goncs--to forget that there has ever been
cyi war; and that any Americans ever wished
TO divide and destroy their country.
We can surrender to National restoration and
fraternity everything but Good Faith. We can
regard and treat the Rebels "a our countrymen,
provided they will regard and treat the stead
fast loyalists in Ike manner We stand ready
and eager to forgive them for having been
Rebels if they will forgive Three or -Four Nil
lions OF UnionisIs for having been born Black
Was ever the Ike spectacle presented in any
other country just recovering from the shock of
Civil War We, who won a complete victory
in sustaining the Government against the Rebel
lion say, Let the laws regard and treat us all
alike-Rcbcls, Coppcrheads, Unionsts-wc ask
only that we who won shall be equal in the
Laws eye to you who were beaten" But this
the Rebels refuse, insisting on restoration "
which shall place Three or -Four Millions of us
completely at their mercy. We cannot be
guilty Of such perfdy
We hear on every corner men saying, The
negroes did very little for the Union;' "Thcy
did more for the Rebellion than against it."
They who say this are seeking to excuse base
ness by falsehood. There was never an hour
of the struggle wherein the sympathies Of the
Blacks as a class were not instnctiyely, heartily,
on the side Of the Union; and their devotion to
the National cause grew stronger and stronger
to the last. The scuryicst neTo-hating Demo
crat whom high bountcs tempted TO en-
list in the Union armies, if at any time
an escaped prisoner or scout within the
lines OF the Rebel armies, was very care
L.. e 81 & l. e..
he did not know, and to cast himself without
reserve or fear Oh the good will OF any negro,
no matter how ignorant, stupid or cowardly-
He might not he helped where the risk seemed
too great; but he was never willfully betrayed.
No negro ever undertook to he bis Moses and
led him into the clutches of his deadly foes.
Our adyefsaries say, The Southern people
ought to be represented III Congress" hes,
we respond; certainly-soon--at once. But
YOU mean that part of those people should be
represented and should represent also the rest;
but You deny to these any representation what
ever-nay, YOU insist that they shall be fla
grantly misrepresented. You say NO Taxa
ton without Rcprcscntation"- and when we
/ close WIN NO0, anu oUcI I'D S'LLIc dIi our Tc-
naming differences on that platform, You draw
back at once, and insist that only that
class Of Southerners who were prepondcrantly
Rebel shall have any voice in choosing the
representatives of their respective States. A
clear majority Of the people Of several OF those
States were always for the Union: you insist
that these shall not vote, but that the Rebels
shall vote for them. If they were our onn rights
that You asked Ms 20 surrender We might com.
lply, mourning no harsher imputation than that
Of weakness; but when you ash us to surrender
the right of our humble allies in the hate des-
perate struggle, you ask us to ageravate perfidy
by ingratitude.
Il There are some who say, "Let us treat the
South with generous confidence" Certainly;
but not at the expense Of honor and good faith.
!, Ii you were intrustcd by friend with his
money, and he should ask you for it, you
could not expect him to be satisfied with the
}, answer, 81 gave it to your enemy, in order 70