The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-12-05
Universal Amnesty and Jener.
4 .,l fo5p5 SON Davis. sls

v
To Andrew johnson, President Of the United
StateS hsd of Haal 5G 7at.s.i
Ga Inthe name of moro than two thirds Of
the peopleof the North, and the whole
population of tho Soath sRe entreat you
to issue a general and universal amnesty
TO all classes who were engaged in the late
ilamentable and disastroussivil war. The
time has arrived for your fame aud credit
to issue supplementary proclamation to
your former one, that shall include all
those who we're especially excluded from
its provisions. You have already won the
gratitude of those in whose name We speak
by your noble efforts to restore peace and
concord to the States. But one thing is
needed to consummate all that you have
previously done, and that is to at once
issue the proclamation to which we have
alluded. Why should it longer be delay
ed? What public interest can be sub
served in withholding it? Why shall
you longer continue to be the jailor of
Jefferson Davis, which the world rightly
considers you2 Why shall he be dc,
prived Of bis liberty, while others equally
prominent have received your pardon p
Honor and justice demand that the door
of his prison should at once be unlocked,
and the prosecution, which was made up
of perjury and forgery, be abandoned,
We invoke you to hesitate no longer to
act, Rise to the dignity Of the occasion,
to your native sense Of justice and your
convictions Of what the exigeucies Of the
country require. Many prominent men
Of tho Radical party, like Horace Greeley
and Gerrit Smith, have, with wise mag
nanimity, repeatedly asked what VIC now
desire, Will you do it, or will you dc.
cline, and leave to another to wear the
laurols that fortune has generously tender
ed you? 1t is seldom, in the lapse Of
centuries, that SO great an opportunity is
presented by Providence to mortal man
to transmit his name and fame, with dis.
tinguisbed honor, to posterity. You eau
now, Mr.. President, by this act break
down the last barrier which exists be
tween the lately discordant sections, and
cause the ehearts of millions of those who
have been alienated from the Govern
ment to swell with joy and gratitude fol
this last browning act in consigning al
past differences to generous oblivion
From the cowardly and bloody minded
Radicals ycu lave nothing to expect bu
Misrepresentation and persecution, VIC
lence and insult. They hate you this day
far worse than they do Jefferson Davis
and, as much as they clamored for hi
blood, they Intimately prefer yours upor
the scaffold. They give you no crtdi
for not performing this great act of jus
tice ION the contrary, they attribute it t,
the least creditable Of motives.
| By longer delay you ALLEVIATE you
friends and compromise your dignity
without in the least gaining the good wi
and esteem Of your enemies. We invit
you to act upon the wise council whic
you have lately given, through Mr.. Sew
ard, to foreign Government, in rtlatio
to men who were convicted Of politicu
offenso in Canada. The power you pos
sess to grant this boon may not long abid
with you; so act at once in such mar
ner as to meet the appreciation Of the O.,
ilized world. IF you neglect TO do 81
and allow this great opportunity to pas
your conscience will ever reproach 20
for committing 20 elaring and an uniortl
nate error, il, indeed, it can be spoken {
by SO mild designation Enquirer.