Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-13

yArlous forms, have not been carried into
effect What have been all tho reasons
and causes, we may be unable to sec or to
say. He may have grounds to justify
inaoiion Of which we are not aware And
so when all the facts become patent 70
us, it may be that we shall see no sufii-
cient reason to condemn him.
But certain il is that the legislation OF
Congress has been and is disastrous, and
Indignantly oppressive toward these
States, and that there is no limit to
reasonable conjecture as TO what further
iniquity may be perpotrsted by that body.
II left to the tender mercies of Congress
it is improbable there will be any return
to condition Of ordinary prosperity in
the Southern States for twenty years
more. Even war Of races itself may
result. And ii there is ray of hope,
under God, for the Southern people, it
seems to center in him. May we not
hope he will now come forward in the
exercise of his unquestionable preroga
tive of pardon, and exert whatever au-
thority he possesses for the redemption
of the South from unconstitutional
thraldom, and the Republican party Of
the North from the crime of becoming
the murderers ofAmerican Liberty
The Louisville Courier concludes an
able and well considered article on this
important subject as follows;
Presinent Johnson has constantly, and
in many ways, indicated that he totally
dissents from this iniquitous and fatal
policy, and on that very account he has
been shorn Of much Of the authority le-
belonging TO the Executive.
Sill, however, he can do much to defeat
the plans of the Radical leaders 1t
strikes us that if he would, even at this
late day, issue proclamation granting
universal amnesty to all engaged, in any |
wise, in the rebellion. he would thereby |
strike blow at Radicaism from which |
it could never recover. The Chief Magis-
trate of the nation unquestionably has |
the power to pardon every ofense against
the Government; and such pardon would
have the effect of removing all disabili-
ties, present aud prospective No court, |
not purely partisan and utterly corrupt,
would ever decide that confiscation act
could apply to one against whose name
10 offense stands charged. No plausible
pretext could be found for excluding from
he ballot citizen not even charged with
any supposed crime
We marvel that such amnesty has not
been granted long since Few govern
nents, under like circumstances, have
waited so long before doing a thing alike
dictated by humanity and sound policy.
Let us hope that Mr.. Johnson will not
-urther neglect so important duty. If
ne would confer an untold benefit upon
he nation, before Congress meets again
ne will extract the fangs from the Rad
cal serpent that would sting the nation
o its death. He must by this time be
satisfied that nothing he can do will
make his position worse SO far as the
Radicals are concerned. And however
much he differed with the great majority
If the Southern people in the late war,
10 one knows better than he that they
ire inspired by love of liberty, aud
rue patriotism, as far above the princi-
lies Of the Radicals as the heavens are
Ibove the earth. In the great struggle
or constitutional liberty, if President
Johnson is true to his country, he will !
ecure IS many and powerful auxiliaries
IS possible.