The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-09-10
The Presidents Amnesty PrOclamation-TO
Resign His Only Effective Move.

Resign His Only Effective Move.
The President has issued proclamation ex-
| tending amnesty for offences against the gov
| eminent so widely that the persons left in the
class Of delinquents amenable to the laws may
almost be numbered on the fingers. Thus a
very humane progress will have been made in
the settlement Of one division of the trouble
left by the war, if it shall finally be held that
this proclamation is legally good. Not to
enter, however, into a discussion of the nature
of the pardoning power, or an examination Of
pardon by proclamation, we will only hint
here the probability that this proclamation
will be practically imperative that go many
distinctions will be made and so many points
raised that the amnesty given will be without
| effect. This movement in the political game,
therefore, might as we'll not have been made.
MIR. johnson cannot make any capital for his
case before the people in this way.
| There is one way, however, in which he can
reach and move the public mind. One course
| is left open that may not only retrieve his
| character and save his name in the history of
| the remarkable events Of this period, bat that
may give him present victory over his oppo-
| nents This is his resignation and retirement
| from Office II may seem silly-absurd, even
to counsel him to such step; but it is more
! likely to seem so to the small reasoners
| Of party clques than to those whose
thoughts take wider range. If Mr..
johnson will rise above the political acct.
dents and excitements that now follow
their daily round in his life, he has the mind
to understand that this act would be piece
of deep political sagacity and manly dignity,
as far as it touched his own personality, and
piece of civic heroism as it might affect the
| position of the Southern States. Suppose even
| that he became sacr6ce--what then? Can
he hope to do anything nobler in Office, though
| he remained century, than he would in going
| out with the fame Of another Curiius closing
| up with his person the gulf that endangered
| the State? Who cannot see that the stern
father Virginius, though he lost some years of
| forever in the fame Of great act done in the
cause of virtue? And did not Regulus, thinking
| more Of his country than Of his own ease or
| pleasure, and counsellng against the course
that would have set him free, provide infinitely
better for his own honor than he would have
| done by needing the small advice of friends
who could not see beyond the morrow?
1t is no exaggeration Of the case to illustrate
| ii with such names and such instances Of great
conduct 1t is case that some elevation of
thought in the right place may lift from the
vulgar atmosphere Of political squabble. Mr..
johnson, as the case stands is the soapegoat Of
the coalition that would ruin the country. His
blunders have furnished an easy cry against
him to dangerous party, and be is made to
seem the obstacle to the pacl6cation Of the
South. He thus shields them; for the clamor
raised against him diverts public attention
from the real evil Of the hour. BY retiring
from Office and giving the radical game full
sway he would show that he was not the real
obstruction, and would put the responsibility
for the countrys danger where It belongs. By
thus showing who are the real enemies Of peace
he would do all that lies in bis power to save
the country, and so far from sacrificing himself
in the matter, he would gain higher position
| in the eyes Of the people than he can otherwise
ever hope for.