The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-04

he plays this card boldly and sl1ilfully he may
turn Il in his favor At all events reason,
sound policy, humanity, and the good Oh tne
country call upon him to do so, whateVeI may may
he the oopsecuences for the time to himself
personally. We venture to say that nlne-
taptbs of the people of the loyal States-aLl, IN
fact but a few rabid radicals-would approve
of broad and liberal declaration OF amnesty,
embracing all Rebels, except an Insignificant
number who have been guilty of other crimes
in addition to that of rebellion. He
has nothing to fear except the hostility of
Congress- and we think he need not fear that.
few ultra radicals might buster about i'm
peachment, but the dominant party is already
divided on the question, and it would not dare
to defy public sentiment. Several Of the lead
ers of that party have been urging all along
universal amnesty. The principal organ of
the radicals in this city was, until lately, in
cessantly demanding it. Greeley had amnesty
on the brain, and went so far as to go bail for
jeff. Davis, the greatest and worst Rebel of all.
He has turned round, it is true, since he sees
this would be a master stroke of policy on the
part of Mr.. Johnson. He is for universal am
nesty, if the radical party would proclaim it,
but not if the President or any other party
should give it, because he sees it would be
popular act.
Had the lamented Lincoln lived he would
have proclaimed an amnesty long ago. No
one who knew his views and feelings can
doubt this. The unfortunate conflict between
Congress and Mr.. Johnson has delayed this
wise measure. Instead of the Rebellion being
closed up, and the harmony of the country
restored, political and personal antagonism
between the members of different branches of
the Government has drawn us into danger
and revolution. We are threatened with
negro government. For the sake of political
ascendancy, and not out of regard for the
emancipated slaves, the negro is to be made
the balance of power. The whites of the
South are disfranohised, and everywhere
throughout that important and most valuable
section of the republic the negro is in the
ascendant. The consequences of such a
state of things are frightful to contem-
plate. We are to have negro members of Con-
gross, and, as some radicals say, a negro
Vice-President. Yes, it is possible that within
a few years we may have negro in the seat
once filed by Washington. Looking at the
rate the political revolution has been going
on the last two years, we should not be sur
prised to see a negro elected Vice President,
and, in the event of the President dying he
would become President. What a spectacle
for the people of this great country to con-
template This mighty republic to become
Africanized Whether the negro should reach
that eminence or not at present, he will still
hold the balance of power and, as a cOnse-
QueuCe, virtually govern Ine country. VINO
can look at this mass of ignorance-at the
millions of poor creatures who hardly know
their right hand from their left-being placed
in position to govern this proud republic,
without sIuddering at the consequences
Yet this is what we are fast approaching
under the reconstruction policy of Congress
and the military relationships at the South
At such crisis it is the duty of the Presi-
dent to do all he can, constitutionally and
legally, to neutralize this growing negro power.
! Let him give as much proven as he can to the
white people of the South to hold in check
the mass OF negro ignorance which threatens
to involve the country in disgrace and trouble.
He has been deprived of some of his power,
but he can still bring up numerous body
of intelligent white citizens, as a balance
against negro ignorance, by an amnesty pro-
clamatiOn, and by liberal administration OF
the Reconstruction acts OF Congress. Amnesty
should have been declared long ago. There
| has been nothing in the conduct of the South
erners to prevent it. On the whole they have
been peaceable and submissive. But it may
not be too late now. There are, however,
higher reasons for an amnesty proclamation
than those relating to the people of the South
Those we have noticed. The North, the whole
country, patriotism and the future of this
grand republic, demand that we shall not be
placed under a negro government. Let moi
the President hesitate, but issue the amnesty
proclamation at once. 1t will be an importan
flank movement upon the crazy and destructive
radicals, and the people will sustain him in th'
act.