New-York tribune., 1867-05-23
lew rnnsN rnNsENra GrrrlrNnL

GENTLEMEN ] WA favored, on the 10th inst,
by an official note from our ver-cOuitcous
President. John Jay, notifying me that a
reouisition had been presented TO him for "a
" snccial meeting Of Che Club. at an carly day.
! "for the purpose OF taking into consideration
"the conduct of Horace Greeley. member Of
"tbe Club. who has become a bOndsman for
"Jcffcrson DAVIS. late chief officer of the Rebel
" Government" Mr. Jay continues:
as have reason to 1eyS bell has The Sgner a or so@S
o. Sm S & 81 r 10 Clearly dne boh oGS o hc
Club and 70 yourself that you should have the oppor-
ask on what evening viii be convenient for you that
call the meeting" &c. &c.
In my prompt reply, | requested The Presi-
dent 10 give you reasonable time for reflection.
hut assured him that / wanted nome since l
should not attend the meeting, nor ask any
friend to do so. and should make no defense.
nor offer aught in the way of standardization.
| am sure my friends in the Club will not
construc this as implying disrcspect but ii Is
not NY habit to take part i'll any discussions
which may arise among other gentlemen as to
my fitness to enjoy their society. That is their
affair altogether, and TO them leave it.
The single point whcrcon have any occasion
or wish to address you is your virtual imphca-
ton that there is something novel. unexpected,
astounding in my conduct in the matter sug-
gested 10y YOU as the basis of your action
choose not TO rest under this assumption. but
To prove that you, being persons OF ordinary
intelligence must know better. On tins point,
| cite YOU TO a scrutiny of the record:
The surrender of Gen. Lee was made known
in this City at II p. m. of Sunday, April 9th,
1866. and fitly announced in THE TRIBUNE Of
In hat dam
| wrote, and next morning printed in these
columns, leader entitled " Magnanlmlty IN
Triumph" wherein | said;
owe hear men say - Yes forgive the great OF
those who been msed into rebellion, but punish
the leaders ~ they deserve But who can accurately
draw tho liuc between leaders and followers III the prem
isosl by what test shall they be discriminated!
Where is your touchstone OF leadership We know oil
Nor can we agree with those who would punish the
original ploters of Secession yet spare Their uitmae %
ana scaTGGy WHINE w. uaamc resentment against none Of
them. feel far less antpathy 10 the oiIgna P
aud McDunic-to the Nulhers of 1882, and The state
Rights men Of is5O-than TO the John Bells, Humphrey
i'm thc National faith and whO In becoming Dsunioniss
and Rebels tamped on the professions OF lifetime
answeraby demonstrated that Secession treason
We consider jefferson Dayls this day less cui-
pallc traitor than John Bell -
But cannot believe il Wise or well to take the ie
OF any who shall have submitted TO the I NnPla, m
fct personal stigma by every one who had ever
am as cupabc he; differ only In that am deemed
OF comparatively little consequence single tpnIeder-
ate led out 10 execution would be enshrined IN
a million hearts as n conspicuous hero and martyr We
cannot realize that would DE wholesome or safe--we
powered disloyaity Of the South such shrine. Would
the throne of the House of Hanover stand more hmg
had Charles Edward been caught and executed AFTER
Cuodcnl Il Austrian domination III hungary nYIe 3,
stable today for the hanging Of Macy Sander ana his
twelve compatlios after the surrender oi NilagoSi
1--WE plead against passions certain 10 DC at ms mo
mcnt fierce and ntolcrant but on our side are the Ages
aud the voice Of History We plead OF tne
Uuinn, against n policy which would anord moneplauy
scaion at tile cost of years of perons hate and bit
Those who invoke Military execution for the van.
generally bc found among the few who have long been
exposed TO unjust odlun as Htcrs oi tne aon,n,
and degraded Backs-so lately the slaves destined .ili
fclowc,izes OF the Southern whes-we are sure that
their voice could 1t he anhencay uttered would ring
decidedly, sonorousy on the side of ClemeheS
| Humanity"
| On the next day, | had some more in this
spirit, and on the 18th an elaborate leader, en-
titled Peace-Punishmcnt in the course of
which | said
"Re NerIot Times, doing injustice TO its own ,; sa;
rest = We do not IN The advice. Davis did
rot devise nor nstigate the Rebellion: the contrary,
Of the latest and most reluctant Of The noa-
bcs Of The Cotton states To Tenomnce deiniiyey the
Union. His prominence is purely Official ana representa-
live the only for hanging hu is that you therein
condemn and stigmdZc more persons IMAM IN hanging
any else There j. not an Rebel in the wo1d-no
matter how penitcutwhO will not have unpleasant sen
sations about the neck the day when the Confederate
President j., TO DE hung. Aud to what good end
I'VE insist that this matter must not be regarded IN
any narrow aspect We are most anxious 10 secure the
assent OF the South 10 Emancipation; not that assent
which tine condemned gives 10 being hung when he
OF hndness but that hearty assent which can only he
won by magnanimty Perhaps the Rebels as a Dc,lS,
would have given, even year ago. rs large and AS
hearty for hanging the writer of s article as any
/ tO
Labor IS OF higher ana humahSr tYke than tht based
enre friends from the hanging OF man,
ton
On the following day, wrote again:
I'VE entreat the President promptly todo aud dare
IN the cause of magnannity The southern mihd MS rs
afected by generosity Lst assurance be aySh
,ha, sents he il % BE- % e s S Scins
OF wisdom. because II is also the dictate o. mercy what
la he Pre'9sR, Hy N seGt M sayssy sG yyoah SSH
and the South unite TO bury the carcass ana then clasp
hands Across tho grave"
The evening of that day witnessed that
most appalling calamity, the murder of Presi-
dent Lincoln, which seemed in M instant TO
curdle all the milk of human kindness in
Twenty Millions OF American breasts. At once,
insidious cAorts were set on foot TO tuin the
fury thus engendcred against me, because OF
my pertinacious adv 0caey of mercy TO the van
quishcd CHANGING To enter the clubhouse the
next Saturday evening, ] received full
broadside of your scowls, eve We listened TO q
elGicl larangue intended TO prove that Mr.
Lincoln had been Providentially removed be-
cause Of his notorious leanings toward clemeney,
in order to make way for SUCCESSOR who
would give the Rebels full measure of stern
jastice. ypnd9sp QHi Haias y ssRpsslsHa l : Slst
had no sympatbHels-or none Nh0 daref