Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-15
rmE PREsInENT,s nTrY
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.


A PROCLAMATION OF UNIVERSAL AMNESTY
In the name of the Democratic consery-
alive masses of this country we call upon
President johnson to issue forthwith a
universal amnesty TO all men who we're en-
gagged in our late revolutionary troubles.
II ought to have been done long ago. 1t
has been long required by the necessities
and exigencies of the country. 1t lsneeded
as a healing measure of paciicati0n. 1t is
required by the interests ofhumanity. To
issue it would be the highest chaplet in the
laurel wreath Of the Administration. 1t
would be wreath which no subsequent inn
parchment or removal from office could in
the least tarnish or deface. Its a measure
demanded by the people. We have no
doubt that large portion of the Radicals
even would be exceedingly rejoiced if it
we're done The bIOod-thirsty spirit which
at one time treated eight millions of Amer
lean people, composing eleven sovereign
States, az criminals and maleiactOrs-
which called for their execution upon the
scaffold-has moderated in a great degree.
But still it is cherished by some malignant
politicians and infatuated demagogues who
are In power, who seek to gIatify their
cowardly vengeance in the blood Of such
victims as may be in their power. Presi-
dent johnson ought to have had by this
time an expression of the temper and char
acter Of these men, and, as far as may lie IN
his power, to put objects of persecution and
hate beyond their reach. We have men
who are still laboring with fiendish arts TO
open anew the bloody sores of the wounds
,-b;cb N s,5oidol conflict hoo pdiotad unnp
both sections of the country.
The re-erection of the scaff0ld, "a the es
Enlistment of a reign of terror over the
hapless South, would be one of their IA
vorite schemes. President johnson, al
though imperfectly, and against great OBJ,
stacles, has labored to restore peace and
concord to the Union. His policy has
been in the main thwarted and defeated.
But he can do much yet that will give him
a glorious name and fame, by issuing a
proclamation of universal amnesty. The
war has now been over three years. The
passions it engendered have, or ought TO
have, come to an end. Its preiudiCes have
had time to snbside. The mass of the
Southern people have already been par
dOned Those still marked out for pro-
scriPtion are not more guilty than those
who have already partaken of the favor of
the government The discrimination
against the remaining few is unjust, I'M
wise and invidious in the highest degree.
We entreat President johnson to no
longer hesitate. Let him pa. his signature
to those words which announce universal
amnesty to all, " and he will, if put out of
the Presidential office, be followed into re-
tirement by the sympathies of every lover
of Justice and humanity; and even the pen
which is his instrument in 80 doing, will
be preserved as one Of the best historical
relics in this country. We beg Mr. John
son to rise to the height Of the occasion,
and no longer hesitate to declare that the
reign of prescription for political opinion
has ceased, and that the Presidents pardon
shall separate the oppressOr from his con-
templated victim.