The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-12-29
A General Amnesty.

I A General Amnestys
Our views on this subject are SO well
known and understood by the readers of the
STANDARD that we deem re-iteration of
them entirely unnecessary. What we have
heretofore said, we stand by.
But, while we are liberal-while we have
avowed our purpose to forget the past, and
labor for the future welfare of the whole
country, we cannot quietly listen to the
murmurs and Misrepresentation of the
| Democratic" press against a government
| which has exercised mercy towards the
leading spirits in the late rebellion to a de-
| gree that challenges the admiration Of the.
whole civilized world.
With grace, ill-conceived, and lack of
gratitude that would look bad even among
the savage, some of the leading organs of
the Democracy" twits the National Au-
thoriti ss with the example O set this coun
try by the French Emperor, in his course
towards Rochefort. Rochefort, Says this
Democratic" expounder of mercy0 who has
done his utmost to bring the imperial rule
into disrepute and disgrace, has, now par
doned all his offences and is allowed safe
conduct to Paris where he receives popular
ovations anel is nominal ted for the Corps
Legislatiff 1t thinks Rochefort must be
bad type of humanity if he does not feel
some sentiment of gratitude" tor such
remarkable exhibition of clemency. The
editor proceeds at length to contrast the
generous conduct of N apoleon with the al
legged severity OF our own Government to-
ward the States lately i'm rebellion.
We should be surprised if Rochefort felt
otherwise than gratcful-we expect he feels
very much so-and ives should be pleased to
know that such fe' cling prevailed in the
South. 1t does not Look at Georgia-do
you find any gratitude down there Has
she not hurled defiance ir the teeth of the
Government Do not our telegraphic dis
patches of yesterday noon foreshadow
terrible state of thing s in Georgia Are we
not told that the PR ,clamation of Governor
Bullock will fail to call quorum of the
Legislature togetb' n in Atlanta Have we
not seen published cards from members of
this same LegisI AZURE, declaring that they
would never ce nsent to ratify the fifteenth
anne ndment, an that the colored members
elect should never be allowed to take their
seat )?
These are manifestations of gratitude for
the forgiving spirit of the Government to,
war is the South, after her attempt to tear
dow n the Union and from its ruins establish |
a or cat Southern slaveocracy. We say the
cheeks of SOM of the Democracy
are incapable of blushing-they know moth.
ing of gratitude, and care less for the great
wrongs which they have perpetrated.
Jf Rochefort attempted to disgrace the
Imperial rule, Jefferson Davis did more when
he tore down the national emblem that
waved over Fort Sumter, and sent his
armed forces to murder Union men and des-
t roy our Government. Yet Mr. Davis has
Just returned to his Southern home, where
his admirers give him most enthusiastic
Rockfort shed ink; Mr.. Davis did more
he shed blood, and yet he does not re-
quire "safe conduct" to revisit the land he
has SO cursed. HE comes aud goes as
freely as any other citizen; enjoys all the
rights of person and property that are open i
to the most loyal, with exception of the ,
right Of being chosen to Office, and Congress
has the po~er to restore this right TO him at I
any moment, as it has done to many of his
No; our government has nothing to learn ;
rom any other government, in the way of
Our readers know that ue !
ire not taking exceptions to this liberality
md magnanimity-we do not look upon it h
is good policy, and we de-
ire with our whole heart to see it extended: :,
Tor do we believe that any good citizen
will undervalue it, or endeavor to make its :,
ecipients discontinued. But we must be
flowed most respectfully to protest against
he manner and matter of certain "Demo-
ratio" papers in regard to subject of p
Thich they ought to speak in the most n
rat ful terms. n