The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-11-24

ne RersoyaI Of Political Disa5ilities.
The Richmond state yournol . Hroth be-
Sesase h srkspzsp iayofs general re
moyai oiPeliticsl diabilities 1t lays:
The E7ig is a extacies Over an article a
the RaEigh S4AEDxnD, which fssos tie
removal of the political disabilities by Con
gress from all the leaders Of the rebellion,
including Davis and Toombs, Wingfeld end
BENJAMIN, We suppose If the STKNDARD
had advocated the pardon Of all the soldiers
of the Confederate army, We might enter
tain the proposition favorably; Int We do
not believe that the American people will
ever caasent-at least. npiil they come TO |.
their marrow bones, and humble themselves
in dust and asbes-to relieve the men Who
betrayed their trusts, and dragged the coun-
try jnte rebellion, by withdrawing from the
Congress of the nation. They were the
gniltirss men, and the next in guilt were
the ciSsi office-holders every where through
the South who led in the work Of secession,
and By broEbeating and intimidating the
people forced the rebellion with all It's terri
BILE consequences upon them. The STAN
DARD is inst now in a very forgiying mood.
the Waig may follow its lead, because, like
the New York Tribune, it aided all it could
the election Of Walker and the defeat of the
Republican party in this State. We shall
pin our faith to wiser, more consistent and
more patriotic counsellors. If disabilities
are to be removed, let them be removed as
provided for by the Constitution
In advocating removal Of political dis
abilities we did net allnde to or think Of Da-
Wis or Toombs- We thought only Of the
Thousands Of men who are now suffering for
the sins Of others We thought only of
tn EN-, not Of the few leaders who may share
in the beaefts Of the measure The govern
Incnt did not seem to deem Davis and the
otherleaiers of the rebellion guilty enough
to deserve any special punishment, and we
do Eotsee why tie Journal should expect
the STANDARD to advocate the punishment
Of men whom the government has plainly
said are not to be punished. If the govern
n,ent had wished TO punish any one it should
have punished the leaders. As ii now stands
they are punished only by not being allowed
to hold Office, and this is no worse than is
inflicted upon thousands Of Southern men
| who were Union men throughout the war.
/ There are many men who were staunch
] friends of the government during The hottest
| days of the rebellion who are now banned
| simply because they had held certain Offices
before the rebellion was ever thought Of
| We do not think it right for such men to be
banned and wish to see them enjoying all
| the rights of American citizens, no matter
| whether they are now Democrats" or Re
| publicans .f.f.- .a
We also do not think it right that the
thousands who only followed where the
| chief sinners led should receive az severe
| punishment as the leaders In short, as tie
crime Of rebellion has been 50 nearly forgiy-
en- by the government we wish to see 1t en-
tirely forgiven that we may have no proscri-
bed citizens in America.
1 All this talk about marrow bones and
Hiumbling in dust and ashes" is worse than
foolish. The South has suffered much and nc
generous foe-much less friend would wish
to see one drop more in her cup of sorrow
We fought against the rebellion as sturdily
as did any mar, and have suffered as much, yet
we have not the bitterness which seem to
|; sway the editor Of the Journal. We believe
in the honor of tn, people of the South. We
distrust many of their former leaders, but not
the people themselves We wish to have
the war thing of the past, and have the
present used to secure a prosperity which
will give to the South the wealth, power and
happiness to which she is entitled. Thii
cannot be done while thousands Of her citi
zens are banned and prescribed. Hence W,
wish the ban removed, the prescription dom
away with, and shall never cease to work t.
that end until justice shall have been rem
dered them. fls