Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-01-08
TIYE AMSEsTY PROCLAMATION.

OF the PRESIDENT or the united states
has obliterated, 50 far rs Executive
eiemency could avail for such pur-
pose, all traces Of the recent war and
opened up the way for return of fra
rernal feeling and an oblivion of past
animosities and the bitterness grow
ing out of the same. This act of ma
tional magnanimity, toolons deferred
In the opinion of many, has received
30 far as we have observed, the APP
probation OF the whole country. Men
Of all shades of opinion, with here
and there an exception, unite in CIV
ing their consent to this sweeping
pardon; 80 that we may now well
conclude that everybody Is satisfied
mat no one shall hereafter be punish
edfor the part he bore IN the rebellion.
Ii is perhaps well that the President
saw fit to follow the wish of the peo-
pie OF the North In this matter, and
toso time his amnesty proclamation
rs TO do no violence to their feelings
or prejudices. If General Grant will
now use the influence Of his great
name to bring the legislation of the
country into harmony with this pro-
clamatiosl of general amnesty by his
predecessor, he will have achieved q
work far greater than any which has
made his name illustriott5. He will
assume the chief executive power at
n time and under circumstances that
will enable him TO become a great
benefactor of his country. And lie
may rest assured of one fact, that so
far as the large mass of the Southern
people are concerned, his administra-
ton VIII meet with no factious oppo-
sition. The Southern people anx-
iously desire the restoration of real
peace and all the blessings which flow
from so fortunate condition of af-
fairs, and General Grants prayer
"iIet us have pcace"--will nowhere
meet with a more hearty response
than In the hearts of Southern men.
Candid men of all parties must admit
that If the people of the South have
here and there exhibited sigus of dis
content and bitterness, they have not
done so without cause. Take as an
instance the state Of affairs in Ten
ncssee, where a large majority of the
intelligent and educated white men
are not allowed TO vote, and every
negroin the State, with hardly an ex-
ception, has free access TO the ballot
box: and those white men thus dis
fiuncliised pay large portion of the
taxes. Now we put it to any man OF
ordinary fairness and intelligence, il
such u state of things could be reason
ably supposed to exist without excit.
ing discomfort or even indignation
and resentment. These DISTINGUISHED
men were born free their ancestors
were free--their race Is free-and how
conld any sane man expect to onslave
n whole nation of freemen and excite
no discont and bitterness; especially
when their former ignorant slaves arc
put over them. Such tree, when
ever and by whatever hands planted,
must always bear the fruits of STRIFE
and bitterness, and we say respect
fully TO those who now have charge
of affairs in our State, that the sooner
this condition of affairs is changed
the better 1t win be for all parties ant
for the prosperity of the state. I'll,
United States Government has givei
u free and sweeping pardon to every
rebel, high and low. Does the Stat,
Government here think they shoul,
continue to punish men who hav,
been pardoned by the General Gov
crnment against whom the rebellion
arose? If those in Tennessee VIII,
engaged in the rebellion committe,
am ofltnse for which they should ~
punished, they committed the onons
nsaiust the Governments Of the Unite,
States and that power having par
doned them, the state authoritie
have no longer an excuse or the sem
blance of an excuse for continuing tn
udious and oppressive laws that nov
diaigure thestatutc books, and whicl
the children Of their authors may per
haps hereafter wish their fathers ha
never enacted. Let our State Legis
iaturc come up 10 the spirit and tn
demaudS of the hour; strike n
chains from the hands of u hundre
thousand white men in this State
rrstore good state OF feeling anon
the people, and Tennessee win ut one
comm uce career OF great prosper
ity. 1t can not bc disguised or donio
that the state Of politics in Tennessee
keeps Immigrants and capital ava
from our borders, 1t Is IN the powC
of thosewhorule in Tennessee to-dl,
80 start the State ut once upon tll
great highway of prosperity, Ever
consideration OF patriotism and dut
demands that speedy end should |
put TO u state Of affairs that ia alt,
gether unworthy oC the age IN whic
II No strangely exists.
.-.----
TnE GUBEHS ATOnIAL CANVAS
As the time approaches when ca,
dldateS Tor Governor Will be selecte
IL becomes important for those WI
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