The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-07-03
AMNESTY.

--. r .- ~ II
t'op''ety or un.'e5st! n a"li o" a..
nmu;toa ;s e;J e. .ha rabo>I;an n
Tannnsooa c ~ of +Ga D'1,I;
Aasre' Don s c sn W. nJ
80 eaD H.. psahw vs. nlaoaI h;m f1,
posu h.r,'a tIo nonnIi ~ . cha,mni
= of uD;vorso1 snFrac.
" aJJ;.;or r. tLa n.oot;..1 ox,n,l,
th,s efF,rJad NV thn np,tv T,nn,~ra
,be ahlnst ,nl mo.t thonrttf,l r.,nh'
l;can vr;tors, h Hn,h ,",n.,r vnnn.
Lovo ha~rototor, nv,ns.1 tio a., ,tn.;
vorso, onnostr on tLo nrn,,I ,f,, Tx
c;snt t;mo h,j rat ul,nE2l .,'., ,h,,n.
hell;on to ranlar n. ,,,,,,. ,,, ..
1nattpr If ,,h,i;. ','r.. -, ,:r:,,r f..
~r,stain iInYa, -, ,,,.n l.I '".,
ransos WIKI 81 a,. tinn. ,,;,,.I ~.
national mn E+,t. .Gr.r,n..Is T., r...
pose pojitira] d;snlI,jt;.s nn,n -. ,,..
tess.I cnemios If H.. nao t,Tr h,,.I w..
moved, and That * t]. nrrrS:;tv no
LONGER twists for ~1i.froncLi;nm r,rn for
n@olit;cal nets H.. Iiva1i'nv Ih,.II H..
rcmovrd.
This is nronprIv ,,orty rn,4r3o. and
we hone to see j. an,,rog. ErI euI dis
cusscd in = spirit Of h1},ani>v anl nn,.
~erositv. It is one in vLirI f., ,Tr.s
and political lenders Ct fine, E~nnuLji.ao
party throughout the nation are about
to be called uron to particinat.. TH,.
Democrats are already COMMITTED to the
principle, but from different motives than
those that actuate the Republicans, It
is not necessary to refer at present TO
those points of difference, or to institute
a comparison between a policy which
would punish an offender as a matter of
public safety, and one which attempts to
Justify him in wrong doing. We have
nothing to do with this old question.
which has divided the Republican and
Democratic parties since the surrender
Of Lee at Appomattox. But the ques-
ton of universal amnesty is one to be
discussed by Republicans, with members
of their own party.
We are of the number who believe the
time has fully come for removing all the
disabilities incurred in consequence of
participation in the rebellion. Disfran-
chisement, as a war measure or as an
aid to re-establish civil government in
those Southern States which contained a
majority of people recently hostile to the
Government, and sullen in consequence
Of physical defeat, was, without doubt,
proper and necessary. AS a measure of
personal punishment 1t never had our ap
and as a means of national safe
y it should not be continued beyond
he period of its necessity. At the pres-
ant time there is no party in the United
States avowedly hostile to the pcrpetu-
ty of the Union or to the complete au-
of the laws of CONGRESS. In
most of the Southern States the colored
ace has been secured in political and
;ivil rights and equality, bv constitu-
ional enactments.
Everything which friendly political
bodies could do for the lately opnressed
ace has been done, so that their future
'uccess and prosperity depends LARGELY
lpon their individual exertions and the
friendship of the white people bv whom
hey are surrounded. And it will afford
most decided step in the riobt direc-
ion five remove all causes of irritation
nd place in fact, as we'll as in name, all
nen upon an equality before The law, If.
espectiye of race or nrevious cond;tion
nd, we may add, without regard to thar
antecedents. When the lovo1
eople of the United Safes forpave thar
lte opponents in war, to the extent Of !
them from the rebel armies n
1eir own homes. there to remain nnmo
,sted so long as thew denorted them. .
,lves as good citizens, thew took tho I
litiatory Stems toward comn1ete omnas1 I
?. Although the offenders were 70 Lo, !
the act ofwar, thew wera dismissed '
y the g~overAahent with the ]ini1nction {
90 and sin no moro Re;nn Amari I
N citizens. it was natural t5.t onnf
snc,e should be fet in tbe,r Good f,;.b c
i'd that thew would fnlGII t5o;r obl;an /.
entered into unJnn ' Ie'' opilsa Fl
ances. This act paVed the wa ,,' fnr n
rther concessions in tho 'n aem way y;u aof t