The Lincoln County herald., 1869-12-23
Removing Political Disabilities.

AAV@Vvsu6 . VssssN0s DsSoW1sssVos
If We did not know that Butler was o
rascal, VIC would say he was fool. lie
has replied to Grceley's article calling on
him to take prominent action in removing
the disabilities imposed upon the South
ny the Fourteenth amendment, in case the
Fifteenth umcndment is ratified. In this
reply he talks Ikea fool, and cannot re-
fer to that oppressed section without in
dulging in vindictive haransuc. This
sounds bad, coming from a man whose
table has been so bountifully supplied
with silver ware by the people be loves
to abuse. lie says:
81 think, had an example been made Of
some half dozen of the leading traitors OF
the South, especially those educated ut
the military school OF the United States,
und tr,,s,ei with commands in our armies,
resigned their trust to take command in
the armies Of the Rebellion and those " ho,
being entrusted with place, in Congress
or the Cabinet, used their places to hatch
treason, f"mcnt insurrection, and main.
tain rebellion TO destroy their government,
ought to have been signally banishcd, and
if that punishment had been awarded
which every. other government in like
eases has mcted out, ut this day all
matters in the rebel States which now
disturb the public peace would have been
settled and quiet, commercial prosperity,
agricultural industry, emigration Of labor
and capital, and rcvivifcation Of every
beneGcent enterprise would have filed the
Southern country, and every insurgent
State would have long ere this been read
initted into tho ULion. All that remains
now to statesmen is to see that every safe
guard is given to the loyal and true men
Of the South, white and black, who stood
by their country in the darkest hour oi
its history, and protection Of person and
property and equality Of political rights
shall be assured. Therefore, in any &C
ton may take in Congress or elsewhere
lshall have tins end only in view"
That such measures would have brought
"commercinl prosperity, agricultural iu
du>try, emigration Of capital and Ia.
bor and revivifcation of every bcnc6cen
enterprise to the South, the Beast vel
knows is false. The South is naturally
productive section, and if left to herself
prosperity would as surely grow upon he
people as the waters Of the Mississippi
flow to the Gulf. 1t is those oppressive
tyrannical, cxccrable laws enacted by sucl
men as the Stevens. tho Buffers, III
brakes, the Summers, and tho TrumbulI
that have kept the South depressed. Blu
she threatens to even rise above them al
None but fool or knAve, which latte
Butler is, would advance such ideas as "
quote above.
Horace Greeley, says a New York tel
egram ofthe 10Th, is out 10 reply to Blu,
her; and referring to Gen. Butler
opinion that some half dozen, more Q
hess, Of the COnfederates should hav
suffered exemplary punishment, NJ,
Greeley says: "When Eve more yeal
Of peace shall have intervened, I al
quite confident that yor will consid,
that two or three examples would ha,
been enough and after the lapse Of q,
more years you will be satisfied that
have strung up iu 1865 him who vi
your choice for President in 1860 wou
have answered the purpose" He refs
to many historical presidents to sho
that severities sfter var do not serve
save os perpotHate power. In short,
says, there viii be one lesson written q
over the fee Of history. It seems to u
that "pride goeth before destruction
That the conqueror in civil feud vi
has glutted bis vengeance, stands off
xery near his Anal downfall. He cit
Tennessee and tho overthrow Of the K
publioin party there, ~ an instance
the legitimate fruits Of . proscripti
policy. and impeaches the policy Of swes
ing disfrsnchissment and prescription
lsading inevitably to snch disaster
Mississippi in the defeat Of Dent, no !
gsrds a. . vindication Of the more libe'
policy. In conclusion he expresses b
confidence that az spsssions cool asd wra
abates. thousands WHO have cursed, v
thsuk hin, for what be has done d
dared in resistance to their own sasgui
cry impulses and joyfully trusts tn
this will become at last the common fait
lud even that Of Gen. Butler himself.