Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-01-01

FKlDAY MOkNlNG, JAN. 1. 1853.
With this issue commences another volume
of the "Vindicator," the seventh since our
connection with it.
Since we entered the sanctum we have been
generously supported by a host of patrons.
and in the past six years many new ones
have been added, making our subscription
list one Of the largest among the weekly pa
pers in the State.
We take this occasion, therefore, to return
our thanks to ono and all, for their generous
support in the past, and promise redoubled
cxcrtion on our part to merit its continuance.
The "Vindicator" is now the largest pa
per published in the State, containing grea-
ter amount and variety Of we'll selected read
ing matter than any other and is published
at lower price, We only call attention to
this as an evidence of our cndeavors that the
indicator shall be unsurpassed by any
weekly paper in the State. That we may
be enabled to carry out improvements con-
tcmplatcd, we ask our subscribers to show
the "Vindicator" to their neighbors and Sc
cure their names as subscribers. You will
be fully compensated by the increased value
of your paper, without any increase in its
subscription rates, for the efforts you may
make in our behalf.
In conclusion, We reiterate our thanks to
our many readers for their generous patron
age, which has placed the ''Vindicator" in
its present Aourishing condition, and wish
them health, happiness and prosperity and
extreme length of days, and that it may be
our privilege, as it is our pleasure, to send
our annual greetings to them. for many years
to come, through the columns of the Staun-
ton Vindicator.
Elsewhere we publish the proclamation of
the President declaring full pardon and
amnesty, Internationally and without res
ervation, to each and every one who, directly
or indirectly" participated in the late insur-
rection or rebellion, which he presented to
the people as Christmas Gift.
This noble act of the President has been
met by an almost universal appreciation of
the press Of the whole country. Even some
of the most radical papers Of the North hail
it as most wise and proper, and declare it to
be in accord with the general sentiment Of
the country, which is now in favor of let
ting by-gones be by-gones and letting every
body in tho South start afresh, as the penal
ties inflicted. already, upon the Southern
people have been sufficiently great
As to the effect of this proclamation there
is quite diversity Of opinion. All agree
that it will stop all prosecutions against per-
sons charged with treason and prevent any
further action against any who committed
any act hostile to the United States, during
the late war.
Whether it will restore to political privi-
leges those who were disfranchised by the
reconstruction acts is the question. Those
acts were not intended to destroy the Consti-
tutional power Of the President to proclaim a
sSgeneral amnesty and pardon, but were enac-
ted to suit the exigency Of the times, as Con-
gross thought, and would seem to declare
that Congress had a like power to pardon
Some contend, however, that Congress must
remove the disabilities of all politically disa-
bled by the reconstruction acts. This is
likely to be the construction Of Congress, but
we have hopes that that body will see the
great good to be accomplished by a general
amnesty and remove, at one blow, the disa-
bilities of all mentioned above. 1t would be
amost happy sequel to the act Of the President
and would tend greatly to the speedy resto-
ration of that peace and good will so essen
tial to the prosperity and well-being of the
whole country.
Whether this be done or not, the Presi
dent has signalized the close of his admins
tration by an act Of clemeucy which will re-
dound to his great praise through all time to
come.