The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-03
AMNESTY IN EARNEST.

from the ". l. 1rl6unc.
ZebuloA B. Vance, once Governor of North
Carolina and general in the Rebellion, was
on Tuesday last elected to the United States
Senate by ma jority of "a to 43 over Sena-
tor Abbott. In his speech at a serenade in
the evening he reviewed his former political
life, showing that he was always a Union
man, that he went out with his State, and
supported during the war, out of loyalty to
North Carolina, measures which he did not
approve. He reiterates his devotion to his
State and to his fellow citizens, and declares
that he will forever stand or fall with them.
He avoids all reference to mis- views, if he
has any, in regard to the relations between
bis State and the National Government He
seems confident that he will be admitted to
his seat, not because he has any legal or
moral right to it, but because the recent cleo
tions have resulted in Democratic gains.
That is to say, Mr.. Vance goes before his
judges in an attitude of defiance to the laws
they have made; avowing his active participa-
tion in fagitious enterprise to destroy this
Government; making boast of this, and as
Stunning that his election is due to it. He
claims that he is sent to the Senate as an ex-
preston by his fellow citizens of their admi-
ration and approval of his unlawful act. He
demands his seat on the ground that the re-
cent elections have shown growth of Demo
cratic and decline of Republican influence
He makes no profession Of allegiance to the
nation in whose chief council he aspires to
sit. He expects that legal sentence of ex-
clusion which rests upon him shall be re-
moved by the men who imposed it. He in
sists upon justification without repentance or
faith
If the Senators who are to decide upon Mr.
Vance's credentials were governed by the
same rule of conduct that prevails among
his supporters, they would make short work
of his pretentions. They would send him
| back to his constituents for a further season
of meditation and discipline. They wodld
! recall to his mind the fact that the work he
was engaged in for four busy years has been
condemned by the general judgment and by
legislative enactments as illegal. If to the
undoubted right Of the Senate to reject Mr..
Vance was added the natural resentment
arising from his defiant utterances, the ques.
ton would be very promptly decided, aud his
comrades would be invited to make another
selection.
We hope that no such view may be taken
by the Senate. We agree that Mr.. Vance's
tone and attitude are in the highest degree
unnecessary and provocative. But resent
ments are not to be admitted as an element OF
political motives. There is nothing to be
gained by rejecting the Senator-elect Il
would not effect change in the minds OF
hearts of his adherents. If they elected an-
other in his place, we might lose in candol
and honesty more than We would gain in APP
parent loyalty. While Governor Vancss OPT
MONS and principles are as bad as p p,ssible, in
an abstract point of view, his practical appli
cation of them is altogether praise worthy. He
denouHces prescription and retaliation with
commendable vigor. He declares that every
law, both State and national, should be
obeyed and respected by all. He is an honest
courageous, hard-headsd man, with good in.
tentions and imperfect lights. We believe
good than harm; and it might be diffieult tc
find any one who would more siequately re-
present the average intelligence and oonsc
] ence of his State.