The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-05

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

iSSeotioui hV CouCeaiiitcut VI LUCAS Dut
plain, serious, honest words, on the great
subjects, which most nearly touch the in
terests, and engross the thoughts of the
American people.
There is no recommendation that is not
sensible, no sentiment that is not just, and
no phrase or expression that is unworthy
of an honest man, good patriot, wise
statesman, an American president.
There is great deal condensed in small
compass. What is said is directly to the
point. Rem tetegt ac,s might be written of
every paragraph.
The long intended recommendation of
general and generous amnesty, now comes
from General Grant. In the days of the
false pretenses, when Gov. Walker was
elected as our Republican Governor, and
our Enabling Act Legislators were certified
to Washington city as true Republicans,
the Wells party in Virginia were rebuked
by the assertion that President Grant was
for general amnesty. His proclamation al
lowing the excision of the two disabling
clauses from our State constitution was
then accepted as confirmation undeniable of
that fact.
But latterly, the men who held to the
proposition have ''gone back" on it. The
declarations Of the Inaugural and the cath
olic and kindly temper towards the South
of the preceding annual messages, were dis
regarded by the party whose leader had, on
July Z, 1859, telegraphed congratulations
to the President on the triumph of 'his
policy" They have since denied General
Grants catholicity ON this score OF amaes-
ty. But now the Message comes and re-
Dukes their denial. He urges the removal
Of all disabilities. He couples his recon-
mendation with the suggestion of no hui
initiating conditions. He is as liberal now
as on the 9th day of April, 1866, when he
allowed the soldiers of Lee to return to
their homes, bearing along with them the
arms with which they had fought through
war distinguished by their valor.
The time has come for the removal of all
disabilities. The retention of them accom-
plishes no material good. 1t only provides
the ensmies Of the nation pet grievance
with which to nurse their treachery and
keep it warm. Remove this precious cause
of complaint; and then where do you place
this class of chronic malcontents? The
spectacle is presented of whole people
who had been engaged in war with their
government for four years, which had
caused the destruction of million of valu-
able lives, par doned freely and generously,
without the execution of a single traitor or
the confiscation of single dollar. The
spectacle is presented of the ringleaders of
this insurrection against their government,
restored to the exercise of every right,
privilege, and franchise of citizens, silenced
in their complaints. and rebuked in their
railings and rawlings, by an amnesty as un-
deserved as it is magnanimous, and undis.
eliminating.
After all, this policy of large and unre-
served magnanimity is the wisest that can
be adopted. No harm can now come to
this Union from the persons who would be
the benefciaries of this amnesty. The ac-
tive malcontents who form small portion
of this class have lost the power to do any
injury at all. Nine-tenths of the class are
as loyal as the great mass Of the Southern
people. These should not be deprived of
the franchises possessed by the community
because of the conduct of such ingrates as
Jubal Early and Robert Toombs. 10
drench such common scolds as these two
old crones with amnesty, would produce as
great shock upon them as the ducking-
stool did of oldupon their prototypes. For
tunate is it, that measure of amnesty,
which would be accepted as boon by all
men, should fall as punish
ment upon the wretched and self-torment-
ed few who don't deserve it.
Returning to the Message, in its discus
sion of the great questions of public ad-
ministration, there can be but one opinion
of its sound conservatism on all these
topics. Never was presidential message
SO entirely free from the vice of egotsm.
There is no where trace of my policy"
in it. It does not contain phrase or a
sentiment which can be justly charged as
an electioneering catch or appeal. In this
respect the Message is fair, manly docu-
ment.
But while it was not framed in the cleo
tioneering spirit, or for such purpose, it
is eminently calculated to attract to Gene
raj Grant and to rivet upon him the public
confidence; especially the confidence of
the business classes of the country.
These classes have found in General
Grant safe President. Under his a1.
ministration the business of the country
has recovered from the disturbances of the
war with marvellous rapidity. The public
debt has been reduced at the rate of almost
a hundred millions year. The currency
has approxmated to a par with specie.
Safety, certainty and stability have more
and more characterized the great business
interests and transactions Of the country.
Financial and business men everywhere
have come to feel that the government was
in safe and honest hands, and to be relieved
4. ~ n y