The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-01-19
Anderson gntelligenter.
Additional Reconstruction or General Am-


ded as 10 the policy of inaugurating additional
measures of reconstruction or offering general
amnesty for past political offences. The mem
bers of Congress are disposed to listen favora-
bly, to the scheme of upturning and revising
State governments in the South of their own
creation, while the moderate and thinking Re
publicans outside of Congress deplore this sort
of thing, and are urging general amnesty. The
Washington correspondent of the New York
Herald thus prefguresZthe ideas Of the ex-
trenlists inCongress, who are. dissatisfied with
the political-status Of the Southern States:
The leading members of the Republican. party
have for some time past manifested consiaera-
BILE anxiety as to the part the Southern States
will play in the next Presidential election. IL
is generally conceded that in the present con-
dition of affairs there the Democrats are Ger,
tain to carryi every State South OF the ancient
Mason and Dixons line, except, perhaps, South
Carolina. This is disappointment to those
who have been engaged in reconstructlng the
laterebei States In thesinterest OF the hepu9-
lidan party land tile question now ID bow to.
bring them back and keep them under the
Republican. .banneg. Just before the holiday
recess Senator Morton introduced a resolution
calling upon the, President for information con-
eerning the recent disturbances in North Caro-
lima and other States where it is alleged the
laws of the United States have been dehed and
resisted This resolution was so worded as to
allow the answer to embrace all the Southern
States. 1t is understood that some time this
week the answerito the resolution will be sent
to tie Senate. This is the special message on
the condition of the Southern States which 1t
has been stated the President would send to
Congress. This answer from the Executive
will show that the Southern people are TAR
from being in q condition to deserve or appre-
ciate amnesty. 1t will further show that
feeling of opposition to the Government exists
which has not been eaualled sinoeithe close OF
the rebellion. This Information will probably
be made to serve two purposes-tirst, to silence
those wao are demanding general amnesty, and
second, TO afford an excuse for something like
freshsr reconstruction.o sthe Southern States
The Presidents reply will likely be referred to
aspsciai COMMITTEES, which will be instructed
to investigate the facts and report what leglsla-
tiou is necessary to secure the enforcement OF
the laws and the protection of life and proper
erty. In the meantime, several prominent
Republicans from the South are here and 9TH
ers are expected, to cooperate with the recon-
structionists in Congress.
,Per,ceRtra, the better class. of Northern Re
publicans are evidently not in sympathy with
this movement to defeat or postpone general
amnesty to the Southern people. We make
few extracts to prove this assertion, and would
fain believe that The authors of these extracts
more truly represent the Radical party than
their opponents. The Buffalo Advcrtiser, Re
publican, ip.noticing the attempt which is Oe-
ing made to regard the results of the Georgia
election IS capsecfor the defeat of amnesty;
says:
"Some of our Republican cotemporarics are
openly asserting that the success of the De-
mocracy in Georgia ought to put an end to any
attempt to pass General Amnesty bill at this
session. Il IS hard to see Upon what principle
such a sentiment can be justified, and very few
of those who assert it offer any other Justllca-
ton. but that .of. political expediency. NOW,
upon that ground only, what is the Republican
party to gain by perpetuating. proscrlptive
laws? 1t is very certain that they have not
served the best interests of the party in time
past f,r4+our political friends have been, and
are continually, losing ground in every South
ern State, excepting. perhaps, South Carolina.
"But on the. question of political expedien-
cy, the Southern Republicans are almost to "a
man persuaded that the perpetLAtion of pohti-i
cal disabilities weakens the influence of their
party and is utterly destructive of any attempt
to make Il popular. Upon this point the Fred
ericksburg (Va.) Ledger, whose editor is
member. of the Republican State Committee,
says:, Unless the Republican party, seeing
the situstion, shall appreciate it at. once, ne
believe that irretrievable injury will be done IN
the coming Presidential contest. If We could
be heard, We would, as Republican, and
speaking for the welfare of the Republican
party and its future interests in the South,
leaving out Of question the manifest justice OF
such policy, say to Congress, give the people
of the South Universal Amnesty
"It does seem as though such testimony in
favor of the removal. Of political disabilities
ought to, be respected. 1t t,is in. accordance
withkthe seHtiments-of nine oatAof ten of the
intelligent. Southern. Republicans: and they,
being on the ground, are presumed to be the
best judges of their wants" -
Tie Pittsburg Pay Chronicle, another Re
publican journal, takes ground in favor of am
nesty in the following words go" - r ~
The past year was signalized in this country
by the. admission Of the States of Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas torepresentation to in Con-
gress, ard by marked abatement Of the re-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS uau sui ti'eu eaS tSoSiiio.''
Let the year upon which We. have entered be made
memorable by general amnesty. The few mall
contents in the South can do no harm, and
there ere not even any party schemes that can
be subserved by prescription. Europe is in
debted to us for theyspectacle of great civil
war closing Without ultimate 'resortfto the scas
fold. May we not now add another bright
page to our history by cancelling all penalties
and entering upon a fresh national career with
out single individual in our borders disfran-
chised. for political ofence?, Theconsequen-
ces;of such Inagnanimous policy will not be
confined to this country or limited to this CEN
tury. They will endure to be commented on
by historical writers and to sink in the heart of