The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-07

| should be arrested by the military forces of
the United States and delivered TO the mar
shall to be dealt with according to law. In
two of said counties, York and Spartanbnrg,
many arrests have been made. At the last
accounts, the number OF persons thus arrested
J was one hundred and s!1iy-eight. Several
| hundred whose crlminaliLy was ascertatned to
K be of an inferior degree, were released for the
present. These have generally made conles-
sions OF their guilt.
his IMPERIAL HrGHNEss SITS IN JUDGMENT UPON
THE PRISONERS.
Great caution has been exercised in making
| these arrests, and, Notwithstanding the large
number, it Is believed that no Innocent person
| Is now In custody. The prisoners will be held
for regular trial In the judicial tribunals OF the
United Sla.es. As soon as 1t appeared that the
authorities of the United States were about to
| take vigorous measures to enforce the law,
many persons absconded, and there is good
ground for supposlng that all of such persons
| have violated the law. A full report of what
| has been done under this law will be submit
| ted to Congress by the Attorney General.
GENERAL AMNESTY.
More than six years having elapsed since
| the last hostile gun was nred between the
armies then arrayed against each olher-one
for the perpetuation, the other for the de-
structlon ofthe Uuion-it may we'll be consd-
cred whether it Is not now time that the dis
abilities imposed by the fourteenth amend
ment should be removed. That amendment
does not exclude the ballot, but only imposes
the disability to hold office upon certain
classes. When the purity Of the ballot Is Sc
cure majorlties are sure 10 elect officers re-
flecting the views OF the majority. do not
see the advantage or proprieiy of excluding
men from office merely because they were be-
fore the rebellion of standing and character
sufficient to be elected to positions requiring
them to take oaths to support the coustitu-
tion, and admitting to eligibility those enter
tanning precisely the same views, but of less
standing In their communities. IL may be
said that the former violated an oath. while
the latter did not. The latter did not have it
In their power to do go. II they had taken
this oath, 1t cannot be doubted they would
have broken 1t as did the former class. II
there are any past criminals distinguished
above all others for the part they took 10 ep-
position to the government, they might, in
the Judgment of Congress, be excluded from
such an amnesty. This subject Is submitted
for your careful consideration. Gr ~
HE ISLANDERS THE SOUTH.
The condition Of the Southern States is, un-
happily, not such as all true patriotic citizens
IONS sake, personal violence, or threats TO-
wards persons entertaining political views
opposed to those entertained by the majority
OF The old citizens, prevent immigration and
the flow of much needed capital into the States
lately in rebellion. 1t will be happy condition
of the country when the old citizens Of these
States will take an interest In public affairs,
prOmulgate ideas honestly entertained. vote
for men representing their views, and tolerate
the SINE freedom Of expression and ballot as
those entertaining different political conVic-