New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-18
THE PRESIDENT.

lack of disposition to strike HIM down
| Pervadine influences in the Tones Office
no doubt cause these continued fulmina
tons of that paper against the President
of the United States. Its last attack is
! headed "a Stab. at Executive Purity,
and it bunglingly attempts to inhict the
stab. Its logic is as bad as its wit, and il
may be questioned whether of either il
has bit. 1t accuses the President of a
grave public wrong in pardoning c. G.
Bowen, and charges that in consequence
of this act President Grant is morally
and Intellectually unfit to manage the af-
fairs of this great nation.
1t will be recollected that Mr..
Bowen was convicted of the crime
of bigamy, and sentenced to two
years Imprisonment. His friends petit
toned the President to pardon him, upon
the grounds that he was innocent of any
violation of law; that he acted in good
faith, believing his wife dead when he
entered into a marriage contract with a
lady Of South Carolina. In addition to
these facts, it was represented to the
President that Mr.. Bowen in South Caro-
lima had endeavored to live an honest and
upright life. The petition was signed by
eleven of the jurymen who tried him.
the United States District Attorney OF
the court in which he was tried, and
many of the best citizens of the Pal
metto State, who felt that the case was
one in which the executive clemency
might with justice be exercised. The
United States District Attorney even
wrote that he would be gratifed by the
exercise of executive clemency in this
case.
He no doubt knew the circumstances
attending the trial of Mr.. Bowen; the
great prejudice that existed against him
on the part of many who were politically
opposed to him, for it must be remem-
bered that he was not only g. Republican.
but one of those carpet-bag members Of
Congress whom the not wholly recon-
structed of the South delight to hate.
For these and other reasons, the United
States District Attorney no doubt felt
that executive clemency should interpose
to save Mr.. Bowen from a felon's cell.
But it also came to the knowledge Of
the President that Mr.. Bowen had ''ren-
dered good service to the cause of the
Union during the rebellion, and since its
termination" and this fact had weight
with the President. He doubtless
thought that a man who was patriotic
enough to render good service to his
country when there was need for it; brave
enough to go forth and battle for freedom
and republican principles when they were
brutally assailed, was deserving of some
consideration for having done so. And
acting on this noble conviction, and
taking into consideration the petition set
ting forth the reasons why Mr.. Bowens
pardon was asked for, he granted it; and
for having done what he conceived to be
right, he is accused by the pure and non
partisan Times with having prostituted
the pardoning power of the United States
to partisan purposes. The Times evil
IDENTIFY does not believe in the virtue of
patriotism. 1t differs with the President
widely upon this subject. He buckled on
his armor and went forth to battle for the
country he loved so well, when its integ-
rity was threatened by the cohorts of
slavery. Had the representatives of the
Times done this, it is likely their SYM
pathies would not now be against those
who did. They have no love for country
nor for individuals who are moved
by the high and holy feeling of
patriotism. This is why the Times
ienounces President Grant as "a lit
the man placed on high seat" This
Kind of talk may suit some people, but
We feel satisfied that every true American
who can admire noble conduct in civil
md military life, no matter whether he
Ought on the side of the Southern Con-
'ederacy or the Union as it is, will reject
he low abuse that has been heaped
upon our worthy President by journal
hat thus degrades the high mission and
privilege of free press. There is no ex-
use for the vile denunciation and misera-
lie attempts at wit that have been re-
,eatedly made by the Times when speak
ng Of the President. The lowest partisan
beet in the country could not hope to
wal it in this execrable mode of treating
objects Of public interest and speaking
# men occupying the highest official
POSITIONS in the country through the voice |
# the people. 1t is not only an outrage |
JUS abuse of the liberty of the press, but |
t is downright insult to the intelligence |
If the people to suppose that such con-
luct meets with their approval Presi- |
lent Grant is human and liable to err. |
But we believe him to be less addicted to |
rror than a great many men in public |
life. He has many great and good quail
les, and these should be remembered |
When there is real cause for speaking of |
lis errors. But in exercising executive
lemency in the case of Bowen he can |
lot with justice, be accused of error, I'M
ess it be an error to strengthen a mans |
haracter with acts that fully establish his |
owe of country