New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-04-20
COnciliating Traitors.


per and purpose of the rebel Democracy. 1t is
probably true that magnanimous policy to-
wards rebels against their Government has had
the effect, in other countries, to allay their dis
content and reconcile them to their real or sup
posed grievances. History teaches that such
is the fact, and it harmonzes with our notions
of human nature. But the Southern rebels
have acted upon no such principle They have
set at defiance all rules of humane conduct ex-
hibited by other people, in other periods and in
other nations. Gratitude is virtue OF which
they are as destitute as they have proved to be
of every sentiment of patriotism, justice, and
humanity. Magnanimity towards them has In
creased their hatred for the Government. The
fact that not a single traitor was executed,
though they had all forfeited their lives by their
crimes, so far from softening their hatred,
seems to have increased it ten-fold. Those
whose disabilities have been removed are now
more vndictive than before receiving the act of
grace. The sense of obligation it placed them
under has been more than they could endure
Like all small minds, they hate most those to
whom they owe most They owe their lives
and all they are to the leniency of those they
sought for four years to destroy.
Favors bestowed upon such people is worse
than casting pearls before swine. Amnesty to
them will, as it always has, only embitter them
the more. The Government has already re-
stored to the great body of the Southern people
more than niuetenths Of them-every right
IL g, Al
stand on footing of equality, in every re-
spect, with the loyal people of the nation.
There are not FIVE thousand men in either of
the rebel States to whom the right to vote aud
hold Office is denied and yet it has been proved
before committee of Congress that there are
lina who are bound together by oath to
murder loyal men, destroy their property, and
commit every other outrage necessary to keep
them from the polls. There are as many, on an
average, in each of the other rebel States.
Among them all there are not five hundred in
each State who are still DISTINGUISHED. They
avoid these dangerous combinations, and the
assassin bands are composed almost exclusively
of those to whom the lenisncy Of the Govern
ment has been extended. In the murderous
practice OF these millions of amnestied rebels
we have a fair illustration of the influence
universal amnesty" will have upon the
Southern rebels. No man can point to a
single county precinct in which amnesty has
made the subject of it more peaceful, law
abiding, or loyal citizen. 1t is the testimony
of every intelligent Northern man living among
them that no act of mercy or magnanimity
on the part of the Government has had the
slightest influence in modifying these disloyal
and reasonable impulses.
| We have an incident related to US short
time since, Of the effect the liberal and
benefcent policy the Government has ever
shown towards Southern rebels. The gentle
man from whom We received this striking illus
trations of the principles which we insist still
govern the majority of the Southern rebels,
speaks from his personal experience. For some
months before aud at the time Virginia was
re admitted to the Union, he with his family
was a resident Of fredericksburg He had re-
moved there with the intention of making it his
permanent home, and with that view had &C
| lively engaged in business there. For a time he
was treated with very tolerable share of civil
ity. The people seemed disposed to look upon
him, if not a social equal, at least as one en-
| titled to cOrteous treatment He and his wife
were admitted into the charmed circle of the
"F. +. VS." residing at this old aristocratc
town. The ladies exchanged calls, and they
cordially received all the money he was dis
| posed to contribute to the church he attended,
or to other religious or benevolent purposes
This state of things continued and erything
tioated along smoothly for many months, espe-
| cially while the question Of re-admitting the
State vas pending before Congress- But at
length the question was affirmatively decided,
when, presto a wonderful change was wrought
in their whole conduct. They at once,
the very hour the bill became "a law, changed
their whole conduct. Our informant and his
wife were given the cut direct by the whole
rebel population. Old acquaintance passed
them in the street with an insolent stare and
even in church, by fellow members, they were
not recognized. The State was in the Union /;
they had no further favors to expect of Con-
gress, and, therefore, no motive for longer
acting like ladies and gentlemen towards Re-
publicans A system of annoyance was at once
commenced towards them, and they were finally
compelled 10 leave the town to avoid these in
suits.
Such has been the gratitude exhibited and
the return made by every recipient of the Gov
eminent clemency in the South. Such will
continue to be the course they will pursue,
until the whole race have been made to feel
the power of the Government rather than the
mawkish sympathy and uudeserved clemency
the advocates of Universal amnesty so pertina.
ciously demand. Before this article is pub.
lished the bill which has passed the House will
probably either have become a law or been
finally disposed Of until the next session of
Congress. But whether it becomes q law or
not, the contempt with which the rebels, as
class, have treated every effort of the National
or State Governments to conciliate them by
acts of cemency is proof Of. what miserable
failure this Wholesale pardon will turn out
P.S.-A Republican caucus of Senators has
refused to take any action upon the bill. This
disposes of the matter till next session.
The Skies Bright and Frightening.
Two months, and even one month ago, lead
inc Renublicans scanned to have abandoned oil