Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-07-14

Ir6SlOonG UranL mas Issued announcer GrOc-
lamation and most remarkable document
it is. The melting cause Of the proclama-
ton was the conviction of ox-congressman
G. G. Bowen, by the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia of the crime of Biga.
my, and the accompanying sentence of i'm
prisonment and fine
Seated on the beach at Long Branch,
enjoying the fragrance of a genuine Havan-
ma, one Of his latest presents, after a dinner
such as they set for Presidents, and probably
washed down with an article fresh from the
Custom House, such as we poor mortals
scarcely know Of, much less ever tasted, we
can readily imagine the President in that
happy condition of mind to occasion the
PRONUNCIATION Of just such proclamation as
the following
"Ulysses S. Grant, President of the
United States, to all whom it may concern
these presents shall come greeting:
Whereas, on the 9th day of June, 1871,
in the Supreme Court of the District of Co.
lumhia, holding a criminal term, one C. G.
Bowen was convicted Of bigamy and sen
fenced to be imprisoned for two years and
pay $3.50 fine and whereas it is represent
ed that he was innocent of any violation of
the law ; that he acted in good faith, be-
lieving his former wife to be dead and it
appears that he rendered good service to the
cause OF the Union during the rebellion and
since its termination, and has endeavored to
lead an honest and upright life; and for these
reasons IL of the jurors who found the ver-
dict against him, and many other citizens Of
the highest consideration and weight, urge
his pardon, and U. S. Attorney Fisher
would be gratifsd by the exercise of Execu-
tive clemency; Now, therefore, be it known,
that l, U. S. Grant, President of the United
States of America, in consideration of the
premises and divers other good reasons me
thereunto moving. do hereby grant to the
said G. G. Bowen a full and unconditional
pardon.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
signed my name, and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington this, the
LIST day of July, A. D. 1871, and of the in
dependence of the U. S. the 95th year.
lSigned U. S. GRANT"
BY this, Bowen is pardoned and goes
"Scott free" OF the penalty imposed for
clearly proven bigamy. But the reasons as
signed are more remarkable. The principal
Of these is, that Bowen rendered good
service to the Union during the rebellion
and since its termination" What stand
ard of morality for the President to Set up
Loyalty to be the test of crime. A good
Union record to be the "open sesame Of
the prison doors Of the land. Oh ! shame,
where is thy blush
There is one consoling reflection, however
1t is only those who can produce this good
Union record, who can expect Executive
clemency for making themselves more than
one, by possessing plurality of ''better-
halves. - ''Rebels" are doomed to monoga-
my and their wives can rest secure in the
faithful performance of marital VOWS, or
punishment sure and certain to follow. The
wives of ''loyalists," on the contrary, rest
in uneasy couches Their lords may seek
for fresher loves with impunity. By Pres
ideDtial edict, good Union record is all
that is necessary to absolve from the crime
and permit them to cling to the latest love.
1t makes an Utah of the North, but we are
not certain but it is the knife that sewers the
political head of King Ulysses Women,
whether they have political rights or not,
are power in the land 1t is their smile
or frown that makes the '.lords of CREATION
do and dare Union wives are not an ex.
ception to this rule. They may control
many vote against Ulysses, the defender
of bigamists. Grant will be the next Re-
publican Candidate, in spite of fate. He
holds the purse strings and can and will
control that far, but then comes in the pow
er of woman. We think, therefore, he has
made bad political move, but congratulate
ourselves that We, at least, are on the safe
side. Our morals are not likely to be cor
rupted, and Grants defeat will be but the
converse of Democratic success and the
triumph Of liberal principles So mote it be
In the past week two disastrous Railroad
accidents have occurred, one on the Harpeth
River bridge near Nashville, which gave
way and precipitated two passenger cars in
to the river, killing Is and wounding sew
eral others. The bridge had been examin-
ed several times in the past year, the last
time bat few weeks since, and pronounced
safe, exhibiting careless or faulty examina-
tions. The other, collision on the New
York and Newark railroad, caused by mis-
placed switch. Several passenger cars were
telescoped Or smashed to pieces. Some four
or five persons we're killed outright and
number wounded. Reports of Railroad ac-
>idents have been frequent in our exchanges
of late, and from similar causes, arguing
great incHiciency in Railroad management,
aud demanding the application of proper
correctives, and at once. The travelling
public demands this 1t can and should
be done The casualties on English Rail-
roads, last year, were very few, and only
II persons killed, while lao persons were
accidentally killed on the streets of London,
and it is actually stated that orange peel on
tbs London streets kills more than all the
Enolish Railroads The Same nerfection If