The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-08-15
Amnesty.

One would suppose to hear the SO
called Lib-Rep-Dems talk, and read
their organs that amnesty had its birth
in the mind of Horace Greeley. Chas.
Sumner, Or some other opaque body
moving among them. This however Is
not the case as all very we'll know who
who have any Intelligence at all on
events as they have passed for the last
nine months, either at the national cap
ital or abroad in the land.
At the coming together of Congress
last December, President Grant through
that body addressed the nation at large
on the subject as follows;
More than SIX years having elasped
aince the last hostile gun was fired be-
tween the armies than arrayed against,
each other--one for the perpetuation,
the other for the destruction, of the
Union-it may we'll be considered
whether it is not now time that the dis
abilities imposed by the fourteenth
amendment should be removed. That
amendment does not exclude the ballot,
but only imposes the disability to hold
offices upon certain classes. When the
purity Of the ballot is secure, majoritles
are sure to elect officers rejecting the
views of the majority. l do not see the
advantage or propriety of excluding men
from office merely because they were,
before the rebellion, of standing and
character sufficient to be elected to posi-
tions requiring them to take oaths to
support the Constitution, and admitting
to eligibility those entertaining precisely
the same views, but of less standing in
their communities. 1t 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 so. If they had
taken this oath it cannot be doubted
they would have broken it as did the
former class. If there are any great
criminals, distinguished above all others
for the part they took in opposition to
the Government, they might, in the
Judgment of Congress, be excluded from
such an amnesty. This subject is sub
mitted for your careful consideration.
The condition of the Southern States
is, unhappily, not such as all true patrlo
tic citizens would like to see. Socia
ostracism for opinions sake, persona
violence or threats toward persons enter
tanning political views opposed to thos'
entertained by the majority of the ole
citizens, prevents immigration and th
aow of much needed capital into tn
States lately in rebellion. 1t will be
happy condition of the country whel
the old citizens of these States will tax
an interes. in public affairs, promulgat
ideas honestly entertained, vote for me
representing their views, aud tolerat
the same freedom of expression and bal
lot in those entertaining different politi
cal convictions.
Here is amnesty on broader foundG
zion than ever dreamed of by Horac
Greeley, Charles Sumner, or Cal
SchurS, or any other of the lesser light
chat now revolve around the Chappi
quack fourierite farmer. No shee
took feIcer stand against the Pres
dents suggestion and recommendatio
to Congress than did Horace Greeley
his Tribune now transformed into th
"organ of no party"
When Congress undertook to act pu
suant to the Presidents recommendatio
Charles Sumner was its most violent an
bitter enemy and opponent in the Unite
States, and so far as he had power an
influence saught to defeat the amnes
bill, by offering as an amendment Il
famous civil rights bill, regarded
Democrats and Republicans as unconst
tutional in its provisions, and which
passed would have vitiated the enti
bill. Carl Schurz is the very last mi
&C. have offered resistance to the measur
as in the face of every Rebel he So
the simile of himself, by permitting Il
memories of the year of grace 1913,
rise up for a single moment 1t "