New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-01-04
COMMUNICATIONS.
A View Of General Amnesty.


A View Of General Amnesty.
TO the Editor Of The Ns,c National Era:
A new year dswns upon US. The old year
has carried with it record of vast and varied
Death has rolled up list of thou
sands and tens Of thousands fallen in the
course of human tents and in the wisdom oil
just Providence. The new year dawns upon
us as colored race, free, but free only to
certain extent. No chains fetter our bodies.
No auction mart beholds as as its stock. We
are at home with our loved ones. We can
worship the God who made rs according to our
convictions, and look out upon fair nature
without fear or intimidation, Our children
are our own but, despite all these things we
are not free in the fullest sense OF the word.
Unrestrained speech We do not possess. The
law and the Gospel are leagued in error, and
man is q slave to both, because the powerful
engine, the press, in q majority OF cases, shuts
its doors against US. The new year dawns
upon rs, and we are without q journal paper
in which we can express our views, whether
they be in the channel of the editor or not.
Joy to the day when the New NATIONAL ERA
shall be so fully appreciated among the people
that the editor can make it journal paper.
In instance of this, let me say that upwards OF
seven days ago forwarded an article in per
son to the editor of the Daily Chronicle ask
ing space for it in his columns. desired
it's immediate publication, and hence | sought
q daily paper. This article differed in great
ing general amnesty, and, a. you doubtless
have observed. it does not appear even in this
days issue. 1t matters not when it should ap-
pear, claim this is not the freedom the press
should boast Of 1t is, moreover, cowardly.
Mark-the article is not rejected, but, in the
usual ambiguity of the Chronicle, it is day by
day delayed until the editor can say he is mis-
understood, as he was when, in plain terms,
he declared that the colored man of the South
had said that land and education were his
immediate wants, aud not any civil priv.
eyes.
Although | am not in as fit condition to
write on the subject now, as when / wrote for
the Chronicle, shall yet endeavor to give you
my views on general amnesty.
The present state Of affairs does not war
rant general amnesty. Let US look at the
condition of things. Here at the capital the
friends of general amnesty declare that it is to
be the solution of the difficulties between the
North and South. 1t is to put an end to the
Ku- Kluxism; yet day by day the Chronicle
tells us OF murders committed upon the limo.
cent negro and the loyal man of the South. If
general amnesty was what the South required,
ought it not to be at this time quietly awaiting
its salvation, instead Of seeking to subvert the
Government, ALLEVIATE friendship, souring the
feelings of hum anity. destroy confidence. and
lebase the conduct of every woman aud child
Of lis creedP
Of the social and political condition of this
country there is little hope OF change by else
than qualified amnesty, or q voice from
heaven rending the so-called Democracy in
fragments. The editor Of the Chronicle objects
to Mr.. Morton's amendment. believe other
are needed and ought to be made
in relation to the present condition of affairs.
No man who has forfeited his civil abilities
and they can be forfeted-should be restored
bis abilities unless proven worthy of them. 1t
is not too much to say that, although we have
no attainder of blood and forfeiture of lands,
The latter for no other cause than aiding our
,nemies in time of war ; yet any man who by
any means should aim to destroy the laws of
government, should meet, il not forfeiture of
lands, or attain der of blood, a suspension of his
civil abilities, even if necessary for life 1t
would appear that the South will be satisfied
with nothing short of an entire destruction of
the Republican form of Government and the
of the negro. We then do
hope that in the event of general amnesty, the
poor negro will be protected in his life and
property. We ask in the name of God and
humanity that Congress will pause ere it leaves
the negro unprotected, in other words, "that
it be just before it is generous"
In close will offer q word to the Democratic
party and our quasi friend the Chronscle.
Want is not satisfied with injury. The truth
never requires wrong for its defense. And we
are determined with the aid of our friends not
to be wiped out of existence by bands of assas.
sins, destroyers of law and order. We are
alive to our wants, then mistrust us not, be-
cause we are quiet and law-abiding Let us
have amnesty qualified. Let US have the pas
sage of Mr. Summers Bill Of Civil Rights. In
the name of reason, if men can say that general
amnesty is but Justice to a disloyal class. what
then should be said of the Civil Rights Bill
ensuring the undeniable civil rights of the
negro q man and as q citizen More anon.
ID. A. STRAKRR
Letter from Arkansas.