Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-03-05
SEMm ES.

his disabilities. After stating the
reasons that prompted him to enter
the rebel service, the petition says:
Attic close of the war he retired to private
life, and has again become "A ci'iZen OF the
United States, having rs a voter OF Alaoaiha
sworn to support and defend the Constitution
of the United States and the Union of the
STATES Having thus renewed his allegiance
to the Federal Constitution in good faith, he
desires the prompt and entire OBLIVION, except
IN 80 far rs history may deal with the SUBJECT,
of the late differences between the Two sec
tions He has the natural affection OF an
American citizen for the land OF his bfth, ana
the same pride as formerly in the glory and
prosperity Of his country, and of his whole
country 4: and he now requests your honorable
bodies to remove the political disabilities
under W hich he has 50 long labored, and re-
store him TO the fun and free embrace OF the
only country which can claim him, and the
only country which he cares to claim
This is very frank and manly,
statement and avowal, and we do
not doubt that the prayer will be
promptly granted. We refer to this
case more particularly just now,
however, to show the wisdom Of
Congress- in not passing a general
amnesty bill a year OF two ago, as
suggested. 1t was better for both
parties that the law should remain
as it was for q while longer. There
has been talk heretofore, and we
hear it at intervals yet, of new
rebellion. OF course such twaddlc
is very silly bat then many people
in remote Southern communities
who read the frothy contents OF
their local papers are impressed
with the belief that the South Is q
mighty power, and that one OF these
days the leaders Of the old rebellion
will blow their bugle-horns and
summon them to victory. IN these
obscure newspapers, and IN CONVEX
Sation, reports are circulated that
some prominent rebel general or
commander like Semme5 has de-
clared that the day will soon come
to strike the final and successful
blow for independence. There are
plenty of fools to invent and cir
culate such nonsense, and plenty Of
simpletons to believe it. 1t is bet
ter, therefore, that the public, North
and South, should see this public
pronunciation Of all such design, and
\ behold upon the national records
the confession, the promise and the
forgiveness
Death or pardon is fast thinning
the ranks Of the few who, by the
law, were required to receive the
action Of Congress- upon their cases
before they should be again entitled
to the full benefits Of citizenship.
I Lee, johnson, Jackson, and many
less prominent leaders Of the rebel
lion. are dead. Longstreet is a Re
publican otiiceholdcr, Beauregard IS
a declared friend of the political
equality Of the blacks, Stephens
and large number of eX-Confed-
crate officers are members OF the
lower house of Congress, Mosby,
Forrest, and now Semmes, have
siglIihed their desire to share for
the future in the fate of the Re
public, and the "bloody chaSm" is
about blidged over. OF all the
prominent men in the rebellion,
hardly one save Davis and the poor,
funny old Wise remain to bewail
the past. We have glided along
with scarcely a thought Of what
time and Il wise policy were doing,
but we shall turn the first decade
after the close of that gigantic
struggle with hardly II yestige Of Its
mourmul effects remaining. The
memory of the dead is still with Us,
and our debt bears heavily; but
the pain of the one and the burden
of the other are amply compensated
by the Grand work accomplished
The closing words Of Raphael Sem
mes petition will soon become the
PRAYER Of every man who mingled
in the rebellion: Restore me to
the only country which can claim
me. and the only country which l
care to claim. "-lntcr- ocean.
TIE London papers are advised
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