The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-03-14
Amnesty.


| Amnesty.
The subject of amnesty-that is, of
removing the political disabilities from
all who took part in the rebellion-was
one of the first to come before the new
Democratic House of Representatives.
These disabilities were imposed during
and after the war, by both the States and
the national government.
The States, for the most part, depriv-
ed persons who had been in arms against
tue United States, or VINO had held off
ces in the seeded States, of the right
either to vote or to hold office. It was
mot long however, before they began to
remove these restrictions; and now there
Is no State where any man is deprived of
] any political right because he fought as a
\ I ne case with the national Governs
ment was somewhat different The Four
teenth Amendment to the Constitution
took away the right to hold federal offi:e
from all persons who, as officers OF the
United States, or of any State, had taken
an oath to support the Constitution, and
had afterwards engaged in rebellion
But it was provided that Congress might,
by a two thirds vote of each branch, re-
store the forfeited right.
] This amendment became part of the
! Constitution in July, 1868. Almost on
the very day Of its proclamation, q bill
was passed relieving certain persons Of
disabilities. These were followed by
other similar acts, in which a very large
number of persons who had been in some
way or other, connected with the rebel.
lion, were restored to the right Of hold
ling Office.
The number of men who were aft ,ct
i ed by the Fourteenth Amendment can
not be known; but it was probably be.
tween fourteen and twenty thousand =
Mr.. Blaine, in his recent speech, set it at
! eighteen thousand. Between five and
| six thousand of these were relieved by
name between 1868 and 1872
In 1879 law was passed, removing
the disabilities Of all except those who
were in Congress between 1853 and
1852; officers of the army and navy, and
Judges, Cabinet officers and foreign min
listers. This act left less than a thou.
sand persons still unrestored to political
rights ss
Since 1872 many of these have been
relieved by name Several attempts have
been made to restore all of them to the
full possession OF the forfeited rights
Twice the House Of representatives has
passed, an act of general amnesty; but
the Senate has rejected both bills. The
question was again brought up early in
the present Congress.
1t is probable that no question exact.
ly like the present has evet before arisen
in any country. After civil war, it is
customary either to proclaim general
amnesty, or to establish some rule BY
which certain classes are pardoned and
Others are left for punishment But ID
'assarthial countries the sovereign has
the power Of pardon, and the people
cannot complain, whether he grants gen.
eral amnesty, or uses his clemency with
sparing hand.
Civil wars in Republics have usually
been started by ambitious popular lead.
ers, and have ended in a dictatorship--I
where, again, neither The people nor their
representatives have had anything to say
npon the question Of general or partial
pardon. Moreover, it is almos: unheard
of that civil war should have been
brought to an end, and general amnesty
proclaimed, without the leaders on the
defeated side having been punished
France has, within five years, tried, sen.
fenced and punished thousands of those
who took part in the short communist
revolt in Paris in 1871 But we have
done nothing to those who fought
against the Union, except to exclude a ]
small number of them, for short time,
from the right of holding certain Off.
ces.
The question whether all who are still
under this disability shall be relieved, is
purely one of expediency. The Gov
ernment has the right either to grant
pardon or to withhold it. Very few per
sons, of any party, cherish enmity
against those who fought in the rebel
lion. The only question is, whether it
is safe to admit to full citizenship all
Who are still excluded, and whether it |
would bring about harmony and good
feeling between the different sections to
do SO. Whatever the politicians may
say or do, the people of all sections and |
all parties feel that is safe and wise The
excluded politicians are more dangerous
as they are, than they would be if ad-
mitted; and the time has gone by for re-
calling the terrible and unhappy days of
the war.
Whether any conditions should be i'm
posed is another question, on which |
public opinion is somewhat divided. But
the hundredth anniversary Of the Decla
ration of Independence. ought to find
the door open to every American to be.
come true and loyal citizen, With all
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