National Republican., 1876-01-20
THE AMNESTY DEBATE AGAIN.

The press interpretations of just what was
intended oy the Republicans in discussing
the amnesty bill are about all in. There is
uniform concurrence on the part of the
Democratic press in referring to it as an
exhibition of Republican venom, as it is
mildly called. Supplementing this is gen.
eral commendation of the Confederate eff
in saying so little, and an intimstion that
their patience will have its due reward.
This is the tone, for instance, of the Baltl-
more Sun of yesterday. The Democratic
memory has never been wonderful organ.
1t is never responsible, because it always
forgets; but in this instance it is rather
carly to pretend that the amnesty bill was
either brought to attention or consigned to
oblivion by the Republicans. The only
question raised by them was the right to
amend, and the Democrats are responsible
to the country for the power they e1erted
in throttling fair and just parliamentary
provision. A simple vote was asked on an
amendment that may or may not be right.
Ii is warning exhibition OF autocracy to
prevent 1t in the way 1t was done. Simply
this and nothing more. But the venom
came in afterwards. 1t was the debate
which followed which brought forth the
venom. True, there were some truths
retold from Southern witnesses. Mr.. Blame
read plain statement of a Catholic priest
as to his experience In Southern prison.
In reply, Northern men, who subdued their
righteous anger to render aid and comfort
to their foes in Northern prisons, were told
that their cruelty surpassed that of the
hideous fiends that made Andersonyille
Dante's hell. Did Southern man rise up
and say he had no excuse to offer for the
living horror of that time? Was there a
manly apology for it? Not one. No,
Southern moderation" went on uncurbed.
The Baltimore Sun boasts that the Confed-
crate officers generally were able to contain
themselves. Only Ben Hill got loose and
expressed his moderation" and we add
that the Democrats have ben III over that
ever since-lot that he was not right from
their view for none of them disputed him
but he stepped beyond the moderation"
line and became imprudent. This is the
full extent to which any Southern man can
sin.
But TO return to the theme of the general
comments of the Democratic press, espe-
cially of the South. Was ever such i'm
pudence manifested as theirs? That the
North, already prodIgal in generosity to
the verge Of ruin, should be told that it is
a monster of vengeance; that the South,
with everything to ask and nothing to Offer,
should brazenly accuse it of being veno-
nous and spiteful, and plume itself upon
lis moderation, is an audacitY bordering
upon sublimity. The South boasts that
from its wasted fields, its PROSTATE CON-
merce, its broken down industries, and
from the ashes of its homes, it brings the
olive branch and demands-for it has got
beyond aSking-its portion of the paternal
estate. But, what has it to bring but the
olive branch: Why should it come but as
The prodigal son: 1t is for the North to
forgive, and it has, nobly, freely, without
stint or stay, but this prodigll son asks not
alone the fatted calf He wants the whole
herd, the house, the farm, the nations
pocket book, and when he gets this he is
TO be conciliated and have his Northern
brother serve him like q slave. Is it not
about time that the country should resent
this cvcrending impertinence Peace
and forgiveness are sweet things indeed;
and dearly TO be priced, but no nation
within the records Of history has been so
freely and generously forgivea as the
South. Of its millions only Il few hundred
are subject to any restraint and the Re-
publican party stands ready to bid them
all cOmein. What does it receive in re-
turn! Reproach, condemnation, contempt
and an implied threat that the forgiven
will soon be the aggrcasOTS-aS soon as
they get strong enough to throw of the
con ,raint now 80 admirably practiced.
The peace they offer SO oficiously WAS
dearly won by blood, and back of it, with
all their pretension, is seen the downtrod-
den negro and a country not brisLling with
industry and inviting emigration, but rent
with domestic feuds and PROSTATE from
conflicting passions. No apologies for
Southern horrors come from this section,
but Southern war tales are their favorite
pastime, and hope of power is the dream
Of their ambition.