Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-02-14
OUR WASnINGToN LETTER.

such letter. Ii should be read by /
every weak kneed republican and every |
democrat in the land who fought to save /
the country from destruction Every
soldier Of the Union armies should have |
= COPY Of il. The letter was written 10
the Hon. James Lyons. Of Richmond.
Va. as an answer 10 ex-speaker BlaIne's
speech upon the amnesty question. The
dough-faces and eopperheads say that
Davis does not represent southern senti-
ment. but every democratic paper in the
South viii approve and endorse that
letter. In their hearts. all the south
ern democrats will endorse il, and not
one Of them dares to rise in his place
IN Congress and denounee the senti-
ments expressed in it or the author Of
those sentiments For cool audacity,
this letter Of Davis takes rank above
anything he has said He does not de-
nv his responsibility for the eruelties of
Wiuder and Wirtz, but justi6es them on
the ground that the Confederate prison
ers were badly treated He glories in
and justiies his treason. and says he re-
fused to ask for pardon when in pris-
on. and was ready then and is ready
now to be tried He proves how cor
rect Mr.. Blaine was. BY saying, Il have
no view Of the future which makes it
desirable to me to Be included in an
amnesty bill" Thus throwing back
with contempt the clemeney it was pro-
posed to thrust on him He declares
the fourteenth amendment void. as the
democratic convention Of 1865 did, say
ing:
Viewed In the abstract or as . gen.
eral question, would be glad to see the
repeal Of all laws inhicting the penalty
Of political disabilities on classes Of the
people. that it right, as prescribed By
the Constitution, Be left to the courts to
hear and decide causes, and to afix PEN
alties according to the pre-e1sting leg
| islation- The discrimination made
against the people Is unjust and impol-
tito. If the fact be equality and the
purpose Be fraternity among the eiti-
Eens of the United States, conviction
and sentence without hearing, with
out jurisdiction and afhxing penalties
BY ex post faetO legislation are part of
the proceedings which had its appropri-
ate end in the assumption by Congress
Of the executive function Of granting
pardOns- To remove political disabili-
ties. which there was not legal power to
impose, was not an act Of so much grace
As to form plausible pretext for the
reckless diatribe Of Mr. Blaine"
But the erowning infamy Of this let
ter Is in the following sentence:
.-0ur sympathy rose with the occasion
and responded to Its demands. not wait
ing for ten years. then to vaunt itself
when it could serve demonstrations at
the North, of desire for the no good
purpose to the sufferers Under the
nelIOwing influence Of time and occasion
al restoration Of peace and good will,
the southern people have forgotten much,
have forgiven much Of the wrongs they
bore If it be less 30 among their in.
yaders it Us but another example Of tht
rule that the vrong-doer Is less able t.
forgive than he who has suffered cause
less wrong It Is not. however. gener
ally among those who brzved the haz
ards Of battle that unrelenting vindic
tiyeness Is TO be found-the brave ar
generous and gentle It Is the skulk
erz Of the fight the Blaines. who dis
play their flag on an untented field
They made No sacrifice 70 prevent tn
separation Of the States. Why should
they be expected to promote the conf
deDee and good will essential to thei
union ?"
What do you think Of that, northern
nen7 Part Of .-the wrongs" you hav
inflicted have been forgiven" and for
gotten - What do you say. norther7
soldiers. to being amnestied By JEFF Dz
Wis. for himself and bis followers lie
the widows forga their husbands; ID
mothers. their ssns the orphans. thei
fathers that fell upon the battlefield 9
persisted IN prison pens. and Davis vi
f0rgre the ezuseless wrongs you IN
ficted On the South are you ready I
do this ? | would rather send you Ia
Wis letter in fall than 70 write upon /
Il u better republican document tia
can write, but must pass it by fl
the present
Congress has done nothing. and seeu
70 Be intending to continue IN IA:
course The PiDchback case viii proI
ably be disposed Of this week it
thought Pinehbsek will b seated II
. democratic and assistant democratic ..
pers. like the View YORK Tribune Al
San. are endeavoring 70 create the IN
.s preston that there i dIssension in Il
Cabinet, and more particularly betwee
President Grant and Secretary Bristol
+ They have reported > quarrel betzs.
y these gentleraen and make the ground
y i. the President's anger At the prosecl