The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-18
AlrI,nml'd nlspatrh,
Trrrsnay JANUARY Is, 1875.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

by the bias natural to It's locality and the
overwhelming prcjadices of the period. But
after the war--after the fury OF the day had
subsided--:he Advertiser displayed com.
rncndab!e elaboration aud a creditable de-
gree of fairness in discussing the national
issues of the day It was still, however, q
firm and irfiucntial Republican newspaper.
We were curious as TO what this able and
iudicious newspaper would say about the
yesant move In favor Of amnesty in the
House Of Representatives, and about Mr..
ELsl>xs strategy for the purpose Of reviy'
;r,> missions aud rancors that have caused
G much national distress, and which the
6, niry had earnestly hoped were fast dying
e., and being forgotten.
&c have the advertisers comments upon
IL su}jec.. That paper confesses that SC
fat : the Republican party was concerned
tn proceeding concerning amnesty was q
81 backward step, and is not in sympathy
with The spirit and tendency OF the times,
and adds: "The Republicans gained fruit
less victory, and OF great cost" 1t thcr
COPIES from the House proceedings Of las
wear the "unauimous report OF the Commit
tee on Rules" (of which Dir. BLAINE wa
chsirmap) OF the unrestricted amnesty bill
which then passed the House. Stating tina
this amnesty measure was on last week re-
pewed By Mr.. RANDALL, it says:
"If he had allowed an opportunity for dis
c;lssion and amendment, he would haYe been
master of the situation. For every reason in
favor Of general amnesty two years ago APP
niles now with equal force. The only poln'
Remaining at issue is whether Jefferson DAVIS
alone should he excluded from the general
,,ardon. Those who think he should De shut
o,,t--tbe one solitary exception to the gene
rosi,v of a great ana victorious natioE-shoW
him too much honor. II Mr.. blalncs SUD
s,itllte had prevailed the result wouio not
have been what be sought. Jefferson
Davis is not on trial now Tor the nor
rinIe cruel,ies at Andersonville. The
Cnver,men, of the United States aban.
floued that ground OF proceeding against
him long ago. If there is any reason Tor
taxing action against him on that ground
NOW let him be arfagned and tried under The
jaws of his COUNTY,. Without such trlaI,
or pretcnce Of trial, this pretext Tor eXciu-
dir" him from the general amnesty VIII 60
for nothing. His personal unpopuiarlty, MS
failures % an executive officer. the poor quail
i, es Of character which COMMANDED lor din
r,i'lcr The respect of bis people when I'D
~ ser nor their sympathy in defeat, VIII
&. II be forgotten. But for the Government
O. nc United States, victorious al every
-; :, 20 single him out, the one sohlary eA-
cr,,,pn of eight million people whom ne
sc:ved. would make him one of the martyrs
Of history, aud would commend him 10 the
sympathy of mankind. .,,:-
"Lc. Us explain little further, for on TINS
roint there should be no misunderstanding.
.It,irrson Davis himself has no claims to con-
sidcration. That dark eanester, at the
height of his power, staked everything de-
lhtra:ely on the hazard Of rebellion, ana
lost. He is without power or Influence
among bis OWE people. He is approaching
an aye, too, when it will be of little account
TO bin personally what exceptions may be
taken 10 bin in the course OF legislation. de
j. nothing. The country is everything. 1t
includes Mississippi and Louisiana as well
=, Maine and Massachusetts. The union be-
T.. N them is now supposed to be perfect.
r are held together by the two bonds OF
90 rant aud oforganic law. But the bond OF
Il. .s.1eut may be easily broken, and in that
6. g., &c legal bond will be Of little value.
p,rr, lis official position during the rebel
= e.
.,>rn;atiYc. Whatever stigma the Co
y INT of the United States put upon him,
rri.... it is put there for other cause stated
1LJ lNiully proved, would be equally a
s::.a. Gpon The people who made him their
stlv,nt. That is not craftsmanship. IL Is
LU' patriotism
Il is striking confession for this sterling
L publican paper to make that IN the pro-
cetd!ngs on he amnesty question "the re-
pubicaus gained fruitess victory, ana a'
great cost And although the AduertaSeT
states tina. Mr.. RANDALL made blunder 10
not allowing Mr.. BLAINE to move bis aHenu
mcnt land We think he did,, nevertheless, a.
Mr.. RANDALL only pressed upon Congress the
very measure Mr.. BLAlSF, as chairman OF tns
Committee on Rules, last year approved sho
the House passed, it cannot be assumed 'ha'
he sought % do that which would prooao'S
incur the censure Of either Mr.. BLAINE VI t'''
Republican party. And therefore, "he'ne'
Mr.. RANDALL Numbered or not, niS oiuuuei
il one from which BLAINE and his men ar
entitled to no advantage, and from when INT
South should suffer NO detriment. WIZ any
MaE-any ntuest, Si
that they should! ,. MI;
Tbis ,s the eist of the whole matter. Thu
i, the very logic of the advertisers article
THAT paper takes the exac,ly'just groun'
,concerning Mr.. DAVIS. This is not the time 70
sho Federal Government to raise question
-onon, furnishing him. No good can come t
ANYBODY by excepting him from genera
amnesty, while 1t would excite regret ant
.displeasure iu masy minds.
The Advertiser is right as to the grati6ca
t;an Mr.. DAVIS would derive from his eXclu
$40, from the act. In its words, it " woule
<trene him one of the martyrs of history
{. Il would commend him to the sympsthie
E.:. .aaukind. That is not states
Z. ship. 1t is not patriotism"
IS political fi,re-up is all for BLAINE. |
~, aeople Of the North think it worth NOR,
u eiect BLAINE than to restore peace aut
brotherhood to a distracted land, let then
s!y it. But we hope and believe they hay,
~b2 r sense.
----------------------------------------
Or. W. B. ROBERTSON, Of Lyncbburs, ont
OF The State proxies in the James River and