New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-15
personal trial according to the forms of

law.
1t would be, then, illegal to exclude any
person from the benefit Of unqualified
amnesty upon an improved charge of
crime. A citizen, an alien, or slave. was
entitled to this right under the constitu-
ton. To exclude any one from this right
through adherence of crime attributed,
but not established by act of law, would
SAVIOR of lawless vengeance as little COM
patible with republican principles as an
act springing from fear. Error" said
the Republican founder, ''ceases to be
dangerous when reason is left free to COM
bat it," Does the Republican party fear
its enemy, Error, or distrust its champion,
Truth?
The magnanimous execution Of the con-
stitution will be properly contrasted with
the intolerance Of the Southern Democ-
racy. They have availed themselves OF
amnesty to prosecute those who had given
them political freedom. For years, for
an individual to proclaim the acceptance
Of Republican principles. to which every
Southern State has given its constitutional
acceptance, was to incur social ostracism.
One of the bravest Southern Generals,
who, from belief that his allegiance was
primarily due to his native State, resigned
commission in the federal army,
led Confederate division over the
heights of Gettysburg and to the sur
render at Appomatox. Wounds never
kept him from battle. Discourage
ment did not abate his fidelity to the
cause he had espoused. He gave his
parole, renewed his allegiance to the
United States, supposing himself freed
from political or military obligations. He
dared to vote for the Republican Grant,
while the Democracy voted for the Re-
publican Greeley. He has been treated
with political exclusion and with social
indignity. Another Confederate soldier
who served the same cause until his obi
cations were absolved by the Southern
acceptance of the conditions prescribed,
exercised the same right of discretion, and
voted with the Republican party. He
was killed in an ARRAY by Democrat.
The Democratic organ in Louisiana said
of his death:
The sudden and violent death of this
person Hon. E. L. PiersOp] at Nat.
chitoches became known in the city
on yesterday, and made quite a sensa-
tional item for the newspapers, which
practice that sort Of spectacular
FsS VII. & sass
the editor of the Findicutor. He was
Of the Legislature which is to meet
here next Monday, and although he acas a
Con- tederatc soldier during the rdr, had
fallen into much odiMna among the more re
spectacle people of the community IN rhich ne
lired by suffering himself TO become potih-
caliy identified ,rih the rieus and purposes Of
motires of Christian feeling and humanity
zee regret his unexpected and fearful end it is
impossible to say that social life. or that pat
riohsm and virtue hare lost anything BY his
demise. Our italics.l
Could any more unrelenting hate, politi-
cal intolerance or vindictive injustice have
been expressed in words 4? There is no
mputation against this man as citizen
Dr. as soldier The sole offense charged
against him is that which is alleged
against the Confederate General of divi-
sion. to whom we have referred, that he |
had fallen into much odium by becoming
Identified with the Republican party in
he State. A Confederate, he had become |
. Republican. For this offense only
neither patriotism nor virtue lost anything |
oy his death. That is Confederate who |
accepted allegiance and voted the Repub-
lean ticket could not be patriot, but
became by that act such criminal that |
he cause of virtue lost nothing by his |
violent death. This paragraph may not |
nave been published by q Confederate
'oldier, but it is the deliberate opinion of |
he Democracy which has authorized its
,tterance through the lips Of its organ.
We ask the public to compare the spirit |
# universal and unqualified amnesty
which animates the Republican party, in
is admission of the chief Of the Con-
ederacy to equality Of rights, with that |
nexorable enmity of the Democracy,
which regards the death of Confederate |
yho had voted the Republican ticket as
10 loss to his country or to the cause of
'irtue.
The admission of Mr.. Davis, ex-Presi- |
lent of the Confederacy, to the equal |
lights of an American citizen stands on |
me side as q monument of mistaken Re |
publican devotion to the constitution and |
he Union.
The acquiescence in the death of
Confederate soldier because he had voted |
he Republican ticket, makes an un-
atiated ambition and malevolent hatred,
which persecutes all who dare to dissent
rom its commands.
PROSPECTIVE BONE OF CONTENTION.
Some Republican statesmen have con-
eived the idea that the clause in the fifth
mendment to the constitution of the
United States applies as we'll to the VIC
inns of mobs and private vengeance as to
ersons and things in the custody of the
riminal and civil courts. "No person
hall be deprived of life, liberty or prop
rty without due process Of law" This
revision is violated every day in one part