National Republican., 1876-02-09

"they be expected to promote the conf
"dence and goodwill essential 10 their
"union3''
"The Southern people have forgotten
"much, have forgiven much of the wrongs
"they bore!' Have forgotten and for
giyenr' Great God, has 1t come 10 this
Were the people of the North-the men
who battled successfully to preserve the
Union-were they the traitors and rebels
who have to be forgiven" and over whose
actions the waters of Lethe should flow ere
they can be recognized as good citizens
If this is SO, tear down the painting Of
Lincoln which adorns the Capitol: furl the
Stars and Stripes that float above it, and let
the Stars and Bars appear. Replace Grant
in the White House with JEFF. Davis. Blot
out the records of the war, and let all who
dared 'on tented field, or in any other
way, aid in preserving the Union be
GndtLema nardndthd. Are the loyal
people of the country, the men who offered
themselves as sacrifices upon its altar to
preserve its unity, ready to receive the
forgiveness ofJeff. Davis and have their
actions forgotten? Are the widows
whose mourning for husbands slain still
darkens the land: the mothers whose tears
for sons that have gone before are like
those Of 'Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted;' the orphans
whose cries ascend as holocaust upon the
altar of freedom, are these all ready to be
forgiven" and have the deeds of hus-
bands, sons and fathers forgotten" jeff.
Davis says mWch has been forgotten and
forgiven. 1t will now be only necessary
10 dcfile the graves Of the dead and blacken
the names of the living who fought for the
country, and honor those who tried to de-
stroy it. then, doubtless, in the magnanim-
ity of his heart, the arch.traitor will for
give and forget all of the past.
After having so generously forgiven
part of our misdeeds, Mr.. Davis next
boasts that he always and still is ready to
be tried for treasol. 1t is matter of re-
gret that his desire cannot be complied
with. for if any man ever deserved tho ex-
treme penalty Of the law, that man is Jef-
ferson Davis, OF Mississippi. He brags
that he refused 10 ask for q pardon while
prisoner, ard has never asked for amnesty
since, ard "has no YIcw Of the future
which makes it desirable to me to be in
cIuded in an amnesty bill. After saying
which, Mr.. Davis cody denies the right Of
the Government 10 impose any disabilities,
thus ignoring and declaring void, in his
view, the fourteenth amendment.
We have published Mr.. Davis letter in
full, as it appeared in the paper to which
the manuscript was sent, and of which one
of his prison-kecpers is manager, TO show
that we ''haye in naught extended nor
aught set down in malice in our COM
mentS on it. The people of the country
should see that letter. 1t is due to them
known everywhere, for, unfortunately for
the country, these sentiments are not his
alone. Thousands upon thousands of those
who followed him in the desperate attempt
to destroy the Government believe today
as Davis believes, and yet there are many
good men in the North who, in the kind
ness of their hearts, having forgiven,
though not forgotten, the great wrong
done 10 them and the Union, are willing
TO see these men participate in governing
the country. Theyl forget that such ex-
prcssions are common, and that the natural
sequences of them are to be found in the
White Liners of Mississippi, who murder
women and children that they may elect
their candidates: inlthe White Leaguers of
Louisiana, who assassinate Republican
members of the Legislature TO create va
cancies which they hope to secure; in the
League of South Carolina, which boldly
proclaims Victory at the ballot or revo-
luton, and in hundred other ways all
over the Southern States. All we ask is
that this letter be read, and the course of
the NATIONAL RErUELICAN will be fully
indorsed by all whose Endorsement We
cafe for.