Year: 1870

AMNESTY IN EARNEST


Zebulon Il. Vance once Governor of North
Carolina and General in the Rebellion, was
on Tuesday last elected to the United States
Senate by majority of "a to 43 over Senator
Abbott. In his speech at serenade in the
evening he reviewed his former political life,
showing that he was always q Union man,
that he went out with his State, and supported
during the war, out of loyalty to North Cavo-
lima, measures which he did not approve. He
reiterates his devotion to his State and to his
fellow citizens, and declares that he will for
ever stand or fall with them. He avoids all
reference to his views, if he has any III regard
to the relations between his State and the
National Government. lie seems confident
that he will be admitted to his seat not
because he has any legal or moral right to IT.,
but because the recent elections have resulted
in Democratic gains.


That is to say, Mr.. Vance goes before his
Judges in an attitude of defiance to the laws
they have made; avowing his active participa-
ton in flagitiOus enterprise to destroy this
Government making a boast of this, and as
suming that his election is due to it. He
claims that he is sent to the Senate as an ex-
preston by his fellow-citzens of their admira-
ton and approval of his unlawful act lie de-
mands his seat on the ground that the recent
elections have shown a growth of Democratic
and a decline of Republican influence. lie
makes no profession of allegiance to the
nation in whose chief council he aspires to sit.
lie expects that legal sentence of exclusion
which rests upon him shall be removed by the
men who imposed it. He insists upon justiil-
cation without repentance or faith.


If the Senators who are TO decide upon
Mr.. Vancc's credentials were governed by the
same rule of conduct that prevails among his
supporters, they would make short work of
his pretensiOns. They would send him back to
his constituents for further season of medi-
tatiOn and discipline. They would recall to
his mind the fact that the work he was en-
gagged in for four busy years has been con-
demned by the general judgment and by
legislative enactmentS as illegal. If to the I'M
doubted right of the Senate to reject Mr..
Vance was added the natural resentment
arising from his defiant utterances, the ques-
tiOn would be very promptly decided, and his
comrades would be invited to make another
selection.


We hope that no such view may be taken
by the Senate. We agree that Dlr. Nance's
tone and attitude are in the highest degree
unnecessary and provocative. But resent
ments are not to be admitted as an element
of political motives. There is nothing to be
gained by rejecting the Senator elect 1t
would not effect change i'll the minds or
hearts of his adherents. If they elected an
other in his place, we might lose in candor
and honesty more than we would gain in APP
parent loyalty. While Gov. Nance's opinions
and principles are as bad as possible, IN an
abstract point of view, his practical applca-
ton of them is altogether praiseworthy. He
denounces prescription and retaliation with
commendable vigOr. He declares that every
law, both State and National, should be
| obeyed and respected by ALL He is an honest,
courageous, hard-beaded man, with good in
tentions and imperfect lights. We believe
that such man in the Senate can do more
good than harm; and it might be difficult to
find any one who would more adequately rep
resent the average intelligence and conscience
! of his State.