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Show OKMKHAL. AMIESIT BIIL. Congre-s is considering a geteral amnesty bill. It is nearly mx years since the war of the rebellion closed, and such a measure seems to be none too early. Granting that the work of reconstruction has been a difficult one, it is time that the horrid and bloody past should live only in history. The Republic, us became it, did not pursue the men who plunged the nation na-tion into the terrible war of rebellion, with that bloody vengeance which monarchies are apt to inflict upon those who make armed assault upon the "divine right" to ru'e claimed ly crowned heads. But if the Xorlh suffered suf-fered in blood and treasure, the South suffered no less in them, in the pursuance pursu-ance of an idea honetly held ty hundreds hun-dreds of thousands of brave men ; and she has suffered heavily since the war closed in a thousand nameless ways. It is intimated that most likely the bill when passed will not be of a universal character, but will make certain exceptions. Though there may be strong arguments ad-ranced ad-ranced in favor of such a course, it does not eeeui that it would subserve any purpose sufficient to counterbalance counterbal-ance the evil that would result from it. If the South is once more a part of the Union, with every State represented repre-sented in the legislative councils of the nation, it is the duty of Congress to foster its prosperity as much as that of any other portion of the country. And everything that will continue as-cerbity as-cerbity and make the South feel that the conqueror's hand is still held over it with penalties, will be a barrier bar-rier against the free flow of much needed prosperity. The condition of the South is more changed within the last ten years than that of any other portion of the Union, not excepting the gTeat west. Slave labor is gone, and its place must be supplied with thrift and economy, and enterprise to opeu up manufactories and stimulate industries. The channels chan-nels of commerce and industry should be free from all obstructions, and every means should be taken to ui ea.ee and cultivate a healthy feeling between and among all classes. The enfranchising enfran-chising of a large portion of those laboring under political disabilities in consequence of their share in the rebellion, re-bellion, while others are refused the political privileges enjoyed by their fellow citizens, would have a tendency to keep alive a spirit of bitterness, and would not tend to allay the strong feeling3 with which the now disfranchised disfran-chised whites view the enfranchised blacks. Though there may be some who have not learned the difference between to-day and ten years age, and who would not be willing to accept with a good grace the situation and the political equality of the colored citizens, at present their political superiors by possessing the franchise, fran-chise, such persons are not likely to be among these who would be refused the benefits of an amnesty act. The men who would be refund the extension of this measure would undoubtedly be ones who had taken a prominent part iu the rebellion, and who, possessing more than an ordinary share of intelligence, could better appreciate ap-preciate changed circumstances than could the mass who had followed their leadership. The present session of Congress opens well on the question of taxation. If it passes a general amne.ity bill, and meets the national wi.-h on revenue matters, it will earn well of the country, coun-try, and become as popular as the previous pre-vious session made some of it. members mem-bers unpopular. |