ave I
Kept fixed before my eyes; and they are these,--
Not to revenge me on my enemies,
_And not to be ungrateful to my friends_."

It is easy for the individual to forgive. It is easy also for the
Republic to be generous. But forgiveness of offences must not be a
letter of license to crime; it must not be a recognition of an ancient
tyranny, and it must not be a stupendous ingratitude. There is a
familiar saying, with the salt of ages, which is addressed to us
now:--"Be just before you are generous." Be just to all before you are
generous to the few. Be just to the millions _only half rescued_ from
oppression, before you are generous to their cruel taskmasters. Do not
imitate that precious character in the gallery of old Tallemant de
Reaux, of whom it was said, that he built churches without paying his
debts.[60] Our foremost duties now are to pay our debts, and these are
twofold:--first, to the national freedman; and, secondly, to the
national creditor.

Apply these obvious principles practically. A child can do it. No duty
of clemency can justify injustice. Therefore, in exercising the
beautiful power of pardon at this moment in our country, several
conditions must be observed.

(1.) As a general rule, belligerent traitors, who have battled against
the country, must not be permitted _at once_, without probation or
trial, to resume their old places of trust and power. Such a concession
would be clearly against every suggestion of common sense, and President
Johnson clearly saw it so, when, addressing his fellow-citizens of
Tennessee, 10th June, 1864, he said,--"I say that traitors should take a
back seat in the work of restoration. If there be but five thousand men
in Tennessee, loyal to the Constitution, loyal to freedom, loyal to
justice, these true and faithful men should control the work of
reorganization and reformation absolutely."

(2.) Especially are we bound, by every obligation of justice and by
every sentiment of honor, to see to it that belligerent traitors, who
have battled against their country, are not allowed to rule the constant
loyalists, whether white or black, embracing the recent freedmen, who
have been our friends and allies.

(3.) Let belligerent traitors be received slowly and cautiously back
into the sovereignty of citizenship. It is better that they should wait
than that the general security be imperilled, or our solemn obligations,
whether to the national freedman or the n