Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-05

Grade rs and destroy US, unless we submit uacondi
tionallv TO their power We use the word srncondi-
tonalv because it is matter of history that every
effort al honorable compromise failed in the last
Congress TheUnion men of Tennessee were solemn
lv pledged to resistance, when can overt act" of
wrong should be committed, or when coercion and
invasion of our soil should be attempted. They have
thank God, nobly and heroically fulfilled their
pledge, and leading the van in the glorious
war Of defence nauguratedin our State.
If there be any, who are yet holding back. we
beg to make more last appeal to their patriot
ism, honor and humanity and if the laggards resist
sueh appeal, then they are irredeemable and mast
be classed with the enemy that invades our soil.
1t has already been announced that it is a matter
Of serious discussion with the Cabinet at Washing
ton, as to the disposition they will make of the
prisoners they may capture in this war. Theques-
ton that divided this most patriotic Cabinet. was
whether they should hang the captives or exchange
them as prisoners. or suffer them to go, on taking
the oath of allegiance to to the United States.
The Cincinnati Gazette, leading organ of the
party that rules with absolute sway, thus solves
this question:
That is the only safe and humane way for the
abettipR tho in arms has forfeited his life to Jus
tice and until all organized resistance is overcome
the army has the right to try by court martial
every one taken and execute him on the spot. ANY
different course which it may take in particular in
stances or according TO necessities does not waive
this general right If the Government means to
suppress this rebellion, it must lay dewn the law
the start that to be taken in against it incurs
the penalty of treason, to be administered in the
most summary manner.
4la Lad H.
may be shown to the Masses if they returnto their
allegiance. Any other course than this would but
protract the rebellion, until perhaps years OF uncon
quered resistance might be regarded title to the
rights of beligerent Power, and 10 claims to in
dependence If we do not fight the Secessionists as
rebels and traitors TO their legimate Government,
we have no right to fight them at all If our Gov
eminent makes sham war of this, merely taking
traitors prisoners with the belllgerent rights of an
independentPower it will place itself in the wrong.
Justice demands the summary execution of the
utmost penalty on the leaders who have plunged
the country into blood wholly withous cause.
Ii is necessary TO the vindcatiun of the rectitude
of our own cause Humanity demands it as the
only course that will bring the war to speedy and
final termination. The Government Is on trial, and
treason must now be forever suppressed, or become
an established institution in the Government 10
treat the traitors as prisoners of war and release
them when hostilites are for the time suppressed,
would protract the war indefinitely and give II a
chronic existence.
We presume that this is the question which the
telegraph recently reported the Government as de-
liberating upon. There is but one course open to
it. fit is IN the right eUeTg rebel in arms deserves
death If it means TO put down the rebellion, the
leaders must be Slnaariy erecded By martial t1U and
,uhere IL RENTS the penalty to the masses should be
done only nth the alternative of the oath of allegiance.
This is the way TO put down rebellion. anything
short of this will be false humanity, that will re-
suit in greater bloodshed Let us not be chary only
l@fa That
of best loyal citizens is to be poured out like
water.
Now, Union men, ponder will this fiendlike and
most infamous design. Look well to it, and ask
yourselves if you can still vote to adhere to peo-
pie whose leading newspapers enjoin the summary
execution of your brothers. neighbors and friends,
after drum head cou t martial. Can you, Union
men, have the heart and the conscience to uphold,
justify encourage the execution Of these bloody
purposes upon those, with whom you minge in
social intercourse, whose wives and little are
your neIghbOrs, whose country is your country and
whose God is your God There can no longer be
any neutrality in such cause. You are either for
US or against US. You are either the friend and
sustainer Of these men, who would hang your count
rynen should they become helpless captives, or you
are with your fellOw-citizens in this fight.
You can no longer profess friendship to
your neighbor and uphold this bloody
programme. You must now take sides,
and become accessory to the murder of Tennesseans
by cowardly shrinking from the discharge of your
duty, and giving aid and comfort" to the assassns
of your rights and liberties, or you must nobly
dare to take stand with your own countrymen. and
resolve TO do or die for the cause of independence
from such Government as this. God give you q
wise h,ice, and direct your minds and hearts to
the patriotic discharge of duty!