The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-06-29

The government, conscious of its ility to sup.
press the southern rebellion, formidable as it has
become, has manifested lenency towards indi
vdual rebels who have come within its power,
amounting to carelessness of its own safety in
some instances. Davis's spies visit Washington
boldly, because they know that if caught they
can escape by taking the oath OF allegiance, and
men capable of treason will take and break any
numbers o: oiths, if it helps their purposes
Men released in this way at Washington have
been seen the next day skulking in the suburbs
with arms for the murder of our picket guards.
The Fairfax cavalry, who would not break the
oath upon which they were released, were driven
from Virginia by the rebels, with whom perjury
ia one of the cardinal virtues. 1t is stated that
there are yet quite number of clerks in the de-
partments at Washington who have refused to
take the oath allegiance, and some who are
openly offensive and indecent in their treasona-
BILE talk against the government whose bread
they are eating There is no magnanmty in
keeping such men in Office. II is an outrage up-
on the people, whose rights and opinions they
defy, and the safety of whose troops is endanger.
ed by this mis- taken leniency towards traitors
Up to within few days it is believed that jeff
Davis has had frequent and accurate information
from men in the employ of the government at
Washington of the doings and plans of the ad-
ministration Are there not loyal men enough in
the country qualified to serve as clerks in the
government offices at Washington, that JEFF. Da-
viss agents and spies must still be retaineds
In the same spirit of leniency, treacherous
army and ravy officers who resign their places
are allowed to depart freely to the South, to lead
the forces OF the enemy against us. General
Johnston, late commander-iu-chiefo OF the depart
ment Of the Pacific, has left California to join
the secessioniss in Texas. His purpose was
known to the array officers there but the idea of
OBTAINING him did not occur to them. Why
should it, when rebels officers even in Washing
ton throw down their commissions and go over
openly to the enemys camp. Is there no pro-
cess, legal, mliitary,or otherwise by which these
men can at least be detained till the war is over,
and kept out ;ef active mischief? To such
lengths has this forbearauce to the enemies Of
the Union and the government been carried, that
people are already asking if the pirates captur-
ed on board Davs's prIvatesr No l,expected in
New York Tor trial, will not be dismissed upon
taking the oath of allegiance The question is
absurd enough, but if the scoundrels should get
off without hanging nobody would be surprised.
IL is time that this sort Of thing should stop
1t is quite is mischevous as furnishing weapons
and ammunition TO the enemy. II is disheartening
to the people, who are willing to risk life and sac
riice comfort and property in the defense of
the government to see the rebels who were with
in reach Of Just punishment treated with such
consider alton if their miserable lives were OF
more account than the public safety and the
lives of loyal citizens If We are in earnest in
this war, let treat spies traitors, and pirates
according to their just deserts. They are not
the men to be killed with Kindness" and to at
tempt to heap Goals of fire on the heads of such
men BY good treatment is absurd. What they
need, and what the country needs in respect to
them, is that they should have full and prompt