The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-06-06
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The preparation which the government
has already made, and which it is sow
making, involves an immense expensc-
The mere outlay of money is small IN
comparison to the loss of time, the con-
sumption without production, and the de-
probation of every description Of property.
In view of this immense expenditure Of
money--the waste of time, the demoraliza-
tion of character which attends camp life
more or less-it is often asked by practical
men, what good, beside the restoration of
tho government, is to be the result Of all
these investments aud losses! We are
bound to admit that the restoration of
peace, the reassertion of the law, aud the
recognition once more, at home aud abroad,
Of our nationality, are great results, almost
incompatible to any achievement we could
make But what security are we ta have
after all these are accomplished, that they
shall continue? What right have we to
expect that the peace which we may en-
force at the point of the bayonet, will be
maintained and respected We have no
reason to hope that when the government
is placed on a sound foundation, that It's
operations are to be harmonious, and its
authority honored, as long as the element
and the incentive to treason remain in our
midst, in the person and the example
traitors Therefore there must be no
more paroles Of honor-no more offers Of
truce-no further pause in the execution
of law that is more imperative now than
it ever may again become when traitors
take the field. The federal government
owes it to itself and the country to declare
its policy toward the leaders in this rebell-
ion. Proclamation was made that unless
the rebels would lay down their arms in a
given time, force was to be used in procu-
ring obedience. Now the question arises,
VA the guilty be punished ?
There is law which fixes penalty for
treason. That law has been violated
Traitors abound all over the country. 1t
is not only those who are arrayed in hostile
front against the authority of the law, but
those who are endeayoring to impede the
overthrow of the rebels by systematic eff
forts to embarrass the operations OF this
government, that deserve punishment
themselves as traitors-that merit death
as the penalty Of treason. Such as these
will gradually meet the fate which is their
certain doom, but the government should
carry forward the execution of the laws
against the leaders of treason, by offering
reasonable rewards for their arrest, In or
der to have them fairly tried, and when
found guilty and condemned, promptly
executed Such action would have more
effect on the people of the south who are
tainted with treason, than dozen brigades
marching over their soil, desolating it in
their passage, and holding thousands of
prisoners until they could be discharged
on their parole of honor. 4 dozen halters
shaken over the heads Of Davis and his
associates would have more effect than
hundred sabres-and therefore it should
be distinctly understood that every leader
from Davis down to John Tyler, who is
taken in this struggle, viii be strung up
to the nearest tree after the shortest pos
sible drum-head court-martial Such
course would be arriving at practical results
in practical manner, becoming those who
were seeking good and deserving others
who merit punishment. 1t would be
achieving victories that would repay the
people for the money and time they have
already expended and wasted 1t would
give US the assurance that we could pursue
our greatness uninterrupted hereafter by
similar acts of treason-because if We ex-
terminate the breed by hanging the pres
ent race of traitors, we Will not again be
compelled to stop trade and business and
labor to quell rebellion. Let it be under
stood, then, that all the laws are to be
enforced, and that none so imperatively
demand execution as those which fix this
doom of death for traitors.