Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-15

CGuss fer AlaFn.
A eorrsspondent Of the Ohio State Journal
clssrly ssts forth the fact that We have Sc
rlsus cause for alarm lest Congress should
hn 70 speedily psns laws whish shall resul.
IN The puuishment Of traitoTa This subject
deserves consideration. The only punish
msnt for treason now upon the Htstute books,
& death There Is n doubt but that the
rssainas ofresidsnts Of the South are clearly
euilty Of treason, and ye. We cannot expect
O. desire that they should sll be put to death
fof that treason. Such an enactment never
oolld be carried oul and would be repug-
nans 70 our humanity, Il Il could be.-
We DO not mean to mitigate the crime or
ths penalty Of treason, but we cannot hang
tie hundreds Of thousands who undoubtedly
ere today guilty Of treason ct the South. And
b from ne certainty that no iurieH on
oaEth Wo1ld bring in q verdict Of guilty
against ell thess persona II it was certain
that tie penalty for all Of them vas to be
dsaEh, that We have q fear thEt none viii bs
Pauisbsd e they should be. Here is the
work for Congress to do-to provide penalties
Whioh can be sppIisd to the several classes Of
traitors in the South, aOCosdingt0 to the degree
% their criEe. II there were bat g handful
ogrshslS who had Waged war agAinSt the
government the death penalty EOnld be de-
mandsd By the people for all Of them. But
We shall hare q nation Of traitors on eur
haads. OF these there are the leaders and
ths followers. The people viii demand that
ths faEaer should suffer the extreme penal
. 3 oi he Law, and it is 10 be hoped thAs no
fllss lsaisacy on the part Of the Executive
VII commute this sentence in q single in
sisnOs Bat We may Be sure that tie fel-
i0Hsls viii not be hung, and If not hung,
thsg Win net be punished ct ell, without cd.
dlisQual legislation 70 meet the cass. They
Wil Sin Be citizens, can siIl talk treason,
and caa ssnd TO Congress sympathissrs with
than1slVes. II they are thus left in the full
oaloynsnt Of their privileges as American
Oltissns, it win be an acknowledgment to the
world that their treason is no crime, and
not sFOn q misdemsanor. Such q stats Of
things, IN which these traitors viii have
ssusl voice ss Of old IL the legislation Of the
o0unEy, Is fearful to contemplate. In 1t
eOuld be f0und no security against another
rsbalHon.
What then shall Congress do 70 meet the
snsrgoaeyi Clearly, Psss OOaaSOasiOn and
sz1ncipatiOa bills, and also declare that
srsason shall ineaPaOitass any mAn nom
Ornnsnt Ths Democracy, under Vallsndig-
hams LEAD, are opposing any OF these or
similar measures, from their sympathy for
sOatheFn rObsls, but we may be thankful
thst VallaudighamiSn does not rule either in
ths North or in Congress. The rebels must
hllP pay the expenses Of the war they have
Wegod; and therefore We must have cOnAs-
eaton bills. We must ciFcEmscribe the
Hmitg end power Of the seOurSed institution
which has usas the South ovsFbearing, ty-
rsRioal and tEaitOrOus; and therefore the
siaFes Of rebels must be emancipAted. We
mlat guard against any further usurpadOnS Of
poFE b. those Who hsVe abused that which
thsy have possessed; and therefore they must
Be- dsnssd the right Of legislation. And We
must punish the mass Of traitors, and there
fuse al these things must be done.
Bat Congress must ses promptly and deei-
Sivsly, for Section Of Article Of the Con-
sstution declares thss ''no q post faeto law
shall Be passed" By Congress. An spot
fs5to iaW is one (which makes an set pun
iEhable ia 3 manner in which 1t was not pun
lshabls whsn committed" Hence no law
Pansd By Congress for the punishment Of
tsssson win aPply to any ''0veFt scf' Of trea.
son committed before the Gct was passed
Hers is one great danger. The rebellion iS
hang speedily crushed By the military power
Ct he GoTsEnnent. In sixty days hence It
nay be dimcalt 70 convict the inhabitants Of
ths South Of an covert act," although they
ny hsvs eommiftsd thousands before that
tine Thousands, therefore Of the most &C.
tvs Of the rebels win escape scot free for
want ef some penalty beside that Of death be-
iag sPPlicsbls to their Gases.
Thsse considerations are of vital imPOr-
taaes, and Congress viii not be justified In
fhs sysl Of he people If 1t does not act in
TIE premises.
P.R-sinos the above Was in type we
haEa received, By orr Special Washington
dIspsisbss, the synopsis Of the bill reported
b. tie Ssnsts Special Committee. From a
h15iy glance ct this synopsis, the bin seems
aged one, and We aops to Sesit put through
as e. early day.
NSWs nron southsrn Sources.
Ths Riehnond papers are calling upon