The Lansing state Republican., 1862-05-14


Rebellioo 10 treason, and treason is the great
ct crime. We look upoo the present rebellion
- the most wicked and wanton, the most unpro-
voked and unmidgated Of any that ever occurred
in the history Of the world.
The men Who planned it and Get it in motion,
stand Condemned before the civilized world -
the most disbolical and desperate villains that
ever trod the earth. There = po excuse, no
palIiaeioo for them. Their crime is caaseless and
admits Of no compronlse. Their offence 10 rank
lit smells TO Heaven. They deserve, and must
receive, svift pssislment
II win not do 70 talk Of coseiliating them.
Cooeiliatipg traitors! Does the judge upon the
bench think ofeoneiliating the convicted wretch
upon whom he 10 about to pronounce sentence
for his nisdeeds: Il coaciliasioo for men who
have attempted 70 ruin their country By rebel
lion, and in prosecsting that rebellion have CON.
nistsd not only the crime Of treason but almost
every other crime, in the catalogue! The word
vosd sco6 as ~ The traitors themselvss do
sst expect It. They will consider themselves
the luckiest dogs alive il they escape alive, and
save their precious nscks from the halter.
We are among those who believe, that the
certainty. rather than the severity, Of punish.
nent. 10 what prevents nep from the commission
Of crime. and ". would not visit spos the rebels
the ssssst penalties Of the law, In punishment,
Sss their treason. This would defeat the object
and end Of Punishment. We are opposed to the
death penalty, except as . military necessity.
Whes the rebellion shall have been crushed, the
necessity will have ceased for putting an end to
their Improbable lives. They deserve il, but
tho magnitude Of the rebellion forbids il. And
yet, they must be punished How shall it be
done!
The objects Of punishment, in al human gov
srnuents, are. or should be. first, to promote
the good of the commonwealth, and second, to
bring about the reformation Of the offender.
Nov, how can these objects be best accom-.
plished in punishin the rebels! What form of
psnishnsnt will, At the same time. accomplish
beth these ends! We answer, that We believe
that essfseatio~ Of the property, real and per-
sosal. Of the rebels, and that only, win do il.
This is the only way in which the governnent
can reimburse itself for the enornous expense
Of putting dswn the rebellion, without doing
gross injustice to innocent loyal men, and, in our
opinion, it will prove the nest eficacieus policy
- chastissment Of the offenders.
We would make con6seaton ssssepinq towards
the Einglsadera. We veuld make paupers Of
them. They should disgorge their ilgosten
wealth, to the last dollar, to replsnish the na
tienal ezchequer. ''Ths gold that sinevs bought
and sold" have earned, should be taken from
them to repair, a. far - il will 30, the mischief
they have done. We wosld make terrible ex.
ample Of them, whose influence shaIl be felt to
the renotess postsrity. They should be stripped
Of their wealth and place, and made hereafter in
eligible to any place Of public trust.
Let them spend the remainder Of their wretch.
Cd lives in the vale Of humility, in csntenp ation
Of their great crime, and without the means Of
ever again raising the standard Of rebellion. Let
them zee their princely estates held and enjoyed
BY the loyal men they have despeiled. Let them
repent in sackcl0sh and ashes Of their misdeeds,
and when they die. the world will - bstter for
their absence.
With those Who have suffered themselves to
b nisled By the arch traitors, whose sin 10 one
more ef ignorance than Of intention, We would
pursue niIder policy. Each should pay fixed
ssn annually, according to bis ability, BY way OF
.fss, - . contiaual reminder Of his offenss
Meme should 60 unwhippsd Of justice. All
should learn the great lesson, that "hs that do
eth vrsos. shall receive for the wrong which he
hath doas, and there is no respect Of persona. |"
An shesld be taught BY sad experience the vital
truth. that 'thsagh hand join in hand, the
wicked shall not 20 snpunished."