The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-05-22


lude to one incident, illustrative of their
treatment of those engaged in rebellion
1t will be borne in mind By many Senators
that about sixty refugees from the NeapOli-
tan Government were directed to be sent to
this country. Many of them had been i'm
prisoned for ten years, and doubtless the
Senate will remember one little incident of
that venerable old man, called Sim
brini. He had lain for ten years
in prison, until the chains bad worn
deep holes in his wrists, and when he was
put on board the vessel, %he told this re-
markable story: "The first year l was in
prison had but two inches of light, and
there was tree before my prison bars, and
a little bird came and sang for me some
weeks, but his Majesty happened to bear o.
it, and be had the bird shot" nd yet,
never heard of any Government calling
into question the acts of that Government.
There was a party in rebellion against an
established Government. Surely it cannot
be said, by implication here, that any Gov
eminent would have right to call in ques-
ton our treatment of criminals in cur own
land.
Military commanders may, for want of
definite instruction and as mere matters of
convenience, follow the maxims of the pub
lie laws of war. But a Government is
bound by no such considerations where its
citizens are the other belligerent party, I'M
less it be in case of blockade, which, as af-
fecting the worlds commerce, is matter of
International law. 1t seems true, sir, that
We have fallen more or less into the error
we should avoid. Why should our armies
restrict their seizures of rebel property to
that found in rebel camps, and contraband
of war according to the international code?
81, g for q ha ant IF FL
erty in private hands belongs to rebels, it
is right; but if it is on the ground that we
are bound to observe the rules of interna-
tional warfare, and recognize only organ
lied bodies, it is wrong
We seem to be under the delusion that
this is properly war, instead of a contest
for the arrest and punishment of our own
citizens, who have committed felony, and
! every one Of whom is individually respon-
! sibe for the crimes of this rebellion, and
might be adjudged to the death penalty IN
der the existing law; a view which trans
| forms the measure now before the Senate
from an aspect of sauguinary cruelty TO one
of unheard leniency-a measure providing
for the release Of the great body of Grim
inals from the penalty of violated law, and
reserving only a few leaders to punish
ment.
hold, sir, that every loyal citizen OF
South Carolina, or of Mississippi, or of any
other of the rebellious States, is as much
entitled to tie rights and privileges of this
Government as loyal citiz of New York,
Indiana, or any other of the loyal States
To listen to any other teachings, to adopt
any other policy, would be rank injustice.
We should therefore be very careful not to
countenance, in the slightest degree, any
proposition looking to the destruction of
the States and the organization of terrific
rial government within their Limits for in
direct terms we would admit the foul doc
trine of secession. Therefore | say, with
all due respect, the less favor we show to-
wards measure like that of the Senator
from Massachusetts (Mr. Sumner) the bet
ter, for if it were passed, fear it would be
an invitation to the great Powers of Europe
to recognize and give force to this revolu-
ton. The Government denies, with all its
energies, that under the Constitution there
can be any such thing as che secession of a
State. 1t does not look upon this rebellion
as the act of States, but as the act alone OF
the individuals who have engaged in it.
Mr.. President, this powerful nation needs
a strong Government BY temporiZing, and
by the want of frmness and decision, we
foster and tolerate enemies in all parts OF
the country. What the people demand,
and will have, is a strong Government TO
punish promptly and completely the mon
s,rous and unparalleled crimes which have
been committed against its authority. JUS
tce cries aloud for vengeance upon the
banded traitors who have conspired to de-
stroy this Government. They have perpe-
trated the highest crime against God and
civilization; and there can be no enduring
peace until they have been made to pay the
penalty. We are not only contending for
unity and the supremacy of the law, but for
the respect of the great nations of the
earth. By the vigorous prosecution of this
war, and by melting out the terrible ven-
geance which this rebellion has called down
upon it's leaders, we will have a sure means
to prevent any future renewal of the hor-
rors of civil war, and impress the nations
with the power and stability of the Repub-
Tic, and the hazards they would run in in
terfering with our affairs.
CONCLUDED TO- MoRRow.