Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-12-18

from Texas oil the execution, or father tue |
massacre, of Union men in that State, 1t is |
given with all particularly of detail in the
Texas Republican of the lst ultmo 1t is,
briefly, that secret Union organization had
been discovered in Cook County, contiguous
to the Indian Territory, which had ramlfica-
tions into Grayson County, the members OF
which were entrusted with three degrees-the
hrst degree being secresy, the second jayhawk-
ing and robbery doubtless alse), and the
third degree " contemplated the re-establlsh-
ment of the old Union" The plot was dis
covered seventy of the Unionists were ares
tsd-and at the first effort, taceaty.fo Of them
scere tried and executed. Subsequently to this
two rebels We're shot, probably by persons OF
their own kidney, as shooting has always been
common enough in Texas--and this furnished
a pretext for another general hanging of I'm
ionists. "The number executed in Cook
County, at last accounts" says the Texan pa
per, was torty-tpo, and two others were shot
in attempting to make their escape. Others,
says the editor, dit was expected, would be
summarily dealt with;" and then he adds
"Snce writing the foregoing 1T is rumored
that several persons have been hung IN Gray
son County, and among them DIR. Lively"
This isindeed a fearful record, and atsbe
anything we have yet heard OF the wholesale
executions of loyalists in East Tennessee or
elsewhere. Some fifty men-and 1t may be
twice or thrice that number by this time-led
out to the gallows and hung, only few weeks
ago, because they were loyal and true to the
Union: it is almost too shocking for belief
Those who know what the forms OF trial are
in Texas, and what were probably the sur
ro,utlings and incidents of these executions
can form some idea of their horrors.-N. I.
If7ssS.
n he manner in which loyal men have been
treated in East Tennessee is well known; and
thole Is no reasonable doubt that the only crime
OF these Texan victims, was that of fidelity to
the Union.
Great complaint is made at the North OF the
arrest of persons accused of disloyal practices,
Th, government may in some particular IN
starccs have taken measures which proved to
be unnecessary in this respect. Whether so
Or not, we do not propose to discuss now IL
NAV be said, briefly, that at a time OF such
fearful! national CONFUSION at a time when
treason was lurking in every branch OF the
government, affordng information and comfort
to the enemy, which proved well nigh fatal to
the cause of the Union; at a time when ma
tional selfpreservation was the first duty and
necessity of the hour; it is hardly possible to
suppose that any administration, of however
honest intentions, could have proceeded with
the vigor, necessary under such circumstances,
without occasioning some instances of individ
nal injustice.
But those who are now constantly arraign-
ing the administration, for its exercise of the
power Of arrest, and who have been at the
same. time loud in denouncing it for lack OF
vigor and for all sorts of ineficency, are well
known to be chiefly those who are either noto-
rious for their sympathy with the rebels, or for
a partisan opposition to the administration,
leading them to overlook the necessity of sus-
tanning it in the time of great national trial.
and to seize upon every opportunity arising
from its almost overwhelming burden of duties,
cares and responsibilities, TO impede and en-
barrass its honest endeavors to put down the
rebellion. Such are the Saulsburys, the Val
landighams, the Wycklyifes, and others {" of
that kidney" And the worst feature of the
matter is that their jealous efforts in this be-
half so absorb their energies, that they seem
to have no breath left with which to refer to
the barbarous hanging, shooting and knitting
by the rebels of their neighbors whose crime
is loyalty to the government of the United
States.
We mention these things now to call atten-
ton to the Texan method (Which has also pre-
vailed elsewhere in the South) of dealing with
those who are faithful to the Union, and
10 suggest another field for a portion, at least,
of the Remuneration now so lavlshly spent by
some northern persons and presses upon their
own government, while it is struggling for the
national preservation. Here is an appropriate
outlet by which they may, if they will, be re-
leved of some of their superintendent and pl-
Gus indignation.