The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1862-06-12
True Clenency.

Bushwhacking or bauditti warfare i
evidently on the increase, in spite Of a
the efforts to repress it by posting de
tachmsnts Of military force in the infec
ted districts. Not only is this true i,
Missouri, but apparently the same is tn
case in other border States. Hence ther
Is reason to infer that the policy openly
recommended by Governor Leteher i.
the genera! and systematic plan adopted
oy the rebels to protect a state Of law
'essness and anarchy after they are inca.
paole of longer resistance by regular mil
ltary array. The feudish spirit which
prompted the rebellion 10 the FIRST place
stlIl actuates thousands of reckless, law
less men, who tiud their subsisteuc ce by
Plunder un der the pretence Of some semi
military character. Uuless this thing is
put stop to, the peace Of many sections
OF the country will continue to be dis
turbcd for an indefinite period 10 the
no quiet ana pfo1ressdkk ;asu ubdike pe4es
security for person or property, until
such banditti are suppressed by the
strong hand. The fear Of them, also,
must be etfectually dissipated in the
minds of peaceabic, orderly citizens.
What has been called clemency-mac.
nanimous forbearance towards the guilty
in the expectation of the moral effect OF
such course on othcrs-has been tried
to no purpose. Leniency has no such
effect on them. They laugh at its tim
'dity and weakness. Hundreds Of these
men have been arrested, and not a few
of them to whom o,ths of allegiance were
a jest and by-word have been discharged.
Others have taken encouragement to sim.
liar enterprises from seeing the impuui-
ty Of audacious leaders, arrested and let
90. Not one has yet been publicly exc
cuted; and it is high time that it was
tried on few fitting subjects.
We believe nothing would be so effec
tive IN restoring peace to the disturbed
districts, as to select fifteen or twenty
conspicuous offenders Of this sort, and
execute then in public and i;nomini-
GUS manner. The solemn rites Of Justice
IN such case should not be celebrated in
corner, but in public, and conspicuous.
/ ly, for al! men to witness
This we regard as the most humane
policy. 1t should be done for the more
etFcctual protection of human Iife-of the
lives Of hundreds of loyal Union ci,i-
zcns, that are now in hourly jeopardy.
Let dozen Of the known and fore,u ost
OF these bandits be executed as a ssluta-
ry warning to their fellows. If that be
not effective, let another installment fol-.
low, until the rest shall find that the mil.
ltary authorities do not bear the sword
IN vain.' Secession has melted men
cry i. to treat them as prisoner, of war and
not as outlaws, entitled to summary trial
Gnd short shriit The villains who sur
prise peaceful dwellings at midnight and
shoot unarmed men from lurking am
bush, are not soldiers, bu. assassins.
We met but day or two since, gen
tleman--a civilIan-from one of the
southeastern counties of the State who
had been shot through Obe bullet for
tunatel y not penetrating a vital part, but
making him an invalid to greater or
less extent for life, } by rebels in ambush
aiming at his life, solely because he was
an avowcd Union man. This was done
in the vicinity Of his home, where he has
resided for years. In somo districts Of
this State the Union man who ventures
abroad any distance from his house, takes
| his life in his hand.
/ Clemency. BY all means, clemency
! We would urge that policy, and no other.
But i. is clemeucy to loyal citizens e1-
posed to the piratical raids Of despera.
does The clemency that spares the ban,
dit, when the proof Of his guilt is clear,
is cruelty to society. These outlaws
should learn that "bushw hacking" is DO
holiday sport, but that the penalty is
sure and swift, to be stated by no whin-
ing importantly. Let them find that the
hemp for their necks is sown. and grown,
and hacked aud twisted and that Just.
ice will be prompt in fitting the moose to
its place.
1t is quite time that humanity towards
the citizen should have some weight in
determining what disposal shal! be made
of rebel outlaws taken in arms. No doubt
there are weak, ignorant, misguided men
among them, whose guilt is less than
that of others. There are such in every
association of bad men. Bu. among those
detected Froyrnnte dclicto there is no
need of nice discrimination as to degrees
of guilt Missouri Democrat.