Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-12-19

position unreasonable. They represent
slave State, and from education, association
and identity Of peculiar interests, they find
themselves bound by strong ties 20 those who
are in open rebellion. While, therefore, al
lowances should be made for such men, and
some consideration il not respect, is due to
their position, it is very clear that none is due
to Northern men who are rebelling against
all the influences of patriotism and the prin-
ciples and interests Of their own people. They
are inexcusable, nay all but criminal, for per-
hitting themselves to stand in the same rank
with Southern Senators who are certainly
suspected Of friendship for the South border
ing upon disloyalty itself. 1t is well to be
jealous Of encroechments upon personal lib
erty, and to be careful to visit innocence with
the seventies due only to crime but It is
equally well to be jealous of the life Of the
nation, and to be careful that treason shall
not be permitted to succeed in its cruel work
to the guilty.
The government is accused of harshness
and severity by its opponents; and yet the
rule has been to hold no man in duress who
would take the oath Of allegiance. Ia that
too much to ask of man who is accused or
suspected Of the crime of treason Is it I'M
just to'say that the man who will not pledge
himself to fidelity to his country, deserves ar
rest as dangerous man; Nay, is not the
loyalty Of every copperhoad to be justly
doubted, when he would make treason easy
by exacting no pledge Of loyalty from sus-
pected persons; The fact is that the Gov
eminent has been too lenient II may have
mistakes in its arrests it may have been de-
ceiyed by false accusations and yet for every
case Of this kind, venture to say, there have
been ten cases where dangerous men have
been permitted TO 60 free. The administra-
ton has had difficult task and has erred on
both sides let Us fairly consider whether it
would not have been absolutely better and SAT
or for the country II it had erred altogether on
the side Of too much severity Hard indeed
as il is for an innocent ma" 80 ee.out on from
his business and family, and well fed and
cared for in a government fort; but, after
all, patriotic man would gladly endure
that rather than permit treachery to have
free course in the ruin Of his country. We
could afford to suffer awhile and to wait pa
tiently the hour which is to restore his liber
ty and hisgood name, when by so doing he
was making genuine sacrifice on the alter
Of patriotism If any man has suffered I'M
Justly, let us accord to him the honor Of hav-
ing suffered for his country but let us not
complain Of the Government for too much eff
fciency against treason. It was It's duty to
be efficient The New York Evening Post
well says
Thepatoi ofthc Revolution 100 ti,e 70 hest ate
DO such cases. The Baltimore American Of Monday
cites letter of General Washington to Governor itum
bull, Written N1vem lt15, in which The Father of his
County not only armed the right aud tine proprey Il
.cizing upon the dsafec.ed, The plotcts against the
county but De went 20 for 60 propose resng those
Who he says I'VE know i1f0 be active against us with
proposing Co vail Mr The overt att.
lis noF very apparent" he wrote chat have moth
ag ag5Tna ape9 u l @ t ts sane measar be-
~ =, 10y ~ psssss, ~ M ~ io, ia. 40 Asrt sssa az,
ln 1ic arr psens rpaa riais chag Dc safvsd 20
.uis arset tft kaor taeg ir a9 frrg ml.thy -
ttr perer These, sr ar points hrs leave tosohm 70
Jour SERIOUS cousidrratiYu."
But while the government has the right TO make ar
rests without process law boz such cNlgcuces as these,
IL should remember that in exercising this power the
should be- used 20 do wrong 10 any nno
person. To inspire confidence in is Judgment and
proby, the Administration ought % have made public
The circumstances and for all arrests, not at u G
time then regular intervals; m This way Il would
have jusuht itself before the people, 10 would have
given enemies and opponents such advantages as
they have; would have carried the consent q All loyal
men IL would have made ridiculous beforehand, those
solemn pro ests with which the Nalanaighams the
Coxes, thc saulsburys the Wickifes, strive IN :he
name 81 liberty. support disunon and 90 srcug then
the failing cause OF rebellion.
j. is here thc government has made mstlFeiu the
needless secrecy and mystery with which has made ar
rests and ordered imprisonment Secrecy and mystery
always lead suspicion Of tyranny and wc believe u
is the fault # the administration, to-day Or traitors,
sh9 most justly aud necessarily confined. 20 keep
them ont 90 mischief 40 critical moment now that they
are released, able 90 gain sympathy for themselves
aud bring 0dinm ON the government Let me admins
tuition the nation With confidence, Def % do openly
and board a that Is necessary 60 De done. The
people Of This country have given everything TO maintain
the Union they silly as % reject the COM
mouest measure Of pudence-the arrest % traitor or
secret enemy.