The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-08-19

= aaerans murder 70 the crime cftrsa-
son, and vas guilty of The hasesi BY.
Pocrisy 10 save bic worthless hie; bns
Joab, asa brave and magnanimous
leader, listened 70 The ealpri,s plea
tor mercy, sounded trumpet to stay
hrs army from pursuit, and suffered
the rv,reaiing foe to retire with an the
hoaora of var 10 their o~a houcs.
Net another blow Was struck, not
a single prisoner was detained. not
hostage even was kept, and not 4 ain
gle life was demanded as forfeiture
for their crimes /, 1 probable that
Joab was ignorant, as yet, OF the death
Of Asahel, or nothing would have saved
the guilty assassin from instant death.
Had tho rebels been truly peniient
and DESTROYS Of an honorable peace, il
we're well, perhaps, that they were so
freely forgiven, and left to think over
their crimes at leisure, and return 10
their allegiance without added severi-
ty or seeming eompulsion. And It Is
easy 10 see that If Joah erred. il was
on the side Of mercy. lie showed a
kind and forbearing spirit toward an
humbled and retreating foe, and
willingness to show mercy quite as
soon as it was deserved. But time
proved that he was altogether too LEM
lent and forgiving. There was no
real penitence, no loyalty in their
hearts, and they only abused their
benefactOr by recruiting their forces,
and returning with new yigor to their
reasonable work. And in this way
David himself often erred, as when
he made great feast and called tho
traitor Abner to share in lis festiyi.
ties and then, the pompous mourning
he made at his death; a mark Of con
sideration that was never shown 10 the
most brave aud loyal Of his own gen
erals. When Asahel fell by the hand
of the traitor, lighting valiantly for his
king and his country, David passed it
over in the most profound silence.
But when man who made himself
vile, fell, as did Abner, by tile hand
OF the ayenger Of blood, as God had
appointed, then he is mourned and
bewailed as though "a great man had
fallen in Israel, and the most terrible
curses were invoked upon tho head Of
his executioner. Thus treason was
treated tenderly, and the traitor him
self, was abundantly honored.
And who cannot sec the same mis-
take repeated over and over again, in
our own army. Whenever there is
but seeming cessation of hostilities,
or a mock oath of allegiance taken,
the most desperate Of rebels have been
released, and not an example has been
made Of the most radical traitors, and
seeessionists, taken in arms against the
peace and liberties Of their country
Multtudes have been set free to abuse
their benefactors; stir up sedition,
raise new armies; make more hostile
demonstrations, and commit more ter.
rible atrocities than they had been
guilty Of before. In some instances,
more profound respect has been proher-
ed tore rebellion, union sentiment has been
discharged, and the hearts OF the loyal
have been made sad. BY afalse andov-
er strained sympathy with rebels, trea-
son has become rampant and the vilest
of wretches have been shielded from
the penalties Of their own misdoing.
9th. And finally as a most striking
parallel, we have learned that false
sympathy for crime has encouraged
and strengthened rebellion, and pro-
longed and intensified tile war. Had
Joab but followed up his advantage,
!. in that first conflict, and only held
! the leading traitor to u strict and un-
compromising account for his sins, the
whole rebellion would have been crush
ed at q single blow. The removal Of
: but one vile and unprincipled man, the
moving spirit, in this foul insurrection,
would have ended the war, and saved
the nation aygstamount Of treasure and
life. Just so long as the cause ofthis un-
hallowed rebellion was left unharmed,
and at liberty, there could be no ter
I, rnination 10 the strife. Hence they suf-
fered a long war, with all its attendant
horrors, which might have been ended
. at first, with but one just and summary
: Punishment. Peace was out or the
questson, so long as this traitor was
suffered TO live. For seven full
years Abner made himself strong