The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-12-26
p. 1856; see also "Mahon's History of Eng
land" VOL III, o, 479l

land" Vol. ILL.,, p. 40.
i In our own history but single insurrec.
ton or rebellion deserving the name has
occurred, previously to that which is now
in progress; namely: the instruction o.
I 1874, in certain Western counties, compris-
| ing the Fourth Survey of Pennsylvania
caused by an attempt to obstruct the exc
cution Of the acts for raising a revenue on
distilled spirits and stills. Although this
outbreak, lasting about four months, crea-
ted in the minds of the timid fears as to the
stability of the Government, yet it is doubt
full if the rebels had, at any time, at their
| disposal, over $1,000 men; and it does not
appear that the Union was ever seriously
threatened.
On the 10th of July, 1895, the President,
George Washington, issued q Proclamation
granting pardon to the Western Insur-
gents;' in which, after reeiting that certain
commissioners appointed by him "to con-
fer with the citizens in the Western Coun-
ties OF Pennsylvania had promised in his
name, that if assurances of submission to
the laws should be subscribed by the citi-
zens concerned in the insurrection, a gene
raj pardon should be granted for all often
ses against the United States committed by
these persons previous to the 22d of August,
1874, he proceeds:
Washington, President of the United States,
have granted, and by these presents, do
grant full, free and entire pardon to all
persons excepting as is hereinafter excep-
ted) of all treasons, misprisons of treason
and other indictable offenses against the
United States, committed within the Fourth
Survey of Pennsylvania before the said 22d
day OF August last past, excepting and ex-
Guiding therefrom, nevertheless, every per-
son who refused or neglected to give and
su bscribe the said assurances in the man
ner aforesaid (or, having subscribed, hath
violated the same)and now standeth indict-
ed or convicted of any treason, misprison
OF treason or other offense against the Uni
ted States, hereby RENTING all penalties
incurred, or supposed to be incurred, for or
on account of the premises"
This instruction broke out in the Sum-
mer of 1884. In July of that year, 500 arm
ed men resisted the officers Of the law and
burned the Inspectors house. BY the 1st
of August the number Of insurgents under
arms had swollen from 5000 to 1000 men,
who assembled, on that day, at BraddOck's
Field, on the Monongahela. At a later
period they are said to have had the con-
troll of IL, 900 men. nts
The President issued a proclamation
warning the insurgents of the pains and
penalties of treason, and cOmmandingthem
to dispense. Afterward he appointed
three Commissioners to confer with the
leading Rebels, who at first evaded all sat
ASldCCOIy leIIlS, DuG Audlly, dllei tAc IeSi-
dent had called out $4,000 militia to sup
press the instruction, gave way and agreed
to the signature by the inhabitants of the
insurgent district, of articles ofsubmission
to the laws Of the United States, the Com
missioners covenanting that on such con-
ditions they should be pardoned. This re-
stored tranquility; but $500 troops remain
ed, throughout the Winter Of 1915, en-
camped in the insurrectionary district
("History of the United States,' by George
Tucker, Vol. l. PIP. 55l to 55S' Also, Ellis
tory of the United States of America by
Richard Hildreth, Vol. ~, PIP. 49S to 516.)
The final pardon by President Washing
ton, it will be observed, is granted condi-
tionally, the condition being the signing Of
certain articles ofsubmission. All indicted
or convicted rebels who refused or neglect
ed to subscribe, or having subscribed af-
terward violated the conditions, are ex-
cepted. .Ha
notwithstanding snch presidents, there
will be found many objections to this pro-
posed exercise Of clemency and to the
prudent and necessary conditions at
attending it, as an arbitrary exercise OF
the one man power. These objections
will come from men who are in the habit OF
lauding, as the only bulwark of liberty, the
Constitution of the United States, as often
as it suits their purpose of the hour, and
cOndemning the very carrying out of its
clearest provisions, whenever these run
counter to partisan aims and sordid in
trigues.
These men seem to take pleasure in for
gettingswhat many of us thoughtlessly fail
to bear in mind-that when Government
founded on the popular will has shown it
self to be just, fOrbearing, free from tyran-
ny or oppression, resorting to force only at
the last moment, and up to the time it was
assailed productive to millions of
treemen of a security and prosperity
scarcely matched in all history, treason
against it is one of the blacklist of human
crimes. Can any man estimate, can the
Imagination adequately picture, the misery
in countless shapes that has already been
the result of that stupendous crime? Far
more than this, can any man even imag-
inc what might have been the direful con-
sequences for generations to come had
reason succeeded in her parricidal attempt
had Gettysburg and half dozen more
such fields each witnessed the overwhel-
ming defeat of the Union arms? Who can
tell in such a contingency, into how many
petty sovereignties this American Union
would have dwarfed down? what endless
jealousies, what countless wars, might
have sprung up between these rival frag-
ments-fragments never more, it may be-,
in our day, or in the days perhaps ofour
children's children, again to be united into
ing the respect of mankind?
Does such crime as that need no par
don? It's authors once subdued, do they
become innocent in virtue of that subjuga-
ton? Is no purgation required? Of
fences should be forgiven. The prodigal
son was received again to his paternal
home. But not until he had ahjured his
riotous life; not until his humility and re-
pentance had found words: :Father, l
have sinned against Heaven, and before
thee, and am no more worthy to be called
thy son, make me as one Of thy hired SER
wants." Unrepented crime cannot, conss-
tently with public order, be passed by I'M
noticed and unpublished. Why else, our
criminal courts and our penitentiaries?
1t is Il solemn thing to admit once more
within the peaceful precincts ofthe Union,
insurgents who for years have been aiming
deadly blows at its existence. We forgive
much, if we receive again to full fellow
ship all who exhibit spirit of contrition,
and if we respect the lives and the personal
liberty even Of the uncontrite and contu-
macious. If, in the future, the peaceful
conduct Of these latter should commend
fhair case tn favor IL will ba ime apoupb