Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-02-03
Has tho Government Right to Suppress
Treason

Treason
S, far as political parties are concerned 'h''
seem to be the question that ia now dividing the
North The Republicans take the affirmative
and insist that there is no lin talion to the right
of the Government to use its utmost power Tor
the destruction of tho rebellion. The llller-day
Democrats take the negative, and argue that, i
the Government can crush out, what they are
pleased to call irregular opposition to the con
stituted authorities" il may be well enough 10 do
so, but in no event must it interfere with the con-
slltutional rights of rebels 10 hold slaves Better
let the rebellion succeed, permit the hayward
sisters to depart in peace than lhu' interfere
with the divine institution. Each Of these par
lies works In the direction Of its belief t e one
urging more vigorous prosecution OF the wal,
aud an assauItupon every interest that strengthens
treason, while the other, seeing that, il the var IL
prosecuted as war, Slavery must go to the wall
and ts existence on this continent be forever ter
minated, ia, with more or less frankness, opposing
the war, and striving to bring abo Ut a miserable
compromise, hollow truce, and disgracsfuI
peace. These opponents Of the war talk nppant-
y Of the constitutional rights Of those who are
opposing the Government whether North or
South We invite their attention TO the consti
tulional rights, and tho rights older than tho con-
siitution, of those who uphold the Goyernmtni,--
and Just now, and until traitors lay down their
arms, we think those rights arc u moro conse.
quenco than the rights Of tho criminals who are
working TO overthrow the Constitution and de
suoy tho Republic.
What right has the Government-or the Peo'
pie who are tho Governmeut-in this civil war 7
The answer has been given over and over again, -
tho right to preserve their institutions. 10 this
end, they may, By the strong power Of armed
force, overwhelm and destroy their adyersaros
How shall they do this Here's the rub The
peace party say We must fight as we wo1ld carry
on judicial proceeding in cour, in tines Of pub
lie quiet, and resort to no violent measures agains
treason which may not DO employed in times
Of peace against ordinary criminals. Tho wal
party insist that We may fight treason as We may
fight any ether public enemy, limited only by
the usages Of civilized warfare.
And here lies the logical answer to this Demo
cratic cutlery ebout unconstitutional methods o
warfare, aud one justification for hose who are il
avor Of striking treason hard blows, vii, II yot
asht treason at all you have war, and, when tina
comes, you make the usages Of civilized warfare
for the time being, part Of your constitution
There is no escaping this oonclusion.-1ho Con
stitution specifically confers no right on the Gov
eminent to blockade Southern ports. 1t givei
no Union soldier right TO shoot q rebel soldier
in battle. 1t gives the Govcrnmsn n, no right e
destroy private property by marching troops over
farms waving with harvests ready for the sickle
Il nowhere authorizes the bombardment Of rcbo
strongholds Ia ehort, according to its lO,tcr
and vilhou, interpreting il, as all instruments an
Interpreted, hycrabiy for tho purpose for which
it was made and to thu end that the Government
may have power to pteser'e itself, the old Publ
Funciionary was right 10 his imbece mes
ages, declaring treason to DO wrong and levy
ns war upon the Government, very ba(
thing and twas great pity the rebels could n
be persuaded not to do ii, but there was no bel
for it except in compromise, Cancellation and tn
most inpotent kind Of self-defenee. The rebel
claimed this construction Of he constitution a
correct, and have always insisted that the nationa
authority could not be- enforced, conNituiionslly
by the strong urm.-And their construction an
Buehanan's was either righ' or wrong. II RICH
then the Government has been wrong in ever
step Of the war and the Union has no strength
eIcep, in the consent, from day to day, Of tn
s. es which compose ii. II wrong, then til
Government has tho power to make war upol
the rebels and compel them, by the common usa
yes Of warfare, to submit themselves again 10 tn
authority they have trampled under foot. TneT
is aud can be 20 middle ground. But the Go,
eminent cannot be 30 impoieni as the rebels woul
have it, and il must therefore have the right /
employ war as an agency in ovcrthrowing ,reaso
= and restoring its righ,tul authority in every PAL
u Of the Union.
i But these peace Democrats pretend TO hay
u another r,Iuge, They insist that Wills il
strictly constitutional 10 blockade Southern port
: lombard Southern towns, and shoot Souther
traitors by hundred, on the battlefield, ii
most glaringly unconstitutional, to allow Soulher
Uniousts, il they happen to be black aud by til
local law are reckoncd as property 10 aid the Coz
ernmen, 10 any way in It's assaults upon treason
It is right Tor the Government to invite the viii,
u people Of Virginia to join the Union armies an
u promise them protection against their lrsitorJ
c rulers, bu, il is not right TO mako the came a
surance 10 a colorsd man. Such an argumen
: when simply stated, carries with it the e,idenS
!! Of its own hllacy. 1t proposition that car
& not for a moment be sustained, except upo
n reasoning that would deny to the Government
p any power beyond moral sunsiOn in putting dow
II rebsllions.
Is We ask pardon Of our readers for taking q
l. much space to prove that the nation has the rgt
l. to make war on enemies, whether internal or c,
s. tsrna, and, having that right, Is to BIZ goyerne
10 ia exercise by the usases of civilized wariar
n Alone But the Democratic party, which is no
y gal,aniziog itself into life in many of the 10y
n, States, specifically denying this right, aud /, ms
e be worth while to rscur to first principles