Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-03


fully establishes one Of the points of su-
periOrity claimed by the rebellious South.
It is their unsurpassed capacity for lying
They claim superiority in everything. In
this particular the whole world must ad-
nit their claims. There is in their own
estimation nothing they are not capable of
doing; and there is nothing they do which
is not moral, proper and right. For
years the Southern code Of morals per-
mitted the Imprisonment, beating, maim-
ing, hanging, and burning Of human be-
ings without the forms of law. This does
not prevent them from claiming to be the
most religious and the most humane peo-
pie on the face of the earth. When their
leaders, including this same JEFF. Davis,
took oath after oath to abide by the Consti-
tuition and laws, perjuring themselves for
the sole purpose of destroying the Govern
ment, they boasted Of their honor and their
strict morality.
These self sufficient lords of the old Nor
man blood assume control of the laws of
God, which they define or amend to suit
their purposes. According to them, it is
their heaven-born right to make and un-
make the rules of common justice, or to
disregard them with impunity, and call it
good morals.
They attack the Government, call its
adherents traitors. They have inherent
powers above all other men to lie, steal
and murder as a matter of righteousness.
The States that remain true to the Consti-
tuition are, according to their morals and
their logic, violators Of the Constitution.
FiiIvsO- --sI.e=s1stsr iutU aTnrud v1 Z sanisatiens
to tear it to pieces are its only supporters.
Our navy is piracy, while Captain semmes
is an honorable example Of naval war and
comfy. They are equally independent Of
the rules of literature. Men who cannot
write. \ familiar letter without violating
the photography and grammar of the Eng
lish language, become in their hands men
of learning.
The last production of Mr.. Davis, against
General Butler and his officers, is merely
an extension of this practice Of ignoring
all law, human or divine. He pOr-
fesses to speak facts to the world, as the
pretended head of a etended COnfed-
eraey. He has in all European capitals
public liars whose business it is to repeat
his lies. The rebellion was gotten up by
falsehood in its myriad forms, skilfully
poured into the ears of ignorant men who
could not reply to it. 1t has existed and
thrived upon falsehood When this re-
source shall fail, the rebellion will go un-
der. England is now the victim, as she
will one day find to her cost. In this
brutal and lying paper, Mr.. Davis is not
presenting himself in any new light or
character. His people have for years acted
upon the plan he recommends. He and
they call it right and honorable. They
refer to themselves, and to him and their
other public characters as the types Of
superior race. But the world knows that
their Christianity consists in the perpetra-
ton of continual barbarities. These men.
have committed them till they consider
them virtues. sThey may hang General
Butler and his officers, and all the slaves
whom they catch, but this will add moth
ing to their reputation for ferOcity. They
have always done such deeds.
Their code of morality is very simple
It has but one clause" whatever we choose
to do is right" this embOdies the whole
code. Unrestrained will and passion are
the supreme law of these lOrdly aristOcrats,
whose ancestors left their country under
for its certain benefit. Their
arrogance would be merely ridiculous
were it not for the mischief it may produce
abroad. We have no idea that JEFF. Davis
will execute these diabolical threats. They
are made purely for foreign efect-as a
text for his Lirelings there.
Our Government would do we'll to col
lect and publish each instance where
Union men have been insulted, robbed, ex-
pstriated and murdered by these saints of
the devil. Enough barbarity has been
committed by them in this war, without
the enormities committed before,
to astonish every savage throughout the
earth.