, 1863-05-09
HOW TO TREAT NORTHERN ESE-
NILES OF THE IINT0N.

"
It would be q confession that we all the
while had the will but lacked the daring
that We waited for impunity. before We
could take courage to do right. In time
like the present, however, in which disas-
ter has its logical effect to depress the
friends Of the Government, and give more
evident malignancy and better grounded
hope to those who chuckle when the Union
armies are overtaken BY disasters, it is fit
and proper to still further advance our
standard, and to recommend new and more
effective safeguards for the preservation of
our now doubly imper1lled country.
Our readers will bear witness that this
journal has never had any concealments
or mental reservations as to the duty Of the
Government toward its traitorous foes in
the North. It has believed and always
maintained that an enemy IN the family
was twice as guilty and twice as danger
Gus as an enemy arrayed against us in the
field. It has held and sill holds that the
power OF the Government to curb ard
punish such is plcnary; that the Constitu.
ton contains within itself, by necessity
that cannot be set aside, the right of self.
preservation; and that in a.time Of insur-
rection and civil war, the President, b7
virtue Of his oath Of Office, is charged with
duties and clothed with powers that will
enable him, legally, constitutionallY and
rightiully to meet any emergency that may
arise whereby the destruction of the Con
stitution and the subversion Of the Gov
cInment are threatened. This is SO, or the
Government is farce. This is so, or AIr.
Lincoln is tyrant. and murderer when
ever he orders gun to be fired into the
rebel ranks, without the authorization OF
verdict Of twelve men condemnatory Of
those whom he would destroy. This is so,
or the Constitution, weak and inefficient,
is not worth preserving. It is SO. And
we, who have always lived in that faith,
have been unceasing in our calls upon the
Administration to make it the rule of ac-
ton in the North as we'll as in the
South--whenevcr, indeed, IN enemy
guilty Of language which by any
fair construction is reasonable and
seditious, or Of acts that purposely
give comfort and encouragement to the
enemy, dares to show his head or Wag his
tongue. We have said, and say again,
that the conduct Of the Administration in
this matter has been anomalous and unac-
countable, and were it not seduously mis-
it would be the wonder Of the
whole civilized world. 1t is without par
allel or precedent. No Government I'M
perilled as ours is, ever did permitin places
where its power was undisputed, the exer-
else with impunity, Of the treason that has
plotted in our midst. We say no Govern
ment has done this thing. We mean that
no Government has done this and lived
What is wanted is not a system Of terror
or a blind and irresponsible exercise of
power; but such judleious firmness and
severity in the punishment Of offences as
will make would-bc offenders cautious how
they place themselves within reach Of the
penalties reserved for crimes like theirs.
We ask only that which Washington in
the war Of Independence npproved-or
that which is now and always must be the
rule Of action in all civilized nations Gu
gagged in war. And we are glad to see
that, as the danger thickens, the views that
We, in common with the great majority Of
the earnest and thinking men of the Re
public, have entertained, are being adopted
at Washington; and that, though late, the
power of:the Government, inherent in its
essence, is to be put forth to save itself
from threatened destruction. Tie sqdelch-
ing Of Vallandigham, and the summary
justice enforced By the military arm in St.
Louis upon an hundred malignants no
worse than IN equal number In Chicago,
are an earnest Of what is 10 follow. The
people, who love justice for itself, and not
by reason Of the forms through which it is
reached, will cordially and hcarti.
IL approve. They, assured that the cause
is progressing and that the great objects
IF the war arc being attained, will turn q
deaf car TO tho howls about Infamous
tyranny" and military dcspotism
which, tho terrified and inpotent naulcon
tents will sct up; and all disturbing cle
ncnts being removed or weakened, tina
people, with ono mind md purpose vii
| unite for the triumph that has thus far clu
dcd their grasp. "
We write to urge the Administration t.
rc1ecrcrc in well doing. It has reached
crisis in its history, when to manifest weak
ness, i1resolution or tin1idity will be it
irretrieyablc ruin. It must 60 forward
it would survive. The logic Of events
imperative and as applicable to govern
ments as to individuals; and sthat says
OnWafdi Woe be to our rulers if the
heed not its warnings! :.
EYCRT. AMI HAUYE$rr