Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-09-10
FIXTURE Pelisf Toward the Rebels.

Government toward the Rebel States I do
not, however, quite agree with your suggest
ion that while the rebels are still in arms it
may be premature or impolitic to discuss
questions connected with that policy. l do
not propose to enter upon such discussion at
this time except in very general way, and
for the purpose of calling attention to the
Importance Of the subject.
have never, for moment, since the Pres
ldent'S first call for volunteers, doubted the
final triumph of the Federal arms, and the
utter overthrow of the rebel power; but |
confess have had from the first the most
painful forebodings as to the policy to be
pursued after armed rebellion shall have ceas-
ed, and as that day draws near, ny apprehen-
sions are in no wise allayed. believe the
crisis III arms is past and that d more mo-
mentous crisis, by far, is at hand
That the military power of the nation is
| adequate to crush the most formidable rebel
lion, is to be demonstrated to the satisfac-
ton of all, at home and abroad but the
great problem of the rebellion will yet re-
main to be solved; namely, whether there is
sufficient moral power in the nation and in
republican government to lay upon traitors
the cool, firm, unfinching hand of civil JUS
| tice and make such examples of them as shall
Jingle in the ears OfgeneratiOnst to come and fix
| deep in the souls of American citizens that
| treason against the Government is a fearful
| crime. The privations, the sufferings, the
deyastations of war, terrible as they have
been and may still be, can never produce
| this conviction.
On the battlefield, the rebel and traitor
and the loyal citizen meet upon equal terms,
and We are obliged To deal with the former
as with an honorable foreign enemy and, in
the theory of war, the rebel has as good a
right to shoot loyal man as loyal man has
to shoot rebel. Both are liable to the
same casualties and the same sufferings. But
is there no difference? Yes, verify, there Is
Every loyal man slain in this rebellion is a
murdered man, and every armed rebel is a
murderer. Walk over the fresh battlefield
and look upon the CHASTITY countenances of
your countrymen, slaughtered III the effort to
maintain government law and liberty, and
say if it is enough that like number Of trail
tors have fallen in a wicked attempt to des-
troy all these? There is a difference, and
when the traitor is arraigned before civil
tribunal, stripped of his brute force, and
called upon to answer to the insulted majesty
of government-when he is tried by his peers,
sentenced by court and led away, bound
hand and foot, to the place of execution,
then this difference will be approximation it
will be seen and felt that treason is a crime,
and not till then, in any adequate degree. OF
course, we do not expect that all who have
committed this crime shall suffer the penalty
of DEATH The ends of justice do not de-
mand it. But examples must be made of the
leaders in the foul conspiracy, to such an
extent as shall prove fearful warning to
those who mediate the like in future, Or all
the blood, and suffering, and treasure eXpend-
ed in the war will have been thrown away
Hundreds of these leaders must be brought
to the scaffold, or compelled to take refuge IN
perpetual self-banishment, and thousands
more must, to their dying day, be held firmly
to the forfeiture Of their civil and political
rights and privileges, as living monuments OF
a righteous retributiOn. There Is no mallgn
vengeance about this. 1t may be done with
pain and sorrow, as wise parent Furnishes
rebelious child, but it must be done, firmly
and resolutely. The honor of the nation, the
insulted majesty of government, the future
peace of the country, our duty to foreign
nations, the laws of God and man, all de-
mand it the manned limbs of tens of thou
sands of loyal citizens plead eloquently for
it and the blood of tens of thousands of our
murdered countrymen cry to Heaven for it
from hundred battle-fe1ds, and repeat, 1t
mast be done, or woe betide US. The civil
government is charged with a commission
from the great white throne to execute
wrath upon them that do evil and that gov
eminent which will not punish crime, must
one day perish by crime.
Every friend of good government ought,
in my Judgment, to insist that this shall be a
part of the future policy, in regard to the re-
bellion and it seems to me that it is high
time for those whose duty it is to guide and
instruct public sentiment, to be strengthen
ing the hands of our rulers and bracing them
up to the performance of this painful but i'm
perative duty, and preparing all the people to
say amen. We want giants in these days, and
faith we have not got them; and hence the
great need that we should bring all the NOR
al power we can to prop up such as we have,
and pray Heaven to give them back bone.
Rebel sympathizers in the North, foreseeing
the result of the contest of arms, are busy in
preparing public sentiment for a peace poll
cy, and that policy is forshadOwed in unmis-
taxable terms. If traitors cannot overthrow
the republic and erect a monarchy on its ru-
ms, they insist, at least, that no penalties
shall follow the attempt. They insist that,
if the government will carry the sword in one
hand, it shall carry the olive branch in the
other, and the moment the rebels are dis
armed they shall be admitted back to the
full enjoyment of all their civil and political
rights They would not have them forfeit
one hair of their heads for the stupendous
crime They are continually harping upon
the constitutional rights of the conspirators
and vehemently cursing the government for
not respecting them. Push them to the wall
and they may, possibly, admit that rebels
have forfeited their rights and privileges ;
but they persistently add that this does not
II,
derer and robber have forfeited life and lib
both, Notwithstanding Their having viola
ted the law does not justify the magistrate in
doing the same thing There is no differ
ence between committing crime and
Furnishing it There is 10 differ
| ence between those who make war upon the
constitution and government with the sworn
purpose of destroying both, and withdrawing
| the protection Of that constitution and govern
ment from those who make the mad attempt
You must be careful what you do to the as
sassin who is breaking up your house at mid
night and numbering your family. His life is
as sacred as yours. He has his rights secured
by the constitution and laws. Go, arouse the
magistrate and get warrant hunt up the
sheriff and have him arrested, indicted and
tried according to lar, but lay no lawless hand
upon him yourself!
This is the logic of the Vallandigham and
| Ryan Democracy, seconded by the Knights of
| a thousand Golden Circles and backed up by
host of deceived and deluded followers. 1t
is logic which would have rendered the Gov
| eminent utterly powerless against the con-
| spirators, as they declared it to be in the be-
ginning. 1t is logic that will demand the
full restoration of every foul traitor, with his