North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-06-10
{" Gen. Burnside's Order" :"

Gen. Burnside's Order."
As many persons may not remember Gen.
Burnside's noted {" Order No. 38," and not
few perhaps, have not seen it all, We give it
below. 1t could hardly be imagined, by .
reasonable being, that thiS manifesto was in
tended to include State like Ohio, so re-
mote from the seat Of war. 1t would be
equally appropriate to New England. I'm
piled treason" we suppose to be what used
to be called" constructive treason," an Of
fence not known to the laws Of this country,
but under the pretexts of which multitudes
Of noble men, now reckoned the martyrs of
freedom, suffered the penalty provided by
this order, in the old tyrannous and semi.
civilized times. There can be no question
that the Older itself was prepared for the
very purpose of entrapping Mr.. Vallandig-
ham, the general sending his spies to the
meeting at the place of residence OF that gen
tleman tn note any declaration of Hsympa.
thies," that is to say. any bold expression
Of devotion to the CONSTITUTE on and the Un-
ion.
In the meantime, the conduct of the Gov
ernment is far more reprehensibe than that
Of General Burnside, who, we fear, did not
really know much better. The Government
plainly insults the majesty of the people by
Its illegal aud unmanly course of action in
this case. In spite Of the enoi nifty of the
original outrage, and Of the almost univer-
sal voice of Renaissance against the whole
proceedings, the Government does what il
manifrstly cannot attempt to justify, and
preserves a silence which is at once undig.
nlfied and cowardly. Besides, General Burn.
sides court martial maintained at best o
sort Of consistency, by prnvi1ing for the i'm
prisonment Of the accused person in a place
within our own jurisdiction while the Gov
ernment renders laid and comfort to the
enemy" by banishng the condemned person
to the territory OF those with whom it is al.
legged he has sympatl,ies ~
The order in question ia as follows:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIo }
CINCINNATI, April Is, 1868. {
General Order No. 38.-The Commanding
General publishes, for the information o, all
concerned:
That hereafter all persons found within
our lines who commit acts for tine benefit OF
the enemies of our country, will be tried 40
spies OF traitors, and, il convicted, will suffer
death. This order includes the following
classes of persons
Carriers Of secret mails.
Writers Of letters sent by secret mails.
Secret recruiting officers within the lin ca
Persons who have entered into an agree.
ment to pass our lines for the purpose OF
joining the enemy.
Persons found concealed within our lines
belonging TO the service of the enemy and
in fact all persons found improperly within
our lines who could give private lnforma ton
for the enemy
All persons within our lines who harbor
protect, conceal, feed, clpthc, or in any way
aid the enemies Of our country.
The habit Of dec iaring sympathies for the
enemy wilt no longer be tolerated in this
Department. Persons committing such of
fences will be at once arrested, with avew
TO being tried as above stated, or sent be.
yond our lines into the Ines of their friends
1t must be distinctly understood that trea
son, expressed or implied, will not be ;oIer.
ated in this Department.
All officers AMI soldiers arc strictly charg
ed with the execution of this order.
by Command Of Major Gen. A. A. Burn
side.
LEWIS RICHMOND, Assist Adj General.