The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-03-21
The AttaOk.Oa the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad-Its Lesson.

a lew days ago we deprecated the poi
icy, which had been pursued, for some
months back, by General BOYLE, of al
lowing leading and active rebels, whose
influence, lime, and money, had been
freely used to promote treason, in South
ern Kentucky, and who had been arrest
ed aud brought before him; TO take the
oath Of allegiance, and return to their
homes, possessed of all their rights and
privileges Of the most loyal citizens. For
this we did not reproach General BOYLE.
No doubt in every case he acted on the
representations and advice of men whom
he believed to be loyal, aud whom he
supposed TO have superior opportunities
for judging of the proper course to be
pursued. Relatives, business partners,
old acquaintances, and calculating Office
seekers, who were snulIiDg votes in the
future, no doubt beset him, in regard 10
Che case Of every rebel arrested. He was
told that such guerrilla Captain was
sick of the rebellion that a rebel Colonel
had said he would give all he was worth,
to have things as they used to be-" that
q certain reckless boys parents were,
in deep distress about him that if Mr..
So. and-so were released it would have
such an excellent effect upon the seces-
sionists in his neighborhood. We know
how the authorities, both civil and mill
tary, have been beseiged with such APP
plications here, and we know how the
clemency shown in such cases have gem
orally resulted. A broken down, ragged
half starved rebel, would come LONE,
sick, and penniless, would take the oath,
stay at home few weeks, and run off
TO rejoia his camp, with recruited
strength, good clothes, and a good horse,
stolen from Union neighbor, and plenty
Of ammunition. A gentleman of devoted
loyalty, but great kindness of heart, told
as lately that he was done interceding
for rebels, while the war lasted. In null
titudes of cases these returned rebels have
acted as spies and recruiting officers for
the Southern army, and have regarded
their solemn oaths as little as China
man would.
We need not expect anything but diff
Guilty so long as we send these bad and
restless men TO their homes without
unishment So soon as the Cumber-
land becomes too low for navigation,
they will organize bands and depredate
upon the Louisville and Nashville rail-
road. There is no doubt that the attack
upon the train near Franklin night before
last was a neighborhood affair altogether,
instigated most probably by fellows
who have taken the oath. We would
have the Government pay no regard
during the continuance of the war,
TO the Oaibs of men who have
already violated the most solemn
Obliga ions Of citizenship, If they
have committed moral perjury once,
will they struple TO swear falsely
a second time, in order 10 make the OBJ
ject Of the FIRST perjury successful? But
all that we could say on this head has
been ant cipated in a strikingly similar
case, Ia our Revolutionary history. In
the spring Of IT'S the Colonial Congress
adopted resolution recommending TO
the Legislatures of the several States TO
pass laws, or to the Executive authority
Of each State, if invested with sufficient
power to issue proclamaiions offering
pardon, with such exceptions and under
such limitations as they might think ex-
pedient, TO such of their inhabitants or
subjects as had levied war against any
of the States, or adhered TO, aided or
5abetted the enemy, aud who might sur
render themselves TO the proper suthori-
ties and return TO their allegiance with
in period of two months. The same
resolution recommended, further, that the
''good aud faithful citizens" of the
States should receive such returning per.
itents with compassion and mercy, and
"forgive and bury in oblivion their past
fAilings add traosgressiOns."
This resolution Governor LivIyGsroN,
as in duty bound, submitted to the GEN
eral Assembly Of New Jersy, with the
f)llowiug comments
"'1here seems, IL is true, something so
noble and magnanimous in proclaiming
an unmerited amnesty to number OF
disappointed criminals, submitting them
selves to the mercy Of their country !;
and there is in reality something so di-
vine and Christion in the forgiveness of
injuries that il may appear rather invid
ious to offer anything in obstruction of
the intended cemency. But as TO the
benevolent religion 10 which we are un-
der the highest obi iAtions 10 conform
our conduct, though il forbids al all
times, and Ia all cases, the Indulgence Of
pers nal hatred and maleyolenee il nro.
hibits not any treatment OF national en-.
emies, or municipal offenders, necessary
to seli-preserValion aud the general veal
Of society.
"The thirty.one criminals lately con.
vioted Of the most fragrant treason, and
who, by the gracious interposition Of
government we're, upon very hopeful
signs ei Penitence, generously pardOned,
aud then, with hypocritical cheeriulness,
enlis ed in our service, have all 10 man
dss,rted TO the enemy, aad ars again in