Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-01-25
MONDAY MORNING. JANUARY Is.



The Constitution Of the United stl,es was
framed and adopted shortly after the close Of the
Revolutionary var. It, ffamers. most Of whom
had been engaged in that struggle. had witnessed
during the contest. and the tendency of men.
when excited. to transcend the bounds Of justice
anu 10 act hastily and unsdvisedIy from the IN
fuence Of prejudice and suspicion. In very
brief commentary on that clause OF the Consti-
tuition relating TO treason. BY Mr.. MaDIsos. (see
Federaliss papers. XIII the reason OF the
provision Is explained. "As treason may be com
mitted against the United States. the authority
pf the United States ought 20 be enabled 10
punish u: but as new tangled and artificial
treasons have been the great engines by which
violent factions, the pltural ofspring OF free
governments. have usually wreaked their al
ternate malignin on each other. the convention
have with gret juGyme.rt. opposed barrier to
shis peculiar danger. oy inserting constitutional
definition Of the crime. and fixing the proof neces
s&ry for the conviction of il, and restraining
Congress even in Furnishing il. from extending the
-
author Thus it is plain that the Constitution
meant to limit the punishment of treason to
the guilty person alone
This provision is also consistent with the
whole spirit Of the Constitution and consonant
10 the spirit of modern civilization aud the genius
Of christianity.
The spirit Of this provision was announced in
the laws of Moses. will be seen from the
following quotations:
"Deut. c. %. v l6 The father shall not
be put 10 death for the children; neither
shall the children be put to de,th for the
father. Every shall be put to death for his
own sin.
sDeut, ch 49, Is: One witness shall not
rise up against MN tor any sin. Mt the mouth
of Two wtnes<es or AT the mouth Of three Wit
nesses shall the matter be established
Levitt. ch 10, v. IL: Thou shalt not aveDge
OF bear any grudge against the chillrea of thy
people. but thou shalt love thy negbbor "a thy
self"
Says MoSrEsqrisr: THE Christian Religion
Is a stranger b mere de-potic power. The mild
ness so frequently recommended in the GOSPEL IS
incompatible with the despite rage with which
prince Furnishes his subjects, aud exercises him
self in cruelty Let u set before our eyes. on
the one hand the continual massacres of the
kings and generals OF the Greeks an Rom ins,
and the other the destruction Of people and
cities. by those famous conquerors. ZIMUR BIG
and JExGIs KAHN. who ravagel Asia, and we
shall see that we owe to christianity, in govern
ment. certain political law. and in certain
law OF nations; benefits which human nature car
never sufficiently acknowledge.
Ii is owing to this law of nations. that amongst
Christians victory leaves these great advantages
TO the conquered: lie. liberty. laws. wealth and
always religion. when the conqueror is not blind
to hs own interest
sAs soon a. R~ouSlic has compassed tho
destruction OF those uho wanted to subyeri it
there should be an end of terrors and punish
ments Great punishaents. and consequent,
great changes cannot take place without invest
ing some citizens with cxorbitani power. IL Is
in leuity than in severity; to blnish but few,
rather than many; AMI to leave them their estates.
fssscsd of making a vast number at confi-cstions
Under pretence of avenging the Republics cause
the avengers would establish tyranny. The
purpose is not to destroy the rebel but the rebel
hon. Esprit of Laws, Chap XVIII.
The Republicans are like JACK. in SWIFT
tale Of Tub when they mediate any rasc,lity.
they get down on their knees roll ua their eyes
and hegn pray. The Administration party are
attempting to still further violate the Consti-
tntion by pretending to make the con6scaton act
conform TO IT,