The Burlington weekly hawk-eye., 1864-05-28

Il - =
~ Whether or not there is any law to
punish, through the ordinary tribunals Of
the United States, the forgery and puDllca-
ton Of pretended official documents, we
have not had time to ascertain. We are
glad to note the fact that a resolution has
been passed in the House Of Representa-
tives, instructing the Judiciary Committee
to inquire what legislation is necessary TO
that end, and also what is required for tne
proper punishment of those who, through
the Press, or otherwise, give information,
aid and comfort to the rebels. Both these
points want attending to, ia an effective
way. It is high time that the. traitors here
at home should be taught their duty. I'm
punity has made the reptiles bold. A little
hanging, or great deal If required, would
have a salutary effect upon them. For our
part, we have no tenderness for any OF
them. If they vill act as traitors, let them
have q traitors doom. Meanwhile there
Is no room for doubt that the Proclamation
forgery was military offense, and that its
author may be punished by Court Martial.
So it seems to us. Two or more of the
guilty wretches are caught. If there were
more. as there doubtless were, we hope
they will all be detected, tried, and If found
guilty, made to suffer the severest punish
ment such Courts can infict. We guess
they can do the offense justice.
a- A female abortionist is said to be
erecting $780, 900 place Of business on
Fifth Avenue, New York. That is but an
other proof that vice and crime are expen-
sive luxuries. But the location is no doubt
q choice one. Her patrons arc no doubt
principally among those who are rich, and
pass in the crowd as respectable" Yes
Fifth Avenue is suitable in all respects.
Some wealthy people live there and there
abouts. But great many quite un6t for
any society but that of the vilest and most
degraded, also live behind its brown stone
fronts and tread its velvet carpetings. Why
should MT the female "ply her vocation" in
the midst of her patrons? Is she not as
respectable" as they? II f"society" tole-
rates the boasting libertine what right has
it to object to rs close an association with
his parasites? Is not her business quite as
respectable as gambling on the perils of the
country, and converting the blood of pat
riots into means to pander to the basest
appetites Of the basest human nature!
The action Of the General Confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
which declares slaveholding, and the
buying and selling Of slaves, Inconsistent
with Christian character, is one more stride
in the right direction-another evidence Of
the tone and temper of the popular pulse.
The strangest and most remarkable fact Of
the past eighty years Is, that any body OF
men who professed to be Christians, who
take the Bible for their guide, who believe
in it's inspiration and profess to adopt and
practice its precepts. should ever have
deemed slaveholding consistent with the
principles Of their religion. II il % palpa-
bly, and glaringly . violation oftrue Chris
tianity ~ murder. or any other enormous
sin. tt just ~ easy to believe . wilfal
murderer meek and pious follower or
Him "who spoke 40 never man spake,"
as that he who who makes achattel Of man.
who buys and sells mon, women and chill
dren as he does horse or COW, has the
slightest idea of true Christianity. It Is
time that the whole body Of the Church
made the infamy impossible with any Of
it's members. Fit he wrong to covet the
property ofyour "neighbor," how infinite
ly more sinful it must be not only Ito COW
et' but to take and keep that "neighbor''
as slave? Ifit Is a sin to covet q thing.
how much more so to make thing Of q
man, and to live in idle but ignominious
luxury on the products ofslayish toll?