The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-04-27

bic he should stand in the eyes Of the historian.
respons bic he stood before God and he did not
shrink IRON the decision he bad made, for be
believed he ~as right But when the govern
ment determined 10 make soldiers Of eolOred
people, be thought it only Just tina, the' should
have the same protection ~hlte soldiers, tap
. ause.) aud he hesitsled not TO declare that the
government would so protect them 70 ihe utmost
If IL power. Whichever a clear and sutheht-
Gated case was made out, TetriOuilOu would FOL
o~. Hitherto il has been difficult 10 ascertain
70 a certainty What should govern decision "a
a matter 20 serious but IN the affair al Fort
Pillow he thought we we're likely 10 ind clear
case. The Government had 10 direct evidence
70 cOufrm the reports 10 existence relative u
the massacre but b. feared the isc's related
we're true When the Government does know
the facts from official sources ard they su0stsn
tate the reports retribution will be surely CIV
en-. Great applsuse.) But boz Is the ret iou-
ZION to be administered. Is question sill 10 De-
settled. Would il BE- right 10 take tie lives OF
prisoners ia Wa-hington, Fofs Dela~aIe or else
Shere, ia retaliation foe acts ia which they had
not shared, and which wi probably be found
the ordering Of OILY few individuals, or posi-
0lV Of oily one man.
The President reiterated that tie government
we're CLEARLY ob'a.aed Tn oughout his ems L.
he vas waru!, applauded. especially for his de-
termination to visiG retrbuiiou for the barbarous
deeds Of the rebels
The proper course for tho Government to pur-
sue will evidently be to collect the sworn tesil-
mOny Of all the survivors aud eve witnesses Ol
the massacre, "a to the number Of those VITO
were slain alter they lad surren Tered. Next,
let demand be made by the Federal General
OF thai Department. upon the rebel General CON
handing tie troops who committed the Outrages,
for the delivery Of the perpetrators, With no.
ice that If not delivered by certain day, an
quail number OF prisoners IN our possession. III
,ual Department, will be shot In case the mur
derers were lot delivered, and OF course they
would ct be, let the retaliation be carried out
The execution of one or Two hundred prison.
ers, under circumstances like these, by order o
President Lincoln. would attract the attention Of
he civilized world, and be a matter Of comment
With histOs ians IN future ages. IL l. therefore
natural that the President should wish 10 be de-
ibera'e and careful a. to the facts, in so gave
a Gaze, where he throws himself upon the d.
ment Of mankind Bat this sense Of response
b lily should not for one moment, cause him tC
hesitate a. To the course he shall pursue. MOI
DO We believe that it ~ill. He has pledged ID,
prOtec ion Of the nation TO coofed soldiers in hi:
order Of May 80, 1868; and at Baltimore, be-
lore a multitude, be reiterated his determination
10 do hs duty la the premises
The President has been often accused, by the
opposition papers, Of INDIGESTION and vacillaIiOn
But. if there be any ground for these cha grs
It can apply only TO the ciIcumstances-to thu
lime. and means and agencies for bringing abOu
4 result and lot To the result itself. We ar'
not aware Il at he has retracted any one princ
pie or declaration of public policy "hich he ha
once proclaimed. On the contrary, il We tak'
up the Messages and PrOclamalions on the Re
ocliou, on Con6>ca'ioh, on Emancipation, q
Amnesty aud on Reconstruction, We are strucl
sith the perssteucy displayed in accomplishing
he desired ends So in this case We may rea
>onably expect that bis solemn, repeated, an'
pubic assurances both as a man and "a CON
rnander in Chief, for the protection and vim
location OF the colored soldiers. will be cerianl
carried oHt