Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-12-16

Why n 1T ,--Why Is it that we who are
80 bitter against southern rebels, are so toll
erent with Northern traitorsi Is it right, is
il just, 10 these perious times, when our no.
blest men are giving up their precious lives a
willing sacrifice 10 sustain this glorious gov
eminent Of once happy Union J Is it right
to countensnce in any way these base men,
who are ever working and plotting to UNDER
mine and overthrow this government, who
are contnually giving Encouragement to re-
bellion and bioodshed II it is not right,
then, on the contrary is il not duty,--a duty
we owe to God and our country, and to our
brave soldiers. to show them our contempt,
our scorn Of their baseness and treachery,
and while our brothers In the field are she'd
ding their life-blood to put down rebellion
in the South. should not we at home endeav-
or to put down traitors In the North
Tolerence is no longer virtue, but the
extreme Of folly, for it indirectly aids rebel
lion. Then let no one who loves the Union,
that wishes TO uphold the wise adminstra-
tion Of good Father ,A,btsham. extend to
them the hand Of fellowship, or listen either
to words penned by their guilty hands, or
that flow from their polluted lips. But let
public opinion put to shame these miscreants
until they no longer presume to show the
color of their hesds.
The above came to us from somebody who
did not give his name, and we publish it as
an opportunity for saying that the measure
Of punishment, whether it be by arms, the
| gallows, the prison, deprivation of civil off,
ces, or derision and contempt, should be pro-
portioned to the offence. The Government
meets force by force treason by the gallows
and oonfscation F; and sedtion by fine and
Imprisonment. The people have just taken
very good care to exclude unsafe men from
civil authority, high and low, and that fact
indicates plainly their appreciation of all such
men. The language Of our anonymous friend
is not very clear, yet we construe it as an
invocation to the people to prescribe those
whose opinions fall short of bis and our
ceptiOn of true loyalty, and that Of tie great
majority of loyal people. We answer, as
to many o! these men, in the language OF
President Lincoln, and we commend its
spirit to everybody
" The results (of the elcction) conveyed
to him the gratifying intelligence that ma
jorty Of his fellow citizens had at least given
MIN credit for having honestly endeavored t.
discharge his official duties, but the patriot
ism Of those citizens who had voted differ
emily should not be impeached. They had
doubtless voted in accordance with their con-
victions OF right, and as we should expect
their acquiesceDce in the result, we should
not question their motives
If there are those, who, through real dis
Loyalty, refuse to acquiesce, let them be mark
ed and consigned to the charge of the officers
of the Law. And as for those who, through
ignorance, party prejudice, or innate mean
ness, continue to growl complaints, let them
growl, and receive ths pity and contempt
which they merit ; but we would not break
their heads or cut their tongues out. Let
them live as well as they can We want thier
labor. we want their money to help pay the
taxes, aud in case OF draft we want them at
the front, to taste little of the real sorrows
Of that rebellion which they do not yet just
y appreciate.