Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-08-04
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE.
woRns ar TRUrH AND soBERNEss.

a. a;Loo &c his duties higher intelligence,
clearer sagacity, or more patrlouc hueii'y 1nan
The Hon. EDGAR CowAN, the learned senator from
+bs State of Pennsylvania. Entering the Senate
:. .be onaninp of the Thirty seventh Congress- ne
o.r,u mon for himself the admiration and respect
&C b;s associates, without distinction OF party by
the learning and dignity with which he explained
and defended his views of public policy, while the
independence and eloquence for which he was con-
snicuous in debate early drew to him the attention
Of al who mark with interest the progress OF our
parliamentary discussions.
Mr. CowAN we need not say, IS distinguished
member Of the Republican party, but in his whole
career az legislator he has made it apparent that
he considers his first and highest allegiance que 10
the country, and therefore never narrows his mind
so as to give to the former the homage that should
be paid only to the latter.
Our object in thus referring at this time to the
eminent place Justly held by this Senator IN Inc
ewes Of the country is 10 direct the particular
attention Of our readers to the subjoined weighty
words. held " him in the Senate on the z'tn q
June few DAYS before the close OF the late SEES
sion, when that body had under consideration
Mr.. Trumbulf. amendment repeating the joint re-
solution of July Il, 1862 which qualies the conls-
cation act and limits forfeitures under 1t TO the
life of the offender. We could wish that these
words might sink into the heart OF every loyal cti
zen in the land, for We verify believe tney are
words of truth and soberness.
Mr. CowAN said: / think, Mr. President that our
course In regard to the Southern people has been OF
character entirely the of that which would nave
been successful suppressng the rebellion. we were
fued with incorrect ideas of the work We were engaged
IN ar of the onl methods by which could perform the
Gigantic task we had undertaken. We started out with
exaggerated notions strength and we dsdaned
IN think That our depended upon the loyal men Of
.ba soutb we thought we did not need them and treated
them accordingly Think Of such proposition as that
contained in this law that If they do not lay DOWN the
arms in sixty days they will be punished ~ loss OF the
estates How pray, they to lay down their arms
Surely We know enough know that this mere mock
erp and thst the rebel President might as well expect
soldier in our armies to lay down his arms upon promise
of his protection.
NJ president. have sometimes doubted whether we
could be serious when expect any good results 70
from ,ncb measures as this which not only exposes uH to
rdjcule but does harm to cause Whst was wanting
in this CRIES of history with new criminal legislation
ta, The cod. was complete beforei We had statute
pun,bng treason with death, just and proper punish
,.p, one well according with the magnitude of the crime
well az with the msjesy Of the law which inflicted IT,
For al hose who consped the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF the Re
uubie who used the and perverted the State GoV-
eminent. 70 bring il this s the fitting punishment be-
au,s il i. the highest and falls upon the guilty alone,
xxb.re II ought / would have had no additional laws 10
.r they are Dot needed. would have contemplated 10
xi,bip the area OF the rebellion; they cannot be
Thaty Was m
-snted, the true function Of Congress wac
-estored snd al parties again repre-
- ~, ,hovs Al tsip.- would not have played INTO
80, enemy: would u bare done thA' Wnlch
tss rtbI, o6.t desired to have done nave 70
B, that hi, and al kindred schemes have been very
one, which tasy most wanted adopt do lot know
th., Jssrsn Davis prsys but if he does, have no
doubt BE- would pray
Mr.. WADE Pray for Just such an advocate
Nj CowAs Pray for just such ststesman as the hon
orsbIe Senator from Ohio, the most effective ally he ever
had or could have.
He would have prayed for measures on our part which
were obnoxious all people Of the South, loyal ana de-
,ov,I Union and disunon He would have prayed that
w. should outrage ell their common prejudices ADD cher
;hd beief.; that we should do these things by giving
Iv. over to the guidance Of whom il was part Of
their religion 10 hate 70 hate personally and by NAME
with an intensity rarely witnessed IN the world before
He would have prayed for conhscston neral add inds
crimioat; threatening well the victims OF the usurpa
zion a. the usurpers themselves as well those we were
bound 10 rescue thoe were bound 10 punish Fer
vanity he would have prayed for our emancipation laws
and nrocnmations to FIRE the Southern heart
more notent than all others they would rally the angry
ls,iop 10 his standard OF revolt If each had personal
ouarrel He would then have united South while as
she result of the same distracted aud divided
North.
That il the way think he would have prayed and would
nr,v now il any man stupid not to know that the
great desire the part Of every rebel TO 10 re-
colt with him the whole people OF the dsahected districts
Ia not and has not that been csdered enough to insure
ncss 70 him. And where does history show the failure
=, united people, numbering FIVE SIX millions, when
,bsv engaged in revolution Nowhere there is such
case ~.
What did we do to bring this unity about in the South
W. fot our first resolve in July, 1861, TO restore the
Union alone and we went further, and gave out that
onld also abolish slavery Now that was just exactly
,h no;nt mon which all Southern men were most tender
and at which they were prone to be alarmed and OF
fenaed That was Of all things the one best calculated
a make them Of one mind against US there was no other
o.s,re indeed which could have lost to the Union
n.a an many Of them. 1t is not question either as to
hatber thew were right wroug-that was matter Tor
.hr consideration not for II we were so desrous