The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-06-14
81.
The langmen.


vail this time. The formidable chief and
ruler OF a great nation in arms, will not, we
apprehend, be publicly choked on the glib
bet N either will General Lee, that model
and mirror of moderin soldiers, that peer
less Bayard of his time, be forced TO stoop
his stately head 10 the shears of The peni-
Ientiary hairdIesser. There are some things
which cannot be accomplished, by any na-
ton howsoever rich and wiIIful; aud one of
these things is, 10 turn honor aud patriotism
into police court crime, and 10 get ,man-
kind TO assent TO the transformation. Our
country has vast wealth, many iuns of
green paper, and also much ingenuity and
persistence in the pursuit of its object; but
il positively has not money enough 10 turn
Mr.. Davis into an assassin, nor 10 buy the
assent OF the world TO the proposition that
Lee is common burglar and 6re-raiser
There is still truth and manhood enough in
our own people TO make such an infamy
impossible; and if there were not, we are
likely soon 10 heat such chorus OF ndig-
nation ringing and swelling from all the
ends Of the earth, that-alihongh OF course
we, being the greatest people in creation,
care foI nobody's opinion, and are law
unto ourselves, yet we will be unable 10
stand up against such tempest of execra-
lion. The Corrier ces Eials Unis is quite
right when it says in yesterdays publica-
lion, "Let nobody aIlege that the Unied
States are and ought 10 be insensible 10 pub
lie opinion in Europe We live in a Time
when peoples, no more than sosersigns can.
not do without the moral strength given by
the opinion OF the civilized world Besides.
the Americans are not so Indifferent as they
wish to be thought, TO the appliance or GEN.
cure of the Old World What do their JOUR-
nalisis, who have always insult on their
tongues in speaking Of Europe, " hat do they
on the arrival OF steamer? They search
anxiously frst OF all wha, are the opinion of
their brethren beyond the sea, aud keep a
! keen look out upon The movemen; of
J European oPinion.s=sE they are infinitely
ilanered by praises, they are as much irri-
taied by blame. Now ii is certain that the
foreign countries men will be painfully af-
| fecled on learning that the Southern gener-
ais and their officers are not entirely covered
! by The terms Of heir capiiulaisons. The
snbtiiiies and sublerfuges by which il is
designed to paliste This regretable 'rigor,'
/ viii not weigh in the balance" Again, in
the same article The Courier says jastIy-
''lt is OF deep,impon 10 Us that we do not
! give the enemies of the Union a pretoxl TO
substitute hereafter, or the Punica fl ies the
! files americana" In fact with all the inso-
lent pride with which onr coun;rymen ars
sometimes 10 the habit OF pouring contempt
upon The decrepit monarchies of Europe
! aud their judgments about our effairs, there
is at bottom quite TOO anxious or fearful
! looking for, of judgment. Oar final opin-
ions and resolves, even about onr own con-
Germs: are generally imported by sea O3r
first estimates and appreciations, whether
about men, books, or events, are but pro-
I visions aud inchoate, until ere is a roand
/ trip OF the sieamers:-iheu we know what
10 think and what 10 do Now this being
! the case, we have really little fear that the
nation will be permitted 10 disgrace itself
/ by violating the cspitulation OF General Lee
]
before a petty court in the District of
/ Columbia. The whole world will cry shame,
with cry so loud and scornful that it will
! be apparent TO Americans that hereafter,
| EheR they travel in foreign lands, Instead
/ OF being regarded With request as the cham
J pions OF human freedom and human right,
! they will be pointed on, as the people
whom no honorable engagement could
/ bind.
But besides the shame, there is also the
impolicy. II General Lee, or any officer or
| private of that army, be arrested OF tried for
treason, ii is an end OF the obligations of the
surrender upon their side: they are no longer
tound not 10 take up arms against the
/ United States; and the next bloody revolt
viii be question OF time aud Of oppornn-
! ty only. The Commercial strongly presents
this view OF the subject, and cites the case
OF Marshal Ney. who had been "a traitor
10 the bourbons, but who was entitled 10
fconsider himself sheltered BY the capilula-
tion OF Paris Ney was executed; bnt his
name was Immediately the name martyr,
and his death is stain upon the race of
| Bourbon for ever.
10 shori all law, all precedent, all public
| opinion, will be found opposed to the mean
! outrage of prosecuting General Lee. And
/ if Lee Is u be exempt from such prosecu
/ tiOn. as regular general, commanding an
| army 10 regular war, the prosecution o: MIR.
Davis who as the head of The beligearni ma
tion regularly commissioned him, would be
| glaringly absurd. We have no doubt that
the legal advisers Of the jailer and human
| interests felt This incongruiiy, when al the
eleventh hour they advised that Lee should
| be arrested and all engagements with him
violated. They felt that il was necessary to
! the prosecution of Davis as a traitor that his