Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-03-02
RUTLAND HERALD.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1855.
Punishment OF Traitors.

Treason Is the highest crime, OF
civil nature, of which man can be
guilty. It's Specification Is dlfereu, in
different countries. In general, 1t Is
the offence OF attempting TO overthrow
the government of the state to which
the offender owes allegiance, or Of be-
traying the state into the hands of a
foreign power, In the Constitution of
the United States 1t is declared that
treason shall consist only in levy ng war
against the United States, or In adher-
ing to their eRemies, giving them aid
and comfort. II is provided that Con
gress shall have power TO declare the
punishment Of treason and according
ly by law of Congress the punishment
of treason is death by hanging.
The struggle in which this nation has
been engaged for the last four years has
been one OF such gigantic proportions,
that the authorities have had time to
think of but little else than self preserva-
ton. Certain belllgerent rights" have
been granted to the rebels for the sole
and sufficient reason that for the time
being, we could not help It, Both par
ties were In such situation that it be-
came temporarily OXpedlent for us to
refrain from hanging the pirates aud
murderers that fell into our hands, and
to agree with them upon cartel Of eX-
change. But all this Of course never
for moment changed the moral quail
ty of their actions, or relieved the SUI
preme authority from discharging its
solemn obligations in reference to the
offenders whenever it should have the
power to do so.
As the war approaches Its final termi-
nation, and it appears more and more
evident that might and right will coin
eide and prevail, it becomes a matter of
interesting enquiry to know what will
be done with the traitors. What sort OF
easy and satisfactory terms are to be
vouchsaSed to the discounted rebr 7
Shall a general amnesty be proclaimed
Shall Davis, and Lee, and Toombs, and
Wigfall, and the whole tribe of rebel
governors be allowed 10 escape IN
harmed ? That is the question and it
ought TO be decided not by considera-
tons Of revenge and retaliation, bat
solely with reference to what the pres
ent exlgencies and the future good of
the nation require.
The murderer, the midnight assassin
and incendiary, the deserter, and what
seems most cruel the soldier boy that
is caught sleeping at his post, is
punished with death. We assent to all
this because the good of society re.
quires 1t. In the case of outrageous
and diabolical crimes we not only as
sent to the infection Of the death pen
atty, but we feel that it is COnsentane-
GUS to the moral sense of the communi-
ty. The general conscience ought not
to be triAed with by allowing outrage,
Gus criminals to go unpublished.
Now we believe that while, in accord
ance with immemorial usage, an amnes-
ty might be promised to the great mass
of the people in the rebellious states, it
would be an outrage upon common de.
cency and the simplest justice to allow
the leading conspirators to go unhung
The very least that the government
could do would be to take no very
special pains to prevent their hegira from
the country-and even in such case, tC
save appearances, reward should be
offered for their apprehension. If 8
dozen of the most prominent rebels
were to receive full pardon, we might
almost expect it would produce an In,
surrection among the loyal and Union
loving people.
We hope that such another rebellion
or anything approximating it, may
never again aftlct our land and, in
order that 1t may not, memorable ex
ample ought to be made OF those who
have been the life and soul Of the pres
emit one
We sincerely hope, therefore, that
in any future interviews" or "nego
tiations" with the rebel leaders, nothing
may be said to encourage them to hope
for impunity. If they had a hundred
lives apiece to give up, they could not
begin to atone for the misery and dealt
of which they have been the guilty au.
bhors.
The FoURTH.-The New Workers. have
agreed upon their programme for Satur
day next, and they ''invite the CO opera
ton of every loyal municipality in thu
Union to unite in general celebration.
A letter from General Grant expresses
the opinion thai If Sherman's successe
continue a few days longer, it will b
perfectly safe to indulge.
The question arises, will Rutland d.
auv+bioo IN tho orrasion7 We uOul,