American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-07-19
Shall Traitors be Punished 3?

1t is both amusing and humiliating to
the calm observer, looking upon the drift
ings and surgings of human passion, es-
pecially so in the present agitations of the
public.
But short time ago, the general cry
against rebels was, Hang them-hang
every one of them" Now, it looks very
doubtful whether we shall have one hang
ing instead of the thousands that were so
loudly called for. We have drifted to the
other extreme of leniency. This is honor
able, perhaps to our humanity as people.
But will this be just? Do we not know
that there cannot be proper mercy sepa-
rate from, and entirely ignoring justice ?
Our safety-th demands of law and au-
thority, violated in the most atrocious and
wanton manner-the terrible devastatious
of life, of peace, of property. Shall all
this be passed by-overlooked, as if it
never had been ?-and those wicked peo-
pie, who caused this, taken again into the
bosom of our Government, unscathed, un-
punished Can this nation-can any
nation do this with safety to itself? If
so, may we not as well at once strike from
our penal laws every act for furnishing
crime? / do not advocate prosecution
of those traitors and rebels for revenge.
This we scorn. But must not our viola
ted laws and authority be properly vindi-
Gated? | confess that | have scruples
against the "extreme penalty ty''-death.-
But We have other ways of punishing be-
sides that--and / think we cannot be Just
to ourselves and posterity without in
ficting some signal punishmentupon those
leading traitors. Imprisonment-con
fiscation ofproperty-forfeiture of all civil
rights-expatriation. These We ought
at least to infict, to show to the present,
and all generations, that it is fearful
thing tocommit treason.
We cannot trust human nature in the
administration of laws. 1t will either
follow the impulses of revengeful passion,
or 6e prostrated by the cries of friendship
or pity. God forbid that either pity or
friendship should be driven from society.
But when public safety and justice make
their claims, all else must be silent. The
murderer, the robber, the thief must be
assured that the magistrate "cloes not bear
the s,cord IN rain" How much more SO
the Traitor, who stabs at the life of the
nation
There is remarkable incident record
ed in the good Old Bible, which | think
teaches a very wholesome lesson for this
occasion. 1t will be found in Numbers,
18th chapter-the sedition of Miriam and
Aaron against their brother, Moses The
anger of the Lord was kindled against
them for their wicked ambition and envy,
and, to mark has anger, Miriam became
suddenly 'fleprous, white as snow" All
the brother was Immediately reused in the
breast of Aaron, complicated in the crime
and he cries to his brother, Moses
= Alas, my lord, ! beseech thee, lay not
the sin upon us, wherein we have done
sssolishly, and wherein we have sinned"
gAAnd Moses cried unto the Lord, saying,
Heal he5ssnow, o, God, l beseech thee"
And tBsa4szl said unto Moses, ,"If her
father had but spit in her face, should
she not be ashamed seven days let her
be shut out from the camp seven days,
and after tAatlet her be received in again"
Here was the s4ondfess of the creatures
love, 2 ready to pass BY the daring treason
of two great persons in the camp of Is
rael-and thosepersous, for piety, for high
position and intelligence, we may suppose
the peers Of that mighty host, But God