The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-05-17

heart or our rulers anu JUL P0oP'O' "AAA
sooner or later take the nations life as
effectually as the Rebellion itself, had it
succeeded, would have done, and as 1t
has actually Intended to dc by bayo-
nets, cannon and starvation of thousands
of loyal and brave men, ard which 1t has
now again attempted to do as by dospera-
tion in the person Of the assassin OF the
President. Such sentiments never come
! from earnest christian scholars, or states
men; they are born in the hot bed Of
socialism, naturalism and humanism they
are not deep conviction but merely shall
low irresponsible sensation utterances.
They are founded on no venerable wis
dom; they rest in no true christian prln-
oiples-they are underlaid by no correct
sense Of the nature and necessary force
aud majesty of law. Men who utter them
may be able efectually TO haraugue an
unrefecting crowd but when they attempt
to lay experimental hands tothe guidance
of the high and solemn interests Of States
every earnest and thinking man will ex-
claim :-Procul, O. pr0c,t5 este Prcfaai!
hence, far hence ye profane.
TO ask that the majesty Of law be allow
ed to have its free course against crime is
no spirit of revenge, is no want of mag,
nau;mity-betrays no absence Of mercy
and charity. If so god himself would
fall under blame! Justice and judgement
are the habitation of His throne Human
governments are a parable and reflection
of HIS own. Human law is a reflection
of His will Human justice is after the
pattern Of His justice To abrogate the
sanctions of and penalties Of His law, is
to annul one Of His own attributes. In
the suffering Of the penalty Of human
guilt in the person of His own Son he
has demonstrated to the world that His
mercy does not abrogate His justice -
Vain is the attempt of man to propose .
IsicklY sentimentalism as a substitute
that shall outdo and set aside Gods I'M
mutable law against crime. Man may be
tender, but law and justice are infexibe
We have heard ofjudge8 who pronounced
the sentence Of death cn murdererg with
tears-but pronounced it in firm faithful
ness nevertheless. The Judge who thus
discharges his solemn duty to the law
and society is twice great IL the act !;
great because he shows that be has all
the feelings Of the man, and great again
because be has all the frmness Of the
judge. Above all his merely humane
feelings rises the solemn conviction that
the execution of the law is absolutely
necessary for the safety of society. He
feels for the criminal, but he does not
suffer his feelings 70 carry him iato cur
rent of washy sentimentalsm He pit
les the criminal, brt he pities society
more Il is said that Washington signed
the death warrant of Andre, the spy with
tears! This is proof that he would have
spared even him had not higher obliga-
tion to honor the law rested on him. Let
our ruief8 study this example, that the
majesty of law benot changed into amere
mawkish feeling.
May not, in this view, this sad caiami-
/ ty be Ovecruled in mercy by an all wise
though mysterious Providence, for the
future health and safety of the Republic !?
Whilst we hope that all manifestations of
revenge may be checked, we hope at the
same time that the minds Of our people
and rulers may be more deeply awakened
to a sense of TIE absolute necessity of
VIndicating the law against treason. Vain
is that policy which seeks to be wiser
/ than God and mere humane than He !!
Should it appear that "the minister Of
Goo" does "bear the Sword il vain" We
tremble for the future of the Nation. All
the moral effect Of all the sacrifices of the
war will in that case be virtually lost
Was this dreadful tragedy-well may We
ask-this sacrifice ofthe uations beloved
/ Chief and Head yet necessary 70 counter
act this vain and sickly sentimentality !?
Should it serve to effect this high and
solemn end, the sacrifice, dreadful as It Is
will not have been in vain.
May God, in His Infinite mercy, pre-
serve in the heart Of the nation proper
sense of the majesty of law, awaken among
US right views Of the awful crime of trea,
son-which is the cause ana essence Of
regicide--and deliver US from morbid
sympathy for that crime which strikes at
the root of all divine aud human govern
ment, and which the solemn sanctions Of
God, and the ripest wisdom of al the
past have adjudged to be worthy Of death.
I attempt no eulogy of our departed
President. His earnestness, moderation,
kind heartedness, proverbial honesty and
uuswervering loyalty and patriotism are
all we'll known. Only when generations
shall have passed away, and all the seeds
of the mighty present of the nation shall
come to their full fruits in the future, will
bis name and his fame stand out in full