Litchfield enquirer., 1865-05-11

of their hopes. They thought we were COW ards, but Lookout Mountain, The wilderness
 ana l Fort Fisher, have iissipated that delusion lney trusted..in their strong-holds for defens e nue tneY have been compelled to surrender Z sicksourg, Charleston and Richmond. They ) expected the cooperation of foreign govern ] ments' put our manifest determination to pro teo' our rights against all combina tions, has admonished those powers of the hazard at. tending an interference in cur domestic diff culties, and the anticipated assistance has no, been realized
 In the clamor of 6 portion of the people for peace, our enemies thought they saw divided North and crippled government; but the re election of Abraham Lincoln to the presiden cy, gave assurance that we would have peace only by securing submission 10 rightful au. thority.
 In their extremity, when courage and strength failed, when there was no Cassius to help their sinking cause, they presumed upon the personal kindness of President whom they had scorned and maligned. and trusted that by his clemency they would be pardoned. and by his magnanimity restored to their for mer positions of influence and power. But at that hour, plans set on foot by their hellish designs, and nourished by years of malignity i; matured and brought forth their Legitimate fruits; and the last hopes of this rebellion were buried in the grave of an assassinated President. .... | Thus events are teaching us that they that take the sword shall perish with the | sword;" "They have sown the wind, and | shall reap the whirlwind." ..... .st At period of unsurpassed embarrassment and danger to our nation. Abraham Lincoln was called a second time to the highest earth l ly position of honor and responsibility, from which he has been struck down by the hand of violence and treason. The deed has filled the world with astonishment, horror, and e. ligious indignation. The shock has been great, because of the greatness of the crime, and of the high character and position of the man. The Presidents patriotism was disin- terested, and his honesty undoubted. He fell martyr to his fidelity to truth. to duty, and to the interests of humanity In the affections of an oppressed race, :" he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward" They trusted it had been he, which should have redeemed" them from oppression. s-.s..9 .
 great, wise. and good ruler is dead |; and every loyal heart is filled with sorro and more imperatively for the performance of duties pressed upon our attention by the oc- l currences of the hour.
 The forced surrender of the armies of the rebellion to the union forces indicates the end of battles. the restoration ot peace without the consent of our enemies, and the supremacy of the government.
 The reduction of expenses will necessarily follow, but it will be our duty to suppress and overwhelm any attempt to stain or impair the national credit, or national probity; as well as to meet the pecuniary responsibilities al | ready incurred, with confidence In 8 prosper ous future. - t.e sss.E .. --..
 Nor should we forget the heavy responsibil- ities placed upon him who, by permissive providence, has been called to administer the government. In a fife devoted to public ser vice he proves his disinterested patriotism, his frmness, his fearless independence, his opposition to slavery, and his hatred of trea- son. Let us give him our confidence and our
 As slavery has Seen the cauE.-.e-.....-,...- and our burdens, it is our duty to lahor for its abolition An institution antagonstic to lib erty, opposed 10 the first elements of christian ity. which, in its barbarous tendency, planned and perpetrated @ cowardly, brutal, and mur- derous assault upon freedom of speech. and upon fidelity to truth, and 10 the demands of justice, in the person of a scholarly and ac complished statesman in the American Senate, an institution which instigated the rebellion. which seized and imprisoned our sons, and sent them by tens of thousands down to the grave by starvation, and which, to crown It's work of infamy, assassinated the President, has forfeited all right to protection and life, and merits our vigorous and undying opposi- tion.
 The disposition recently manifested by a portion of our fellow.oitizens to exercise elem | ency towards the chief actors in there revolt ing scenes is @ cause for serious alarm | At the time of the occupation of Richmond by the Union armies. and of the defeat and | capture of the insurgents under Lee, this in- clination extended itself for time with rap. idity and power which threat enei to disregard the claims of justice, and which made that pc riod one of greater peril to our liberties than any since the commencement of the rebellion
 Leniency, without adisiinction between loy- alty and treason. Is more certain to subvert the government than is rebellion itself. Clemency, at the sacrifice of justice, is the abandonment of government.
 The treason of the hour is crime against law and liberty. They who are guilty of il have forfeited all rights to citizenship and all claims to governmental protection
 Every field of carnage, every rebel prison, every soldiers grave and the blood of the mar tyred President, unite with violated law and demand the penalty.
 Let it be inflicted. beginning with the lead CTS in crime, and let it be followed up with a | uIm uan", untiA 1ue iuuoVeut anu AUyHl oHal be conscious of security under the vindicated majesty of the law.
 Then. and not until then. may we safely re store forfeited rights, and extend forgiveness with benefcent prodigalitv,
 If. during this struggle. we shall sustain the general government in the performance O. it's proper functions, abolish the inhuman sys tenn of slavery. punish traitors, and adher, perpetually to the demands of truth. righteous ness and justice, we may hope that throughou an undivided nation our prosperity will be in creased, our peace uninterrupted, and oul liberties bo eternal.
 VIM. A. BUCKINGHAM. HARTFORD, May 8. 1865.
 CoULDNT Fool HER.-The Lafayette Ind.