Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-04-29

source which is the spring Of nj. our woea |
No one can cay that If the perpetrptor of
this fendish act lie arrested he should not
undergo the extrmest penalty and law knows
for crime. None will say that mercy should
interpose But Is he alone guilty Here
gentlemen, you pcrhaps expect me to pre-.
sent some indication of my future policy.
One thing will say, every era teaches its
Lesson. The times we live in are not With.
out instruction. The American people must
be taught, If they do not Already feel. that
treason is crime and mast be punished fAp.
plause.l That the Government uiu moi al.
rays bear pith its enemies That il is strong
not only to protect, but to punish. ZAP
plause. When we turn to the criminal
code and examine the catalogue of crime
we there find arson laid down as q crime
with its appropriate penalty. We there
hnd theft and robbery and murder given as
crimes, and there, too, ace tisd the iast and
higheSt et crimes-tTedsea. Applase. With
other and inferior offences our people are
familiar, but in our peaceful history treason
has been almost unknown. The people
must understand that it is the blackest of
crimes, and will be surely punished. [Ap-
plause l make this ailusion not to ex.
excite the already exaspera;ed feelings of
the public, but to point out the principals
of public justice which should guide our
action at this particular juncture, and which
accord with sound public morals Let it he
engraven upon every heart that treason is
crime and traitors should suffer its penalty.
(Applause.l
While we are appalled, and overwhelmed at
fall of one man in our midst by the hand of
traitor, shall we allow care not by what
weapons-an attempt on the life of the
State with impunity2 While we strain our
minds to ceperhead the cnornity of the rs.
sination, shall we allow the nation TO be as
sinatedl Applause
speak in no spirit Of unkindncss leave
the events of the future to be disposed of as
they arise. Regarding myself as the hum
bic instrument of the American people in
this, as in all things, justice and judgement
shall be determined by them. do not har
bor bitter or revengetul feeling towards any .
In general terms, would say that public
moral should be established upon the sure
and iulallible principal of justice. zap
| plause.
When the question of exercising mercy
comes before me, it will be considered calm.
! ly and judicially. remembering that am
the Executive of the Nation. | know that
men love to have their names spoken of in
connection with acts of mercy, and how
easy it is to yield to the impulse But ,re
must not toJget nat nhat may be mercy TO the
iHdiri2uM is cruelty 10 the State. APP
! pladse.
| In the exercise of the mercy there should
| be no doubt lett that this high prorugatiyc
is not used to relieve few at the expense
of many. Be assured I shall never forget
that am not To consult my own feelings
alone but to give an account to the whole
people Applause.
In regard to my future course, will now
make No professionalism pledges. have
been connected somewhat actively with pub.
lie affairs, and to the history of my past
public acts, which is familiar to you, refer
for those principles which have governed
me heretofore and will guide me hereafter
In general will say that have long labor.
ed for the amsliornton and elevation of the
great mass Of mankind. My opinions as to
the nature of popular government have long
been cherished, and, constituted as ! am, ii
IL now too late in life for me to change them
! believe that the government was made for
man, not man for government, Applause.
This struggle OF the people agsinst the
most gigantic rebellion that the world eveI
saw has demonstrated that the attachment
OF the people to their Government is the
strangest national defence human wisdom
can devise. App!ause So long as eacl
man feelS that the interests of the Govern
ment are his interests. SO long as the pub
lie heart turns in the right direction, ant
the people understand and appreciate the
theory of our Government ana our libert,
our Constitution will be transmitted unim
paired. If the time ever comes when tn
people shall fail it, the Government vii
fall, and We shalt cease to be one Of the ma
tions OF the earth. After having preserved
our form Of free government, and showl
its power to maintain its existence through
the viclsstudes OF nearly century, it ma
be that 1t was necessary for US to pas
through this last ordeal of intestine strife t
prove that this Government will not perisl
from internal weakness, but will ever stanC
able to defend itself against oil foes AM
punish treason. Applause.
In the dealings of an inscrrtable PrOyi
/ dence, and by the operation of the ConSti
tuition, have been thrown unexpected
into this position. My past Life, and {,
. pecially my course during the present III
, holy rebellion, is before yol. l have n
E principles to retract. | defy any one t
, point to any of my public acts in variane
with the fixed principles which have guide
, me through life. l have no professions t
offer. Professions and promises would Ii
worth nothing at this time. No one Gu
ioresec the circumstances that will hercaite
: arise. Had any man gifted with prescienc'
four years ago reported and written dow
, in advance the events of the period, tn
; story would have seemed more marveilou
t than anything in the Arabian Nights
5 shall not attempt to anticipate the future
p As events occur, and it becomes necessar
{ for me- To act, | shall dispose of each as
t arises, dettrring any declaration or messag