Daily national Republican., 1865-04-22


what snpii We No wtih ths Traitsrsi
Ma EpffoR Az We 70 Be eursed by the
presence of unrepsntah, traitors IN our thidstl
sthsy, male Or female, without particle q
eyidsncs Of having changed their sentiments,
to be allowed TO return 10 this city Afer having
abssntsd themselves for four years and been
the co-laborers Of JET. Davis, att Richmond
and other placpt, in the murder n our people
and the attempt 10 destroy our Government,
and enjoy all the privileges ana 'nnmunities
Of sach ns have been true 10 the Union and
have sacrificed everything TO sustain II If
so, can We expect anything but repetition
Of the foul crimes recently enacted in This
city, Is any one who has proved n traitor
10 the Government q 81 subject 10 be trasted,
or IL II not safer 10 act on the idea that he or
she who has been once = traitor will always
remain one ....
These queries suggest themselves TO my
mind in Consequence Of the appearance II
several prominent rebels In the city within
the last week, men and women, who formerly
resided here, have been the beneheiaries Of
the Government, and who have fought against
II as long as one ray Of hope remained that II
could possibly be destroyed. How many Of
our poor soldiers they have robbed and mur.
dered, how many lives among the Union men
Of tho South they have caused TO be taken,
how far they participated In the hellish work
Of starving our prisoners in their loathsome
dens, what part they took In the dreadful
drama that has placed the nation In mourn.
ing, may never be known; but the world will
agree In the verdict that all traitors are par
tioeps criBiNis, and should be held " punish.
ment under the offended Law. ..
I am told that the Nife and daughters Of
that aruh-traitor Daniel Ratclide are now
roaming at large in our streets. She has re.
turned, IL Is said, for the purpose Of recover
ing possession Of the property they abandoned
when four years ago they sneaked of to Rich
mond, where he, for months, was engaged In
the very laudable enterprise Of searching the
northern trains ss they entered that home OF
peuured traitors, and selecting Washing
tOnians who loved the Union and throwing
them into prison, He has been $50 II Is un-
derstood here, and his wife has mot been far
behind him. one Of the most cruel Of the
hundreds of demons who have hourished In
that "den Of thieves" and he remained there
till his eowardly carcnss sought safety In
flight when the colored troops marched in and
took possession! He Is now In the South,
while she comes North TO secure q pleasant
retreat for him whenever IL suits his conye-
niencc to change his place Of residence.
When they fed the house was left in CON-
plete order, they expecting confidently to re.
turn to II in short time with JET. Davis for
President and rebel army At their heels
They went with little money-she returns,
il is said, "hush" with gold, and like the
wife Of "Hangman FoOte, who was here
few days ago, spends II layishly, Wonder
whence II came Perhaps some Of our poor
robbed soldiers can give evidence on this
point
A more intolerant villain than he Vas be-
fore rebellion did not exist In Washington.
Well do recOllect the time when he and that
rod .mOuthed DOnoh0 hissed on the rabble ut
Justice Donn's ofice, melting the multitude
to murder DR.. Breed for expressing anti.
slavery sentiments-the Doctor only escaping
through the interposition Of some few friends
who had collected on the spot. He II was
who on several occasions threatened to drive
Union men out Of Washington because thsy
acre UHioH men, and who but u few days be-
fore the FIRST Inauguration Of President Lin
coin boasted 10 n gentleman now In the city
that 1--WE haze RIattsfS 80 arranged Hhf
that RidH VhOm you cIpeet 10 Be President
'hdH RsUsr BE- inaHgRratsd."
I ask again, Are we to be onrsed with such
traitors in our midst II so, let every Union
man beware he knows not how soon the fate
Of our lamented Lincoln awaits him. He
knows not which Of those he meets may strike
n dagger 10 his heart or send bullet through
his brain. We had traitors sNough here, God
knows, before the recent influx. Let us take
warning from the past, and save our city from
the scenes Of the French revolution for 10
surely ~ those hends in human shape are
permitted to come amongst us and resume
their wonted sway, just so certain will We be
called ON to witness repetition Of that in
fernal crime which has deprived the people
Of their beloved President aud brought
mourning and anguish to every home in the
land.
II may be asked, what shall bo done with
these people II the Government does nit
prosecute them for treason | can speak
only for myself and my course will be TO
close my doors against every one who left
Washington 10 join the rebellion, TO say TO
them, "Iou chose Voluntarily to make your
bed in hell and you must lie there. Go back
to Richmond and there, on the scene Of your
cruelties and crimes, in lamentation and woe
and In works meet for repentance, prove to
all the world that your very nature has been
changed, and when you have suffered 1.-THE
Of what you have inflicted on our brave sol.
diers who have starved before your faee and
eyes, you may come hither and we will toler.
ate you as we tolerate convicted felOns who
have served the period Of their sentence 10
the penitentiary or have been pardoned by
Tho powers that be. Till then, AyAuST ~
MIR. Johnson's Beginning.