The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-05-10
No question is now so much discuss

those who are responsible for the rebellion
President johnson has multitude OF
Counsclors, and ought 20 be able to take Il
very safe course. lie is warned, by
some on whom there is no suspicion of
disloyaly, that the adoption of such a
policy, as from his known characteristics,
Lis antecedents and experiences with rcb
els, tile country expects ofhim, will indie
finately postpone the time when peace
and Il thorough paciication can be reach
ed. Gerritt Smith who has addressed
the President u long letter on this sub
ject says:
81 cannot doubt that it is, if the Sc
we're policy toward the conquered rebels,
which so many are calling for, shall be
adopted. In that event, hardly in my
day, or even in yours, will Peace return
TO our afflicted country. For once let il
be known that the leading rebels, who
shall fall into our hands, will be doomed
10 punishment, he it death, Imprisonment
or exile-and Immediately, amongst their
followers, sympathy with them and rage
against us will know no bounds I ems
of thousands will burn with vengeance,
and will care for nothing but TO crafty
II. This will be true. Us well of persons
under parole, as of Others. In that state
of things a guerrilla warfare would cnsuc,
which, if not pacifed by concessions, and
such concessions too us would fatally in
wade national and human rights, might
run through many year., harassing and
wasting our armies, and adding teartully,
ii not fatally, 10 our already vast debt
But how blest would be the
consequences of II wise and kind treat
mcnt of that enemy, Then the South
would be at Peace with the North would
soon learn to like her; and would soon
welcome the tens of thousands Of families,
that would Immediately begin to emigrale
from the North to the South. Then the
North and the South, slavery having
passed away would rapidly become one
in interest, and one also in character.
Moreover, the whole world would be
blest by the termination of this most aor-
rid war in a Peace so full Of reason justice
and love. Christianity would be honor
ed and advanced by a Peace made so
sIrikmgy in her own spirit. In that spir
it we cannot shed one drop of the blood of
our snblued fee. If possessed of it, we
shall forgive and forget the wrongs done
IN the North; and shall feel that the
South has suffered enough, and that she
deserves TO be soothed and comtoyted.
md no more afflicted by US
such dealings toward the South as would
be visited on conquered nation. Nattcl
Is quoted who says
Il" But when Il nation becomes divided
into two parties absolutely independent,
and no longer acknowledging common
superior, the state is dlsaolved and the
war between the two parties stands on
the same ground, in every respect. as Il
public war between two different nations.
They decide their quarrel by
arms as two different nations would do.
The obligation to observe the common
laws of war toward each other is therefore
absolute-indispensably binding on both
parties, and the same which the law Of
nature imposes on all nations in transac.
tons between state and state"
The character Of the rebellion is such
as TO place the seeded states rightfulIy
within the purview of international law.
They were for the time to all intents,
nation. They were SO regarded by other
nations. Belligerent rights were accorded
there by our government and both parties
aimed 10 conduct the war on principles
which Should govern civilized nations.
There were truces; captiyes were held as
prisoners OF war; there were negotiations
for peace and all the laws of war were
recognized. 1t is assumed to be bad
faith, now that the fortunes of war have
placed the enemy in our power, TO thrust
the Constitution in the place of the laws
of war. 1t would bring on Us the repro
hation of the civilized world, implant an
unpacable hatred in the South and pro-
badly irritate large party in sympathy
with them in the North.
And, it is argued, in favor of a "lberal
and humane course that the South did
only what they believed that they had a
constitutional right TO do. Tie right OF
wrong Of secession had never been defni-
lively settled. Nearly the whole South
and considerable party in the North
claimed it as constitutional right Even
Jefferson and Madison gave countenance
to it. In this view of the case it should
be regarded rather as misfortune than
crime that they grew up in that school of
politics, rather than in that whose apostles
were Washington, Hamilton and Jay.
To meet the charge that the South has
not abi'ied by the rules of international
warfare, but has maltrcated, starved and
murdered our soldiers, the guilt is charged
Al. Il