American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-06-21
TREASON.


be because we failed to profit by our ex-
perience and refused to make proper use
of the victory we gained.
The recent triumph of the national
arms ought not only to give to the Repub-
lica new lelse of existence, but with 1t an
immunity from treason evermore 1hls
much it will certainly do il we are but
faithful to the laws and true to ourselves
But, if on the. other hand, in taking coun-
sci from our impatient desires for a re-
turn of the era of general amity and
good feeling that existed before the war,
we overlook the great crime that has
drenched the land in fraternal blood, we
need not be surprised if the bloody scenes
of the past four years be re-enacted at
some future period. 1t will not do to
say that the failure Of rebellion so pow
erful as the last one was will deter men
in future from attempting to subvert the
bONelnmenI, anu thdI VIC Cdu 'So' ~ PS'
feet security in the newly acquired
strength of that Government. This may
be true to-day, al d yet the events of an
other year may falsify it all. Hereto-
fore we have relied entirely upon the
good and friendly dispositions of mems
minds and hearts toward the Federal
Union for its stability, and it needed a
great rebellion to teach Us that an addl-
iional safeguard vas necessary. Let us
learn still further from our bloody expe-
rience, or our security is but tancied. The
law must be clothed with majesty and
tsrIgr, and its vengeance must not be
thwarted. We have constitution which
makes. treason a crime and which affixes
the penalty for its commission Unless
we enforce what is here decreed we rob
the law of its virtue and the crime Of its
ignomipy. If we wish to prevent repe-
tition of the offence we must unaltera-
biy determine it now, that they who trade
in treason must expect to pay the penalty
of their traffic. The course the Gov
ernment has determined to pursue in re-
card to Davis aud other leading conspr-
ators is the one we think most likely to
serve the interests OF the country in this
particular. 1t is known that at least
several of them are to be arraigned and
tried for treason. The indictments have
already been drawn against Davis and
Breckenridge, and true bill found by
the grand jury of Washington, The
next thing in order will be the trial.
Apart from any consideration OF The
guiltor innocence Oft the prisoners, it viii.
be of the greatest Importance. We trust
that it will be conducted with delibera-
tion, aad that due regard will be paid
to every legal formality, so that its adju-
dications of the many important ques-
tions involved may afterwards be reeog-
nized as the true and proper constructions
of the constitution and the laws. We
ask only that the efficacy of the law be
fully pnd fairly tested. Let it be deter
mined now what treason is, and by whom
and under what circumstances it can be
committed. IfJefferson Davis and his
associates have not been guilty of treason
let them be acquitted of the charge, and
let us so amend the laws that hereafter
the offence will have its proper penalty.
If their guilt is relieved by any oonsiti-
tutional or legal rights they have acquir-
ed during the war, let them have the full
benefit of all such rights and let us do
what we can to provide against srch es-
cape in future. But if on the other
hand they shall be adjudged guilty of
treason and the law demand its victims,
let it have them If we interfere to
thwart its vengeance we will be treasur-
ing up danger for the future In the
language of Thomas Jefferson "let us hear
no more of confidence in man, but bind
him down from future mischief by the
strong chains of the constitution and the
laws" The law must be made a terror
to evil doers.