Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-04-25
NUMBER II.
constitution, by the Eternal God I would

constitution, oy the Eternal God 1 would
execute them
lie Is now President Has anything
since occurred to make him repent that
solemn oath, or change his stern re.olvs7
His wife and children havo been cap
tured by rebels, and are suffering all but
death. His property has been conh.ca.sd
by them; his sons imprisoned; his neigh
bors and friends shot--murdered in cold
blood-hung, gibbstted. for no oHenss bu.
that Of loyalty to the United States Gov
ernmens. see nothing in oil this calcul.
ated to change his convictions or his pur>
pose. On the other hand, in his speech
upon the fall of Richmond and Lees sur
render, while most others in the delirium
Of Joy and exultntion over our success and
the approach of peace, spoke Of amnesty.
ho alone did not forget the sterncr de-
mand. of justice; for he is made Of stern
er stuff. Upon this subject he said this:
"The halter to intelligent influential trait
ors. To the honest boy, to the deluded
man, who has been deceived into the rebel
ranks, would extend leniency would
say, renew your support to the Govern
ment, and become good citizen; and tha
leaders would hang
And now, after the elimination Of all
the wickedness OF rebellion in the assas-
sination of the President and Secretary
of State, as he lifts his hand by the dead
body Of the President to repeat the solemn
oath administered by the Chief Justice,
see nothing to chang his convictions
When he utters those words-"The du-
ties are mine, will perform them, trust-
ing in GOO" l think see the same patri-
otto Indignation beaming from his deep
black eyes and lighting up that iron face,
which | saw four years ago, when he ut
tered in the Senate those words now 80
terrible to traiters-"B THE ETERNAL
Cop, | WOULD EXECUTE THEM"
In this respect I think Mr.. Johnson's
administration may differ from that of Mr.
Lincoln.
Mr. Lincoln would have dealt with tho
rebels as an indulsent father deals with
errirg children. Mr.. Johnson will deal
with them more like stern and incor-
ruptible judge Thus, in = moment, has
the sceptro of power passed from hand
Of flesh to hand Of iron.
| How strangely overrulsd have all things
been to utterly destroy slavery and tho
nristocracy founded upon it. its madden
ed fanntical leaders made war upon the
Government to recover political power
That power has been utterly Destroyed
They made war to extend and strengthen
slavery. Tho war has destroyed it and
set free every slave
And now, by madly wreaking vengeance
upon the head Of the great, generous, mag.
unanimous Lincoln, who, in the overflow
ing goodness Of his heart, was jus. ready
to issue proclamation of amnesty TO save
them; they have put the necks Of ths
leaders into the halter with no power to
sa-e but in the clsmency Of tho sternly
Just, who four years ago declared in most
solemn form that if President he would
execute them, and whose subsequent ca
reer and experiences have all tended to
strengthen rather than weaken that res-
olution.
Knowing them both rs do. have said
TO Mr. Lincoln, be strong of heart and Of
good courage. Justice demands the pun
ishment Of the great criminals
TIC Mr.. Johnson l would say, uhile ad-
ministering justice remember mercy.
have thus, my friends, very hastil-,
but without reserve, given you an answer
to your earnest inquiries.
OF course speak by no authority. and
merely from first impressions rnthor .sn
matter of duty to you, rs you look TO mo
as a neighbor and a friend, having had
some greater and better opportunitse, for
personally knowing the man upon whom
by this terrible calamity the great Office
of President has been thrown in these
troub Gus times.