Litchfield enquirer., 1865-04-27


 The future policy oof, President 5J ohnson, which, he informs2us5 in his inaugural remarks, 4will if be eftfos developments 'as the adnsinis- tratiou progresses, p is subject Of most intense interest with De .people: Our late worthy Chief.s through a mostttrying and perious ad-- ministratioh; had brought fhe nation up from the sloughs of distrust and iinsecnfity, and ih-s trepehed it4frmly upon the faith Iaha strength of the people, He had succeeded m uniting the moral, physical and financial power of an almost undivided North to crush . blood -thirs: ty rebellion. B y hisd far reaching and pacific policy, he had excited, iii the Southern people universal despair of their success 2 distrast of their!leaders, aud an Aun nistakable craving for peace and reunion. But as our victories rniount- ed to triumph, the most intricate questions of punishment or pardonsof rebeliious subjects, and ofreunion underline old flag, were crowded uponithe wisdom of the Executive. The re= responsibilities and labor of ahis office increased daily till the hour of his murder:7si'f 11as1
 T..el
 Mr, Lincoln's great strength was iin making himself the servant of the people i He, looked to them for instruction. He studied their will. He followed their judgment and 3instinct so that, through him, the people.ruleds Ne right minded person doubts that the, great man, who, in the name and strength of the people, had lifted this nation the fairest daughter of Freedom-from her seatin the dust of humili- ty and despair, and wrapped about her the star. ry robes of victory, would Ger long have placed upon her brow the olive wreath of .peace.yl '> 9 Bnt:it is leftto another to finish this mighty work, and tie people are watching with jealous interest every development of the intentions of the present administrations s;G: u .5Gn.'75. l., MT. Johnson says, in This inaugural speech, that the only assurances he can give for: the future is by reference -.to, the past; record of ardent love foraand. pride in the dignity of la. bor of 'toil, and an. honest advocacy of the great principles of free goyernment;' of unmiti, gated hatred for thel Rebelliobyand of venera-
 ton for the adn'nstrafap # # mi,i,aixad m and m: # z +a.f : c. is not surprising that,
 upon the first :tay.rabas E, aoedaaion, 'Aa ahonla say: '3as 7's!a >;
 H1tf,bt ,9:y neTi sg I$sy;sjt is:l ;.4!!.l; l.: :, me me American @ people must be ,taught-if and must be punished; that tue goyernment will not always bear with it's enemies that it is strong, not only. 10 protect, but to punish.
 The people must understand that it is the blackest of crimes, and will be surely punished
 l make this allusion, not to excite the already l exasperated feelings of the public but to point out the principles of public justice which should galae our actlon at this particular juncture and which accord with sound public morals. Let it be engraven on every heat that treason is n crime and traitors shah suffer its penaltyv 's And again. a few days afterward :.oi5.2 .,.;
 The idsa thdt Justice shaN !bs o5sercsd ss one sohich has strongly insptessea me. and T. mustrbe permitted 10 remark, that the time has come when the nature of crime should be un- derstood in this country; and that, too by the great mass Of the people. We must consider the nature of the crime. and the demand of justice, and not the n!ilsery, woe or ruin of the individual who is guilty. We must look at it in the exercise and cd5Tyiag out of steyn, inaen- abte justice. Tho time has come for us to un- derstand that treason is d crime, the highest of crimes in other words, thdt all crimes aye sub- merged n treason, and he icho Ads committed it has committed dH crimes E'''.-' '>'> |,
 That is sound, If the Southern people, in the beginning. had understood that treason was the ":blackest of crimes" and not mere rec- reation, and that it would be pualished, they :. would never have .inaugurated this reckless and O. bauctintr l..
 for the overthrow of our government did un. derstand the fuli nature of the crime, and the punishment awaiting itheir participation: in it. They have fought with a desperate fury, sacri. fcing thousands of their misguided and inno. cent followers, to save 'thenfselyes from the consequences, of it, Let the sword of Justice fall upon them, and all, the people will say Amen r9 f"s .'sa '.l .:H aia-i l.; -'als'
 a But the people were ignorant of the nature of their action. They were led by pride, by prejudice, by passion, and by hollow promises of ofgreaterliberty-a They were ignorant or care less of the character and strength of the alle- glance that subject owes to his Government, and of the punishment that is prescribed for its protection. There is certainly distinction between these and their designing leaders; a l distinction that Mr.. Lncoln, wisely respected in his amnesty proclamation, and that MT. Johnson also will doubtless entertain. Indeed he commits himself regarding. this subject, in | the former of the two speeches above. referred to, to be guided by the public will. He says
 ."I speak in, no spirit of kindness. | leave the events of the future tei be disposed of as they arise, regarding myself as the, humble in. l strument ot the American people. la this. as in all things. justice and judgment shall be de, termined by them, l do : not sharbor bitter or revengefal feelings toward any, In general terms. Il would say that public morals and pub lie opinion should be; estabshed upon. the sure and inaexlble principles of justice. " hen the question of exercising mercy acomes before me, it will be cqnsidered calmly, judieialy, remem. beripg that I am the Executive of the nation. Be assured shall never forget. that l am not to consult my own feelings alone, but to give an accountato to the whole people," T So there is doubt if the policy of our govern- menk will j,ss I .~-