The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-04-22

last days Of Bochanan's administration.
Hon the "a of March, 1861, in speech in
&eepiy 70 Lane. OF Oregon, speaking Of the
nrihs upon the Star of the West, and seiz-
ure OF our arsenals, docks, forts and navy
Yards. he used the following memorable
language:
"Show me who has been engaged in
these conspiracies, who has given instruc.
tons to take our forts and custom houses.
our arsenals and dock yards, and will
show You traitor (Applau.e in the
galleries. When order was restored. ho
ted States, would do as Thomas IeSer-
son did, IN 1906, with Aaron Burr.
would have them arrested, and, ii convict.
ed within the meaning and scope Of the
execute them"
He is now President. Has anything
since occurred to make him repeut that
solemn oath, or change his stern reso.ve1
His wife and children have been captured
BY rebels. and are suffering all bat death.
His property has been c0nfiecated bv them
Ibis sons iInprisoned-his neighbors and
friends shot-murdered in cold blood
hung, gibbeted. for no ofense but that Of
x see nothing in all this calculated to change
his convictions or his purpose. On the 9th.
er band, IN his speech upon the fall Of
Richmond and Lees surrender, while
most others in the delifium Of Joy and ex.
ultation over our successes and the aD-
proach Of peace, spoke Of amnesty, he alone
did not forget the sterner demands Of JUS
.tice, for be is made Of sterner stun. Upon
this subject he said The halter TO intelli-
gent, influential traitors. To the honest
boy, to the deluded man who has been Dc.
ceived into the rebel ranks. / would ex.
tend leniency. would say, renew your
support to the Government and become
e good citizen, and the leaders would
hang"
And now, after the elimination Of al the
wickedness Of rebellion in the assassina.
tion Of the President and Secretary ofStato
-as he lilts his hand by the dead body Of
the President to repeat the solemn oath id.
ministered by the Chief Justics, I seenoth-
ing to change his convictions. When he ut.
will perform them, trusting in God"
think see the same patriotic indignation
beaming from his deep black eyes and
Fighting up that iron face, which saw tour
years ago, when he uttered in the Senate
those words now SO terrible to traitors
"BY THE ETERNAL GOD, / WOULD Exc
CUTE THEM"
In this respect, l think Mr.. Johnson's
administration may differ from that of Mr..
Lincoln.
Mr.. Lincoln would have dealt with the
rebels as an indulgent father deals with err
firing children. Mr.. johnson will deal with
them more like stern and incorruptible
Judge. Thus, in moment, has the sceptre
|of power passed from hand OF flesh TO
hand of iron.
How strangely overruled have all things
been to utterly destroy slavery and the arr
|istocracv founded upon it. Its maddened
fanatical leaders made war upon the Coy
lernment to recover political power. That
power has been utterly destroyed. They
|made war to extend and strengthen slave
Try. The war has destroyed 1t 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
ling goodness of his heart, was just ready to
tissue proclamation of amnesty to save
them they have put the necks of thelead-
|ers into halter with no power To save but
|in the clemency of one sternly just, who
-four years ago declared in most solemn
form that if President. he would execute
them, and whose subsequent career and
Experiences have all tended to strengthen
rather than weaken that resolution.
Knowing them both a. do, I have said
TO Mr.. Lincoln, be strong Of heart and Of
good courage. Justice demands the pun.
|tshment of the great criminals.
To Mr.. johnson would say, while I'd.
|ministering justice remember mercy.