North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-06-21

cording to the laws Of war, in order TO save
our cause and our country. lAppladss. -
The defeated have suffered enough, ani the
reason why civil war should be conndpctsd
according to the rules Of war is this: Where
such great numbers of men carry on a war.
we may well believe there has BEEN suffering
enough in it, especially to the defeated party,
without adding punishment at the close OF
the war for treason: cloud Applause A
hiss, drowned with cheers.l At the close Of
such war the voice Of compassion exclains
Shall the sword devour forever7 Put up
thy sword" AT the close of such o war God
speaks to the destroying angel no he spoke
to him in behalf of the dismayed and erer~
bling Jews :."It is enough, stay now thine
hand" Loud cheeringl
"a word here. my friends, though It may
be strange word to you. Proclamations 90
amnesty are in place IN a revolt, In rsbell-
ION; but proclamations Of amnesty are not In
place in an international war or a civil war.
lApplause.l The proclamation of amnesty
in civil or International war is an unwas.
rantable and offensive assumption. know
1t may be very immodest for me to be guilty
OF this singalarity of arraying myself asainss
such high authorities. But am not slous.
the truth is on my side. This order. No.
LOO, and this proclamation of amnesty, are
both exparte papers, and can have no effect
whatever to amend or modify in any degree
the agreement entered into between the two
parties. . -...., .,......
Least of all cen they have this effect 90
long as we are continuing to act upon the
agreement, and SO long as neither party gives
to the other notice of it's discontnuance.-
Now, remember, it trkes two to break as
well as two to make bargain and this bar.
gain cannot be broken at the will of oue of
the parties. The current plea that this war
is now coming to an end leaves the victor st
liberty to punish the finally vanquished is en-.
tirely in valid, for the war has not come TO an
end. The war cannot be at an end so long
as there are prisoners to try. The peace
which follows civil and international wars
implies the entire surrender of prisoners on
both sides (applause,) and If either Of the
parties persist in holding prisoners, it persists
IN keeping the war open. In q revolt or a
rebellion the prisoners are lawfully to be
tried as traitors, but the South has been se.
knowiedged as a. party to o. civil war. &ag
In the case of the rebellion in Ireland some
sixteen or seventeen years ago, that rebellion
not reaching the dimensions or character of n
civil war, the British Government had ths
legal right do not say one word about the
moral right-to punish the in surgents. Itis
gratifying to me TO know that the government
had yielded SO far to the progressive civiliza-
tion OF the age as to punish only seven Of the
insurgents, and not one Of them with death.
tAppiause.] Had considerable part of the
people of the British Islands risen up against
the governmental party, say one half, one.
third, or one-fourth. then il the governmental
party had come out the final vctors,i ,it would
have had no right to punish any of the finally
vanqulshed according to the interpretations
OF the law of war by her own publicists. But
surely 1T does not become freedom.loviue
America TO say that the finally vanquished
in civil war may be held amenabIe to the
law OF treason !! Would you have had our
Washington and our Franklin, and their no.
BILE associates punished for treason, If the
Revolution had failed Moreover, there bs
not probability many civil wars over thu
earth, which are not started in the interests
OF freedom. No what If America should Get
the precedent of having the qanquished i'm
this country tried and executed as traitors 2
Loud cheers and some hisses] Crowned
heads succeed now and then in supprsssing
the parties of freedom is it for America 60
put 1t IN the power of these crowned heads
to plead her example in hehalf of the sxeeu.
tions of the leaders 2"