Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-04-21
Ghe 3ree press.
RLtSGToA
FRIDAv NoRvINe AraIL p. lstl

FRIDAY M0RVING APRIL u, 1876
zls---s'sf',T ~asaFzs -sssr -r-z,z.
Swear him and let him co.
In the enrly davs of the rebellion. tn,
! government policy was to try the eGec; o.
soothing medicines IN the rebels. S. whcr
in Western Virginia come thousands Of pri
s,ners were taken ia successive actions. they
were all released upon simply swearing ale
glance To the Unite States. their rcleas,
, beng followed in most cascs by enlist,n;
afrcsh under the frst rebel officer who cam,
along. The egregious folly Of such an IN
military proceeding was brought home t,
our government, when az the Bull-Run bat
tie thousands OF Union prisoners were hur.
ried of 10 lanGuish for months in rebel pri
sons because We had no rebel prisoners t,
exchange i0r tlem. The business of captu.
ring rebels merely TO let them % again, no
turally was 0istasteiul to our soldiers
and they were not slow t. signify il
One day. rattc-suake bad been found
within the bounds Of a cimp. and after The
boys had amused themselves "A while in look
ing him over and noticing his movements,
one -aid. what shall we DO with him ?
.' swear him and Jet him co"-was the sig
nihcant reply. What the soldier in bitter
IRONY said OF one y,uomous reptile, many
ar, nuw saying Of al The lar more venomous
.crestlr,s which have done all in their power
20 sting this great nation to death. They
want 10 swear than al and let them 20.
we can afford 30 be msguanimous, say they.
The nation har proved its power, and what
more j. necessary. Has not liood enough
been shed already
Blood enough been shed! Ot the blood
ot thuussnds upon Thousand. pi brave sol
dieis and 1f'cers who have fallen IN the ser
vice OF their country, enough and TAR too
much heen sbod-,nough 10 cement the na-
tion together tor thousand years 10 come.
Perhaps too. enough blood has been shed Of
the poor ignorant people cf ihc south led
into tine rebellion by the infamous lies OF
those who knew better. or forced into the
rebel .auk- az the point of the bayonct.
Many rebel leaders also have fallen in battle
and gone 10 their last account. Jsstice IN
tli- world has no further claim on them.
But of the arch traitor, of an, such as JEFF
Davis. r. G. Breckenridge. Toomb-, Wise,
"i-tsl. Orr. Hunter, SIidell. Jacob Tnomp-
s.n. Billy smith. Seldom, aud ever - many
ot',,r- ike them without whom there
wouij ayc been no rebellion at all,
w.o have had 1t. moving power all
the time under their control. there
aas qot been blood enough -icd.e either for the
purpose of rctubutiy, justice or the nation :
safety hereafter. In fact. thus lar they have
gone or IN their horrible crime unrcst-aincd
and uuharmcd
In an age- OF tac world treason against tho
lawful government of nation ia- been com
sijcred gac highest of al c-ime--oae never
to Dec wholly rardauci though, ot courrc. "a
majority OF the guilty are rarely made to
suHer.
Never. ssncr tbe word began. was there
30 guilty, 80 c,u-tic-s, 80 bloody rebellion
FOL, tie one thi, nation has bad 60 NEE, and
overcome. Ard shall all i.- chief authors,
it, savage and cruei conduc;ors.meet Will n-
punishment for their own m,asurcie-- guil;.
and leave no lesson from winch those who
come auer shall take warning? Justic, and
humanity alike forbid it. Il tney haye c--
capped the weight OF the military arm o' the
nation, thar Of the civil arm must tall upon
them. 10 lcJ ;hem all 20 UNPUBLISHED would
be 70 offer encouragement To futIre treason;
and the nation might ar well amend the Con
sti;uJion and provide that for trcasos there
shall Doe no punishment whatever.