The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1865-05-18
rPr o y, 10 W a:
For the Upton Advertiser.
Questions Of the Hour.

81 Questions Of the Hour.
The clash Of arms has ceased The
long and sanguinary conflict is over. The
rebellion is overthrown. Treason is dead,
and law aud order reign supreme, and
peace spreads her balmy wings over the
nation.
Though peace has been conquered,
let not the American people forget that
grave questions press upon them for So
luton. The remoulding Of disorganized
society; the reconstruction Of State gov
ernnents; representation in the American
Congress; how far shall! outraged law be
viodieased BY pains and penalties; to
what extent may mercy be shown the
perpetrators of the enormous crime, con
sis,ently with the preservation of law and
the future peace and well being Of the
nation. These aud other equally impor-
tans questions cow demand the attention
Of tho nation. And in their adjustment
every citizen has personal interest, aud
their vast importance calls for full and
clear expression Of the sovereign will Of
tie people. We are to deal with these
a
great and victorious nation. There are
two extremes to DO avoided-the ono is
revenge, the other is misdirected kind
ness Tho r, ass Of the southern people
together with the mass Of the army may
we'll be nbraced in general amnesty. /
Though they have been hot headed, per-
verse and malignant, they have been
nisled. The educational facilities Of the
masses of the south have been limited; !
their general Intelligence, as a conse-
quencc, is deplorabiy deficient. They |
have known but little Of the nature aud |
genius Of our government. All the long
years the conspirators were preparing for
the rebellion they were porsistently poi
soning the southern mind against the
Union; they have been taught that patri-
otism summon ed them to arms; they have
Tough. bravely, they have displayed cour-
age, fortitude and perseverance,. Mag
nanimisy can concede much 70 brave
though misguided foe. But even for ,
these certain restrictions and limitations
should be insisted On. The privileges '
Of citizenship should only be granted them
Do condition of their taking the oath Of
allegiance to the Federal Government,
lisclaiming the dogma Of seccssi0n under
,nder any pretext whatever; and even
heo they should not enjoy the right of
uffrage, or hold Office, until society has
'een reorganized by loyal men. In this
mnesty might be included the suba,teru
Gcers Of the confederate armies. They a
90, have been carried away oy passion, Q
IeJndice or force. The civil and execu- 4
i've officers Of lower grade, who are vii. a
ng to purge themselves Of treason, By 4
''h Il. .ees" a..h IN pesce. bus let q
lem be forever disfranchisei. b
There are those, however, WHO should :
OF be pardonsd. As protection for US Il
, the future, examples should be made !
I the chief conspirators. Let terror be Il
brown around deeds oftreasou. Let ise b
9 known that treason is conspiracy t
gainss nations life, and such crime 1
'erits death. For every man who went a
ON the national Congress, in 1860, to t
erpetuate treason; for every man who t
as been educated at the national ex- :
snse, and who with his oath Of feslty {
a, drawn his sword against tho country RI
I'd the government that nurtured him, q
lere should b: trial, conviction and exc +
ltion.
Let us have no mawkish mpathv.- {
READY journals which declared the var l
a failure" that spoke of VaIandicham !
ga martyr" that denounced every war
.easure, tha. declared the war intcrmin. +
Bile and the. subjusation Of the soa.h
n impossibility, are assuming to talk
0 the President about Offering naenani-
nous conditions to the south. They have
ided the rebels in word and deed to the
Utmost extent of their power, and it is
Natural they should continue soliei'ous |
or their friends. They are indeed par
aoblc frat7pn. BIZ. away with such
,ounsellors; they are no less the enemies
of the government than those for whom
they are begging for mercy
The last class to which | invite special
consideration is the one which is respon.
sible, wholly or in part, for the baroarous
and inhuman treatment Of our prisoners,
should be hanged until they are dead,
DEAD, DEAD.
This is not indictivencss-it is not
revenge. 1t is simple justice Any !
thing less than this would be placing
premium on treason and would afford US
no protection for the future. And let
oil the people say, Amen.
OCCASIONAL.
MeehaniesvilIe, Iowa, May 81, l:s5