The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-04-19

r the rebellion than they were '''N'" a
, and conducting otherwise Is Peacein. "a
tizens should not he held accountable loi 3
: crimes. ConhscatiOn, disiranchisemeni ho
? any other penalty placed upon them
ould be unjust to q large extent, anu a.
,geiher bad policy. The same person
IN be quiet and peaceaDle citizens under
he rrign Of the stars and stripes.
But The position OF the other classes
n,jre,v different. II i the least possible y.
caalrv thai they who originated and set iA 9
,stion the rebellion, thus causing the de- !
,-ucfion Of thousands OF millions Of prop-H
rty. should lose their own estates. Inc. s.
tho first attempted 10 destroy this govern 81
lent, should LOSE all privileges under t -
itzens. They who caused the death oil ~
uarter OF half million Of human beings u
hould he put in situation where tAes 3
ould 10 10 more injury 10 humanity
ociety has learned, by bitter experience
hat il IS unsafe for them to 90 at large We
would have them confined where escapeE
you'd BE hopeless. aud where they could =
arm their bread by daily labor, during -
remainder OF their ivs-. within the walls 81
, prison.
Asto the second class. tbs Government :
owes a duty to itself 10 make is insillo-
lions respected by visiting with condlsn
punishment those who, having been en-
trusted with property, Influence and power s
added treachery to their treason by turnln4E
chem AN over 10 the rebels. Take, Tor in- B
stance. the case Of Gen. Twisgs, who, 10 .
1851 commanded .. 900 regular troops ~ }
r.xas The old villain. instead Of usinsI
l.h.m for tie defence % bis country, used
the mower conferred Oh him % disoandI
i.herg and 20 take away their arms. Ana iiiedI
,to yet as many Of the soldiers a. possible
H. ,i..l.t against the country they had sworn
!. % -rnoort. 10 is true that Gen. Iwigs- T.
lead. hui there are other officers lsinel
equally deserving the retribuuon oi 'uir
nation. Their sin should not be- forgiven.
sTbey were meanly treacher0us wien iheA
Bhol chance To be so. and would repeat
E,hat ireachery again if the chance should
4aeain return. We would have them dis
Riranchised. their property conlisc"ied' anu
zhavins shown themselves destitute holh oil
5honor and patriotism at home, We would
8 leo them 1--we the remnant Of their day 'n-
9 Per foreign government
81 The case of other officers, clNl andhnlt
a.. who first honorably surrendered Il
E.he nation all its property IN their hands
I'D then resigned their commissions be
z cau,e they were unwilling TO fight agans
&. l.oi~ J.iysrnan and rci4fiEc- urs.Tfnls ano
4ther feature Of tie rebellion. Their con
Fl luct so far was honorable, but there VA
81 no necessity upon them TO take arms agalns
utheir country. aud IN doing So. they JUST,
q subjected themselves 20 the penalties pre-
8 scribed for rebels They should DEE disiian
r chised and their property coul,-cated.
Tie next class-those who lave adde'
Eother crimes 10 those Of treason. deserve
Eno mercy. Men who would del.heratcI
s tarve their prisoners, with piles OF proyi
g sions. furnished by their friends. lying rot
ating at the prison doors, Is was the case il
HIichmOnd; anc those who crucifel an,
Sburied alive prisoners Of war for no othe
treason tan because they came AZ thei
4country's call TO rescue it from destruction
e. obedience to the order OF the President
tsshOuld be hunted out OF their lurking places
Hwherever they may be; they should b
Htrealed as outlaws; and it, 10y chance. the.
II hOuld escape justice for thirty or fort.
4years. and then be detected and ontlcted
&their white hairs should not save them from
9~uUw 10 HauAIuu, tud1 "HHv 'uvu-.t4to
III minor offences against tie government
Smav he forgiven. those who not merely Op
opposed il with arms, but with wanton an'
9 relentless cruclties on It's defenders shall
e surely die Their blood shall boz iho jas
a recompense Of their acts.
3 ~ 10 the fifth class-those who hav
3 fused treacherous and unjustihable mean
Nof helping the rebellion-the government
4 has been extremely lenient toward them a
A class, partly, perhaps, because il was no
awilIing TO provoke retaliation on iunoceu
3 persons 10y the rebels. But when that dan
\ ger shall be removed. We would not hav
4 their Offences erased 10y the lapse of time
4Thc nature Of their various ac-s should D.
8impartially considered and Justice deal
our 90 each individual accordingly Tn th
4Opiu.un Of many loyal men. thc action %
athe Government towards persons 90 Clad
& sort in and around Washington. has olte
& shown much weakness AMI imbecility
Take the case reported in the papers az th
im4 nNaGH.gsearl %hsr'eg w;o51clefk, i'm lie paG
lie offices were arrested for furnishing con
les Of plans and Official papers TO tie rel
les. Instead OF being hanged ia front Cd
their offices, as they deserved they wcr
3 punished by dismissal from The Office tiu
9leaying them at fil leisure To devise oiae
s modes of helping the rebels. and OF create
alestruction 10 our brave boys, who wer
%thcn falling by thousands on the battlefield
nwitAsn a short distance of the city 80
a reyerend gentleman OF that vicinity
uprcached on sundays and carried "a rebe
iisA t'tA'~ NAtt~ u WIN NOM tA4A NAN II 81
HtOrs In Washington TO those in Richmond
s. was taken. with his mail. and underwear
S the tremendous punishment Of being sen
HS0uth with his family. Such offenders ar'
Hmore deserving Of punishment, and have
abeen far more destructive 10 Us than rebel
& whO have met Us fairly and hOnOrably OF
Nthe field of battle; and the culpable weak
'5ness of the Government hitherto, SHOULD
Enot exempt them from the deserts whiel
S,hey merit. Treason and rebellion becom,
HmGch more hateful. when treachery i,
Eadled 10 make them more efTectual
q According to our view, We would hav,
ali these classes of criminals tried. deliber
lately and carefully. by the civil tribunal.
Svith all the forms of law and with ampl,
opportunity for the Introduction of witness
Is, and the report OF fdll testimony for III,
4press, that II might be spread before al
4mankind. and receive the full approval ot
S bur entire nation. Congress has already
4made law for the punishment Of Treason
and rabeliiau- buf A. irS proviSionS ara mi