Smyrna times., 1865-05-11
The Radicals against Vengeance.

ne hddicais against Vengeance.
No two men have done more to extirpate
slavery from the land, than Gerritt Smith and
Wendell Phillips, yet now that their labors are
crowned with success even at so great a loss to
the country, they are not disposed to gratity the
long arrear of delayed Justice and di>apnoint-
ment Of their hopes, by any feeling Of ven
gcancr against those who caused it, Gerritt
Smith in letter to the President, reminds him
that " the incessant demand for rigorous and
bloody policy toward the conquered rebels met
with no response i'll the remarkable kindness
and compassion Of Mr.. Lincoln" and asks,
why should not Government refuse to adopt.
or, even for one moment, to listen to this rig
OrouS and bloody policy? Why should not Gov
ernment deal with the conquered in this war
as 1t would deal with the conquered. were it
successful, in a war with Mexico? In the event
! OF the bloody policy being adopted he says,
peace Will not return to the land for years.
= For once let it be known that the leading
rebels who shall fall into our hands, will be
doomed to punishment, be it death. imprison-
ment or exile, and Immediately, amongst their
followers sympathy with them and RAGE against
us will know no bounds Tens of thousands
Will burn with vengeance and will care for moth
ing but to crafty it. "
Wendell Phillips is equally emphatic on this
point. AT fremont Temple, Boston, he re-
Gently made these remarks:
The air is thick with threats Of vengeance.
| admire the motive which prompts the: .
! But let US remember no cause. however inta-
nous, was ever crushed by puni~hing It's ldvo-
Gates and abettors All history proves this
There is no class of men base and c0wardly
enough, no matter what their views and pur-
pose, to make the policy Of vengeance success
full In bad causes, as we'll as good. it is still
true that the blood Of the martyrs is the seed
! of the church. We cannot prevail against
| this principal Of human nature. And again.
with regard to the dozen rebel chiefs, it will
never be a practical question whether We shall
hang them. Those not now III Europe will
soon be. Indeed, after paroling the blOodiest
and guiltiest Of all, Robert f. Lee loud ap-
plausel, there would be little fitness in hanging
any lesser wretch.
Mr. Lincoln's Conversation on Threats Of
! Assassination.
A correspondent of the New York Post gives
the following "reminiscences Of a conversation
with Mr.. Lincoln:
am reminded of conversation that took
| place between us about this time, which may
| be Of interest to your readers, in view of the
| terrible calamity which has overtaken the ma
| tion.
A late number of the TnJune this was the
last Of March, 1861 contained full account
OF an elaborate conspiracy, matured i'll Rich
mond, either to asSassinate or abduct the per
son of the President Five hundred or a thou.
sand men were said to be sworn to accomplish
the deed. Several days subsequent to its pub
lication, | asked Mr.. Lincoln II he had seen
the statement He said he had not, nor even
heard oft.
| then, at his request, gave him the details.
| We were walking together at the time, and |
remember distinctly the conversation. After |
had concluded he smiled incredulously and
said "Well even if true, do not see what
the rebels would gain by either killing or get
ting possession Of me. | am but a single indi-
vidual, and it would not help their cause, Or
make the least difference in the progress ofthe
war; Everything would go right on Just the
same. Soon after was nominated at Chca-
go. he continued, 9 began 10 receive letters
| threatening my life The first one or two made
me little uncomfortable, but came at length
to look for a regular instalment of this kind of
correspondence in every week mail, and up
| to Inauguration day was in the constant re-
ceipt of such letters, and it is no uncommon
thing even to receive them now; but they have
ceased to give ME any apprehension | eX-
pressed some surprise at this but he replied
in his peculiar way, There is nothing like
getting used to things - Alas that the nation
should to-day be sitting under the shadow of
! the great crime-the cOnsummatiOn Of those
very threats-which he had come to regard so
Eightly. Very truly, yours,
7 +. b. CARPENTER.