Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-04-25
For The Fr,.n.n.
What shall be done with the Rebel Leaders

W nat blhIl Do uOHo WIN luo hoDeI LcduHls
Mr.. EDlros 1t is very evident, from the
rapid progress which has lately been made by
our national armies under the guidance Of the
matchless pesee-makers, the unyielding Grant,
the heroic Thomas the unconquerabe Sherman
and the da.hing Sheridan, tha. the question
will soon come up for practical solutIon-wbat
shall be don, with the leaders Of the treason
which our armies are crushing1
10 have discussed this question sooner would
have provoked the remark that We must catch
them bef re ", talk Of what shall 10 done With
them lie who longer doubts the ability Of
our Government TO give the outlaws their deserts.
must be himself only half loyal, or wilfully
blind to what is pereeptible to the dullcst in
telleet. II the assassinst0r Of the lsmenied
Lincoln, or those who hired him to do the DuT-
derous deed, hoped thereby 10 better, or in any
way alleviate the fate Of the fallen chiefs Of the
ioulest treason the world ever knew, they made
to say The least very grsSs MISTAKE. Abraham
Lincoln would nave dealt with them, as far as
L1fthllNe lVNtl mas W w WIN tltlh A4nlI 4Nu'
ently than will Andrew johnson.
believe it n only expressing the feelings Of
our community, to say that the insiIgators and
leaders ol the rebel hon. those Of them who do
not dee their cOuniry-whlch they might long
,inca have done for their couniry's good
should DC hung or bdnished.
Charity is t. be raokod high among the viz
tues but to those who would throw It's mantle
over the conduct Of these men, would put the
Inquiry, Is lie any dearer, or ITS attendant
blessings any sweeter to JET DAVIS, Cien. Lse,
or many other rebels who might be named OF
smaller calibre, than they were, the thousand,
and tens Of thousands OF hero martyrs who
fought and bled on many crimsOned field, aud
finally laid their precious lives, costly sacrifice,
on their o.un,rJs altar
And what was it made these costly sacrifices
necessary Nothing bus the damnaole treason
Of these very men whom sjme would let down
so easy.
IL much to be doubted il history furnishe,
any examples Of war bs,ween people claiming
to be civilized, IN which ths prisoners taken by
either side we're subjseted to the Ill treatment
which our captured men haze bad to bear ron
their oapIors. Justice TO the feelings Of th.
tstnles and friends oil those who we,e made 10
lAnguish and die 10 southern prisons requires
| that some severity should be shown " those who
were the authors Of their unheard oil and need
/ less tuiletings Ii there is any evidence that
JsF Davis, Gen. Lee, or any other OF the most
prominent leaders Of the rebellion, tired tO pre-
vent the horrid treatment 10 which their ptis
onefs were subjected, or demonstrated against 1t
let this evidence be forthcoming. They are the
ones to taste the honeyed sweets Of mercy.
Did Gen. Lee ever talk tn those around anc
under him after this iashoD,-" Gentlemen
you have asked me to command your military
lorcCs consented 10 Go this, and many limti
have led your armies to battle and TO victory
| can continue to lead you only on condition
that the war We are wsgng US we claim, u
achieve our Independence, shall be conducted
in accordance with the usages OF civilized war
fare " IL the proof can be produced thatanl
Of them talked j. this manner, 1t will aud shoulC
weigh much in their favor. This evidence doe
not eIist on the contrary, 1t was part OF ther
plan to dl.able their prisoners by hard usage
even to sidrre thsm 10 death. The orders io
this manner Of procedure we're issned from th'
headquarters OF their bogus government
Let tsm be mdis 10 ie,i The r'rgeonoe Of al
outraged people. The peace and safety ol thos
who are 10 come after US, requires it.
Abraham Lincoln nation mourns thy loss
Thy deeds Of goodness and OF noblen,ss, don
Tor thy country and for humanlty's sake, hay
onshrincd thee IN the hearts Of grateful pee
pie. Thy name and fame shall shine on hlsto
rvs brightest page, and those who have lived i
thy day, their children and their children
children, down to latest time, and those ever
, where, and at all times. who respect magnanlu
ity and goodness, shall visit thy sepulohre wit
no lcss OF reverence Than that with which the
, approach Mount Vernon's Sacred Tomb. ia
our Country Beneiaelor, thy name shall hv
second only to that ol Washington.
The people you have blessed shall keep 1h
sods above your grave ever fresh and green vii
: their tears of deatbless gratitude
: d. I. AvsklLL.
a II 1Sat