Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-04-14
civil government ia the III iinsalrgea. dis


How shall we execute justice for the
crime which has turned the land into a
sea of woe, so that IL shall be warning
for rebellion for all fime2 How shall we
temper justice with mercy so that the
sum of all crimes shall not mock our
ideas of justice with impunity2 How
shall we build up civil government on
anarchy, replace military power by the
rule of law, transfer fheprotection Of So
ciety to the rule Of people hostile to the
national authority, and establish peace
on such foundations that the blood and
treasure which it has cost shall not be
| thrown away7
We see manifestations on the part Of
many well-meaning but weak-minded
persons of disposition to shove by all
the questions which require the exercise
of statesmsnship, 6rmness, justice aud
reason, and to assume that the whole
matter may be settled by gush of the
emotions and By. 6ne sentiments; that
the end Of all this Slaughter and devas-
tstion and the dissolution of society is
to be simply a re-enactment Of the
Prodigsl Son, in which the Government,
overfowing with parental affection, shall
run TO meet the Southern rebel, and fall
on his neck and kiss him, bring him back
to the paternal mansion, give him the
place of honor, kill the fAfted calf, and
drown all the terrible events of the past
four years in the oblivion Of our conviV-
ialitieA
In the original piece of the Prodigal
Son, there was irst a repenting wander
er, returning With humbled spirit 20 con-
fess his sin, Acknowledge his unworthi-
ness to be numbered among the sons,
and to crave place among the ser
wants and the father, while rejoicing
oyer the rescue of his erring son from
perdition, yet abating nothing of the
position and entire succession Of the
fsithful son. But so bent are the minds
OF some upon this emotional manner of
settlement with the insurgents, that they
are willing to enact the play of the
Prodigal Son with the part Of the re-
penting prodigal left ont, and to have
the father bring him back still rebellious
and NAL ignant, and give him the place
of honor, and control over the whole
patrimony.
1t is perhaps well that we see already
most conspicuous in this emotional mis-
sion to our Southern erring brethren,
most ostentatious in their forgiveness,
most protuberant in the profered gush-
ing bosom, the organs Of q party which
has all along eympathized with the rebel
cause, which has used all its influence
to weaken the Government, and give
triumph to the rebellion. This generos-
ity of confederates, this free pardon of
accessories, and this early start to get
ahead in the race of mercy, and amnes-
ty, and restoration of political privileges
to their own leaders, Is a lesson to the
feeble-minded friends of the Govern
ment, that il generosity to rebels is to
be the key note of the policy of settle
ment, these Confederate Democrats will
lead the music, for they can strike high
er notes in the. afectionate demonstra-
tions, and baser ones in the magnanim-
GUS concessions, They can easily for
give their friends. They can heartily
! rejoice over reunion with those they
have always loved. They can freely
give political power to their own party
leaders, and noAregret for the patriotic
soldiers murdered BY rebellion will mod
crate the sound Of their festivities. If a
burst of generosity is to be the policy,
they who can be most generous will lead
it, and the party which has conquered
the rebellion will have to go to the wall,
as cold in its love, and as an obstacle to
perfect eonfdence, affection and peace.
-wWemay blind our eyes if we will, and
cali that the conversions Of the rebel
heart, and we may greedily take on the
folly that goes before destruction, but
I we With men who though
subjugated in power are still malignant
rebels in heart who are theruling class
I in the South, and if allowed. by Us win
1 continue to. control its political acton
4 as Absolutely as they have in the past;
and with whom the question of recon
struction is how theyomay turn their
military subjugation into political do
miustiop; how they mar make the Union
subject to them, and re-establish their
rule 80 that they may hold it as before
BY the menace Of the'Restruction of the
nation. 1@@E 81 = -
A false issue is trumped up to hide the
real question, as il they who hesitated
to restore the rebel class to political
power in their local governments and
in the nation, sought vengeance, more
abloodshed, subjugation, she holding of
people rs vassels, and of States
as. conquered provinces, and as if
they were insensible to mercy, mag
nanimity ~ and generosity to a
fallen foesdi Has the power of the rebel
class been nerciful to the South or to
. the whole country that we should seek
j to restore IL in mercy +? Is justice to
|, those whose crime has drenched the land
: with blood, to be ssigmatized as ven
: geancsf We had 10 sabjugate the
rebels They we're impossible only by
that argument. Il is necessary that
they should be made TO feel that they
{ are subjugated. The realization o.
| subiugasion must come before sabmis
! sion to the Government win begin, il
is necessary that we deprive the rebels
of political power in the local govern
5 ments and in the nation, until they have
/ gone through probation, and have
& shown works meet for repentance. L
a this be holding States as Territories, let
lthem make the most of it, for anything
. else is to restore the conquered rebels t