Litchfield enquirer., 1865-04-27
PRESIDENT JoHNsoNs VIEWS OF
 THE REBELLION.


 THE REBELLION.
 l '.asi+Asss 2 ~-5- - .'54=''
 The following is the speech made by An drew Johnson when the news of the capture ot Richmond was received at Washington ne sentiments it expresses derive fresh i'm poF'ance from his accession to the Presi. dency: s, .4..,..-.- -..
 | You must Indulge me in m aking one sinpl,, remark In connection with myself. Al inc time the traitors in the Senate of the United States plotted against the Government, and entered into conspir acy more foul, more tx- | crable and more odious than that of Cataline against the Romans happened to be mem- Der of that body and, as to loyalty, stood soli- tary and alone among the Senators from the Southern States. was then and there calle upon to know what would do with such trait ors, and l want to repeat my reply here. l | said, if we had an Andrew Jackson he would hang them as high as Haman. But as he is no more, and sleeps in his grave in his own be- loved State, where traitors and treason have even insulted his tomb and the very earth that 1 covers his remains, humble as am, when you ask me what would do, ny reply is, would arrest them; would try them, would con vict them, and scould hang them. As hum ble az Iam and have been, have pursued but one undertaking course. All that have life, limb aud property-have been put at the disposal of the country in this great struggle l have been in camp, have been in the field, !, have been everywhere where this great re bellion was l have pursuel 1t until believe can now See it's termination. Since the world began there never has been rebellion of such Oi an inf, in, so diabulical in motive, 80 entirely disregard. full of the laws of civilized war. It has intro. duced the most savage mode of warfare ever practiced upon the earth.
 will repeat here a remark, for which have been in no small degree censured. What is it, allow me to ask. that has sustained the nation in this great struggle? The cry has been, you know, that government was not strong enough for a time of rebellion that in such a time shs would have to contend against internal weakness as well as internal foes. We have nov given the world evidence that such is nu, the fact: and when the rebellion shall have bsen crushed out. and tbe nation shall once uyun have settled down in peace. our govern ment will rest upon more enduring basis than ever before
 But, my friends, in what has the great strength of this Government consisted? Has it been in ons man pnwer? Has it been in s"me uutocrat, or in some one man who held absolute government No! thank God have 1t in my power to proclaim. the grea, truth that this government has derived its strength from the American people. They have issued tue edict they have exercised the power that has resulted Tn the overthrow of the rebellion, and the's is not another government upon the fass Ss sh,th 9f the earth that conld have a's ourselves ps ps,!sss 3s s4BsEt the the trss.ss s and~ihs Sbsss government tAs worla
 Thank God that we have lived through this trial, and that. looking in your intelligent faces here. to-day, can announce to you the grea, fact that Petersburg the outpost of the strong citadel, has been occupied by our brave and gallant officers, and our untiring, invincible soldiers. And not content with that they have captured the citadel itself, the stronghold oi the traitors. Richmond is ours, and is nov occupied by the forces of the United States! Death to the couspirators- elelnency to their victims. One word more, and have done.- It is this am in favor of leniency; but In my opinion, evil doers should be punished.- Treason is the highest crime known in the catalogue of crimes and for him that is guilty of it-for him that is willing to hit his inpi JUS ukdiust tuc OL tho holIop1 would say death is too easy punishment
 My notion is that treason must be made odious, that traitors must bs punished and im- povershed, their social power broken. that they must be made to fee! the penalty of their crimes. Hence say this-tbe halter to in telligent, influential traitors. But to the hOr- est boy, to the deluded man who has been de ceived into the rebel ranks, would extend Ieniency. would say, return to your aleg- ance, renew your support to the government. aud become good citizen but the leaders / scould hang. hold, too, that wealthy traitors should be made to remunerate those men who have suffered as consequence of their crimes Union men who have lost their property, who have been driven from their homes beg gars and wanderers among strangers. It is we'll to talk about things here to-day, in ad dressing the well-informed persons who com pose this audience. You can. to a very great extent, aid in moulding public opinion and giv- ing It proper direction. Let us commence the work. We have put down these traitors in aims let us put them down in law, in public judgment and in the morals of the world.