Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-07-06
Traitors Should be Punished.

Tie persistence with which the eutire Demo-
cratic press, and many able speakers and writer's
who have for years been regarded Us leaders of the
old Republican party, are urging that JEFF Davis
and his fellow conspirLtors shall be permitted to
escape the punishment due their deeds, seems al
Most to raise the question whether, indeed, trea-
son is not commendable act, rather than the
most infamous thing in all the calendar of crime
Else why is il urged that men who we're educated
at the expense of the United States; who had ta
ken the most solemn Oaths to support its Constitu
ton; who had received offices of trust and honor
under its government--yet had proved false to
their oaths and had used the power ofther offices
to destroy the Constitution they were sworn to
protcct--why is il, we ask, if treason is crime,
that men guilty Of all this, and more, should eS-
cape with less punishmen. than IS awarded an
ignorant youth caught in his first act oil lircenyl
We are to that Davis and his associates have
been fairly vanquisl,ed; and thatit Is cowatJly to
strike filen foe-but with much propricty
might this-plea be entered in behalf of thief
highwaymln, or a murderer, who had been over
taken and, alter stout resistance, mlnIcled bv
the officers of Justice In such case, the captive
has been fairly yanluished-is it cowardly to con-
vict and purish him1
Again, il is said that DIvi.'s crimes are so
enormous that TO permit him to live and wander, an
outcast. upon the face of the EARTH will cause him
more misery and torture than any punishment
which man can iHflict. Ii this reasoning be true
why are not our hardened and most abandoned
criminals turned loose to become out casts and
wanderers over the carthl
Ii certainly seems self evident that If Executive
clemcncy is to shield any criminals from punish
ment 1T should commence with those who arc least
guilty; and il this rule were adopted and pricti-
ced--if the prisoners least guilty were to be
ccssivcly lberated-Jeff Davis and his associates
in treason, perjury. robbery, and the murder, by
starvation, of Union soldiers, would be incarcers-
ted until every Jail and penitentary in the land had
Welded up the most abandoned of its convct.--
the very worst of whom not the peers in crime
OF those in whose behalfit is now urged, "Thcy
are fallen foes--it is cowardly to strike thcm.''
No person claims that all who have taken an
active part in the attempt to destroy the Union
should be punished, but we believe that all who
appreciate the blessings of Republican Govern
ment all who hold in rateful remembrance the
n emorics of thOss through whose suiferings and
lives the Union established; all who, through
the war just Closed, have been called upon to
mourn the loss of a father, son. or brother, TO
behold others mancd and wrecked tor hfe-all
these should demand that the author and leaders
of the rebellion should meet with the punishment
which their crimes deserve mot as an ac: Of
revenge, but one of Justice and mercy"-jus.icc
to the memory of the martyrs of the war, and
mercy TO those who, if taught that is not
crime nav at some future period repeat the
bloldy experiment of the last four years.-Peru
Republican.