The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-06-21
Shall Treason be Punished

LDaQ was 10 ye tAlCNAtN AAOhl tuc - hll~-
thies OF the Democracy towards their breih-
rem.
But the effort Of their former friends to
screen them from the punishment they de-
serve, Is sustained 10y large republican in
fuences which are striving to mould pub
lie opinion in as many way as can be made
efectuaL
Thus We have had Gerritt Smith arguing
tha; the rebellion having risen TO the dig
nifty Of q civil war, and we having rccog
nized the belligegents 10y making agree
ments and negotiating with them, we can
not punish The actors as traitors.
The Albany Eremrg Journal thinks the
treatment Of JeH Davis by our Government
foolish and d.sgracelGl" in putting irons
upon him, in prohibiting lis correspond
ence and in treating bin generally with
the severity in prison which has Ieen used
towards him. IL quotes from foreign pa
pers 70 show that ''D:GJEaEinsuy an letting
every rebel 20 unpublished in any other way
than 10y Punishment. would raise a. much
IN the eyes OF foreign nations. l, also an
tlcipa;es that Let one of the reael- viii DC
executed, provided punishment shall &c lie
layed for little time. II says:
ut is not TO be denied that rs tine clap
SEES lie number OF those who lavOr long
rope and short shr.i,," continually dlniu-
ishes. II none Ul The traitor chiefs Shall.
be convicted during three months 10 come.
Government which chooses 10 follow pub
lie opinion, Will have little hanging 10 uO.
The New York Tribune works in the
same direction, side by side with Tie wors;
COppelheads. Il has several strings 10 is
bow. First, 1t argues That uine-telths 0!
all the worst traitors are already shielded
not ouly from hanging. but from Ill other
punishment OF treason, by tie terms OF the
military capitulatiOns agreed npon by Lee
and the other rebel Commanders. These
terms are binding On the nation. and de-
clare il substance that while ;hese former
traitors remain a. home lCacea0ly aid SUD
NIT to the existing laws, they shall not be
molested by the Government Tor their past
offences. Thus il is argued that Tie faith
OIL tile nation is absolutely Pledged f5l their
full forgiveness Il says:
The Tunes knOws-au the intelligent
khow-that not one OF those parOied under
Lees and the kindred capituiaiOns Will be
punished Tor treason. or can be, without Z
breach Of faith. TLen why rot frankly say
so, and take thereby long stride towards
paciiylng and ranqui.lzlns tie country
But the Tribune further argues thar these
men have done nothing 70 deserve guni.l-
ment except 10 commit '.s.gspls .-4so,.."
aud tbs IS no crime ~ al 10 be compared
with robbery. arson, murder, sc Is idea
seems 10 he that treason IS q mere violation
OF the Conventional usages Of society, = re
sistance TO particular system Of govern
ment and IS not therefore 4 violation OF
right in the same sense and to the same de
gree Is robbery, tEeit, and tie Ike crimes,
which are violations Of the natural rights
Of individuals. "S.mgIe treason" in the
view OF the Tribune does not deserve pun
ishment as q crime. IL late number We
find the following;
1--WE are proud q the fact thai 10 con-
splcuOus Abohlionist in those days when
Abolition was generally CdiOus and eXecra-
tel, is now an adv ocate Oi hanging Tor sim
pie treason; while. on the other hand. We
recognize none OF Tie present advocates CT
hanging as, even now. specially ANXIOUS
that the Blacks shall he recognized by our
constitutions and laws - entitled 10 The
Common rights vi manhood On tie con
trary most Of those VITO c.amO- ivr physi-
cal demonstrations that Treason j. I crime,
10 lie punished Ike Murder or Arson, seem
generally willing that the niger shall
lake his chance in the RECONSTRUCTED"
States, with Whites as the only recOnstruc- /
tors. and The ex-KcJe.s embittered by the
executions OF their chiefs Tor treason.
Now, these ex-Reb-ls will vOte-it is |
childish 10 talk VI preventing them, as the
Virginia experiment has shOwn-aud they
will rule, TOO, il the Blacks are not eEfran-
ebised. A. = party. ihey viii he strength
eneu as well - embit cred hy every one o.
their chiefs VINO may De executed Tor SIM
pie treason. And, since the SJuth Is likely /
10 be given Up l. then rule, II becomes Alb 4
olitiOnisis TO take care tia, these rulers 10
not find IA The Trends Ci The Biac their
own most vlIGiCuve ard sauguinagy Toes. /
$50 much Tor our special reasons f0r &C I
uvity and earue-tue-a in opposition 10 4
hanging for defeated aud now lmp0scat F.
treason. But we believe History, Author 4
ity aud reason, Is we'll as Humanity. toIb,d
such hanging Oh genera. grounds. We DO I.
not much favor kiiillg IN cod blood any /
bow, though Ne 90 not On THAI account hold .
that legal penalties, i-lriy incurred, shall /
remain uue4ecuted. In Tie case in point
however, there are special reasons for hot /
banging which seem 10 u Of trausccndeut F.
gravity, and which We trust VIII uOL be
oyeTUOsue."
Now, we protest against this mode OF
trying TO manufacture public opinion by
wholesale anu uujust.iab.c assertions cOn- /
ssrning matters OF fact. We believe the
great mass Of Old Abou.0u.st9 throughou,
the country are unanimous for hanging
some Of the traitors for simple treason; and
they are equally unanimous for granting
the night CT suffrage IA whole or in part, 20
the colored people Of the South. On both
these points, we do no, know an exception
il our acquaintance in the West and tie
whole Republican party in Tie Northwest .
so far as we have any means OF jul.ina
are unit on both these points. All our
exchanges in this State ;hat have ex-
pressed an opinion, have coucugred IN flvor /
Of Furnishing treason, and Of giving some
outrage 10 The blacks; and leading papo.s
ofthe Northwest, like the Detroit A3eerttsey.
ana Chicago Tribune, are earnest advo- .
Gates OF these measures
As an instance Of ,hc state Of feel
ing in the West, se append two ie-
oluiions adopted Jy lie Iowa Republican
Convention. which las just adjourned:
"Pesolred, That 10 the end thoe thc con-
sequences OF treason may he made So o.
pa.llng that never agliu shall IL be ma lril-
rated upon United States soil we recon-
mend the permanent disirancnisemenf Of
al prominent leaders OF tie rebellion. civil
ahu hlAiary, and that The late President Of
the so-caAed Confederate states OF America.
as tue deepest embodiment Of criminal bar
partly be oroaSht 10 The speediesl trial and
s"Iltest execution, regardless OF Tie habit