The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-11

| reSt0r0nOny ana mat u. AoSisiature Vi hin
bama must rstify IL before she can be read
mitted to Congress upon his Recommendation.
The rule applies to all the lste Eebellioui
States seeking a restoration to the federal Con
gress. Their rebellion and its consequences, in
GLIDING the war powers of the President, have
placed the reconstruction of those States, to a
| great extent, under his discretion. His condi-
tons OF reconstruction cannot, therefore, be
avoided. They must be met. He has made
them as easy as possible in view of the para
mount interests of the Union. II the States
concerned are wise they will cast aside the
secession spirit and fulfil President Johnson
reasonable conditions, and make haste to do it,
so that they may come before the new Congress
backed by the moral power of his endorsement
Without it they can do nothing at Washington
but face about and return home.
Tho Execution Of tho Rebel Captain
| Wfrz. y
The rebel Captain Wirz, the keeper Of the
infamous slaughter pen at Andersonville, was
hanged at Washington yesterday. Upon the
gallows he conducted himself with apparent
calmness and self-p0ssession, and his last
words were repetition OF his previous pro-
testations of his innocence The noise Of the
falling Of the drop is said to have been received
by the promiscuous crowd outside the prison
walls with shouts Of appreciation; and although
we most decidedly disapprove of any such un-
seemly and indecorous manifestations of re-
joicing upon so solemn an occasion, still we
know that the action of the government in pro-
curing the conviction of this man, and Of the
President in refusing to reprieve or pardon
him, will be generally endorsed throughout the
country. If ever man deserved death that
man was Captain Wirz; and it is no mere senti-
ment of revenge that leads the country to feel
sense of relief when 80 inhuman a monster
suffers the just penalty of his crimes.
Wirz was bad man. He could be oil things
TO all men. According to his own account of
his life he had been a physician and a banking
clerk in his own country, laborer in Connec-
tcut, weaver in Massachusetts, watercure
doctor in Kentucky and a slave driver in Mis-
slssippi. When the recent war began he en-
listed in the rebel army, not for any love of the
rebel cause, but because he happened to be on
that side of the line. As his death shows, he
was not without a certain kind of cour-
age, and no doubt he fought bravely against
the Union. He was wounded at Fair Oaks,
and by an accident was assigned to the
charge of Union prisoners 1t seems that he
treated them just as the rebel authorities de-
sired that they should be dealt with; for of the
thousands of our soldiers who were at various
times in his custody not one has been found
able to testify to a single act of charity or
kindness upon the part of this rebel jailcr. AT
last he was transferred to Andersonvilie, where
he killed more Union soldiers than General
Lee, according to the official evidence, and ac-
cording to his own wicked boast. We have no
desire to repeat the sickening record of the
horrors of that den of infamy and murder.
Wirz has expiated his crimes with his life; he
has left name forever infamous and he has
gone before Judge whose decisions ere in
fallible and whose punishments are eternal
In the trial and execution Of Captain Wirz
the government has established the principle
that humanity must not be lost sight Of even
in times of war, and that those who maltreat
our prisoners will be held sternly responsible
when the war is over. Let that principle be
accepted by the whole civilized world, and we
shall hear no more of such bells upon earth "a
the black hole at Calcutta, the Jersey prison
ships and the rebel prison pens. The life Of
Wirz was Of no consequence. Had not General
Winder died before he could be arrested he
would have stood in the dock and upon the
gallows instead of his cruel tool, this meroi-
less Wirz. But it was necessary that an ex-
ample should be made; and, as Winder had cs-
capped, the man next in rank at Andersonville
was secured and punished. Any doubts that
may exist as to the wisdom and expediency of
the course of the government in singing out
individuals for rctribution will be at once re-
moved when we consider that the men thus
selected are the incarnations of the vices which
il is the duty of the government to rebuke and
repress. JEFF. Davis has been no more guilty
of treason than other rebels who might be
easily named but in order that this crime may
be rendered odious, as President Johnson ex-
pressed it, the most prominent rebel is selected
| to stand his trial. For the same reason Wirz,
the most cruel of the rebel jailers, represented
the crimes OF them all. Those who are spared
may thank the government for its magnani-
nifty; but the fact that the majority are spared
does not justify us in any misplaced sympathy
for those who are punished. Neither Wirz nor
JEFF. Davis is Individually Of any importance.
Dead or alive, they can no longer injure the
republic and desolate our homes. But as re-
preventative men we are compelled to deal
with them and to punish them. Wirz is hung
JEFF Davis may or may not share the same
tate. v,gse s.'sr.aSc. ,s.ss.sa- = a.
! THE VERDICT AND THE M0RAL-In one OF
bis commentaries yesterday Ben Wood says
| the verdict of the late election signifies
nothing; but in another article he says that