Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-03-13
By-Gones.

There have been contradictory reports during
the past week respecting the action OF the Pres
ident in the matter of releasing the rebel pirate
SEnMrs, the commander of the Alabama which
was sunk by the Kearsarge. It was supposed
he was to be tried for piracy, but it Is no"
thought that President Johnson will order him
set at liberty. There was report that such an
order had been issued, but it has since been con-
tradicted. While it was in circulation, the New
York World. an ardent admirer and supporter
of President johnson, said:
President JOHNSON has done just and polite
act in releasing SKAAEs, the late commander OF
the alabama, from arrest. he was admitted 70
parole upon the surrender OF JOHNSTON s army,
and, until he has violated it, our government Is
bound not to modest him. The national honor
was indicated when the Kedrsorge sunk the
alabama, and it would be pitiful business to
punish a foe We had overcome In an open contest.
Why not let by-gones be oy-gones?
&c Why not let by-gones be by-gones We
presume there is not criminal in the whole
country who would not sincerely endorse this
proposition of the World The thief overtaken
the bar of justice. with an air of injured lnno-
cence would say to the Judge, Nv by not let
by-gones be by-gones?" The burglar caught
plying his trade when taken in charge by the
officers of the law appeals to him to " let BY
cones be by-gones,'' and not transport him to
the lock up. The brutal villain who has out
ragged innocence, when arraigned before the stern
tribunal which defends innocence and Furnishes
crimes confronts the court with the request that
they will "let by-gones be by-gones." The muir
derer, who like Cain has with vic ked.purpose,
and in passionate malice, slain his brother, hfts
up his head defantly when overtaken by the
unrelenting ministers of outraged law, and de-
mands that by cones be by-gones.' Why
rot let by-gones be by-gones Why should
crime ever be punished. Why should wrong
ever be righted? Why should injustice ever be
overtaken ty justice Why should there be
distinction between vice and virtue, between sn
and Righteousness between him who doeth evil
and him who doeth well Why should the
wickedness OF yesterday ever be remembered
against the evil-doer? Is it possible that thu
world and the laws which God made have been
all wrong hitherto, and that the millennium Is t
be ushered in by the prevalence OF the new
Democratic gospel. in which there Is to be n(
difference between him who breaxs laws and hin
who, keeps them, between him who murders, anc
him who saves life, between him who fights th'
flag and him who upholds it, between him wh(
is a traitor and him who fights treason' Have
we really arrived at the age when 1t will answer
- to let by cones be by cones, to conhde The
lamb 10 the tender care Of the wolf, forgetting
that hitherto the wolf has always murdered
every lamb within his reach
The World Is not to b. blamed for preaching
this gospel. Il is good doctrine for its party
State prison cunvicts would naturally be expec
ted to embrace it, and enforce it 10y such cogent
reasons as occurred 20 them. But may not the
people be excused for holding awhile longer tc
the not quite obsolete idea, til at it is safer fol
communities, In the long run, to remember
crimes long enough to make them odious and
disreputaDle'