The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-06-09

+ ophy or. explanation hArpolitlcal Of
fender is merely the exponent or rep,
resentative Siof cartain principles EN-.
braccd by thousands, perhaps by mil-
lions, made up Of every creed, every de-
nomination, every sect, every profess
sion, every VOCATION and Of cvcryde-
gree of intelligence and education.
Principles, good on bad, cannot be glib
betcd. All who entertain them, feel
that the victim is no morel guilty than
themselves not q few knoW that he is
less so. Hence the man that you have
consigned to intamy and the, gallOws.
is q hero and n martyr, and .'the blood
ofthe martyr becomes the seed.of the
Church." Where q respectable por-
ton Of the civilized world denies that q
crime has. been committed, or consid
ers the CRIME q virtus, it is not safe for a
nation to use the rope, the axe, OF the
gnillotine. ""'.l - ri
When the impartial historian shall
put the American people on trial for
their conduct.imthis case, it should not
be forgotten that they cannot plead the
semi-barbarism ofthe times which most
OF the cited INSTANCES occurred. Their
Christianity and boosted civilization
will enter into the account. Enlight-
eminent and responsibility are inscpera-
bic.
Where thousands are equally guilty,
1t Is difficult to see the Justice Of making
an example Of one offender. TO illus
trate: Is Jefferson Davis more guilty
than Robert Il. Lee? The former was
in the public service Of his State; the
latter ofthe United States. The first
wos tendcred Ills position, the other ten
dered his services.
Which is the more dangerous-Jef-
terson Davis, merely a civil officer, or
Robert L. Lee, a military chieftain ?
The one had no enemies, and was the
idol Of his soldiers; the other had
many among his own people. If each
had the power to rouse the South again
to arms, which could summon the lar
ger army? Why, Jefferson Davis
could scarcely collect a corporal's
guard.
But there are other considerations
that should stay our hands from blood.
1t has been well said that no one is fit
to write the history Of his own times,
and | came near adding that no one is
fit to maize it. What | wish to say is
that the blood scenes of the war are too
fresh upon our minds, that we have felt
too deeply, suffered too much, to give
a dispassionate judgement in the case.
The fierce passions eilgendcred by war
are not the handmaids ofiustice. Deep
j. interested as we necessarily must be,
could we give the embodiment of the
rebellion" an impartial trial? | fear
not. Thus far We have passed through
The terrible ordeal with honor. Let us
be careful that We do not, in the hour
Of triumph, commit an act that forever
sully ~ record, and cause our dcscen-
lants to blush. {
The practical good sense and sagaci- (
" ofAbraham Lincoln were proven =,
,ial. There is good reason for bcliev- :
NC that it WAS his wish that Jefferson +,
should escape to a foreign land, )
orcSccing the embarrassment that must =,
his capture.
III conclusion, if the writer had the
disposal of the prisoner, he would sum !
non him to his presence and address !
hin somewhat in this wise: {
Sir, hy the blessing Of God and the i
'alor Of the American people, your )
attempt (as | think) to destroy :
government cementcd hy the blood u,
If a common ancestry, and yet destined {,
0 bless unborn generations, has been /
defeated. Iour~co-workcrstA,
nd misguided followers, after shrd-li !,
ling their blood like water apd making i
hipwrcct of their fortunes, have laid 4
their arms. You are now harm !
css for evil. You can do us no fur !
her injury. You are iree--frce as the i
our millions Of slaves whose shacltlcs i
'ou have unwittingly stricken off. Go, {!
20 whithcrsoever it p%lcascs you, and
nay the remnant ofa life spared you !
y the generosity of 4 justly-otIended |
be consecratcd to securing an |
n%corruptible crown, us that already p,
pert has been in striving for a perish j
bic one .
A Union SOLDIER,
Since MAY, 1861.