The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-05

! One thing must not be forgotten. We are
sitting in j1dgnent tn or orr cause Judge anu
| benefit Of counsel? Shall we withhold from
HIM an impartial trial, or refuse TO give him the
benefits to be derived from donOtiui charge5
Can we so far overcome our preludlces, bury
our anger, and forget the past with, its conten-
tiOn and blood, as to weigh this question with
the impartial scales of Justice, and return as
fair verdict as though our relations to the
case we're unseltsb2 Let us, nc least, attempt
the difficult task.
Treason IS a crime, says the law and should
| suffer the penalty affixed to It. True; ard in
| famous beyond measure when aimed at the life
| of such a Government But does the adjust
ment here proposed design such punishment
! No. 1t proposes ratherlto excuse the many, and
! immolate the few whom the multitude esteem
and honor. We would suggest whether the
acceptance of such terms by the Southern peo-
pie would not be in the highest degree ungene-
| TOus and dishonorable?
1t would be we'll for us to consider the real
causes OF the Rebellion, and the purposes for
which it was waqed Had there been no slavery
there would have been no Rebellion. This will
not be denied. 1t was TO perpetUate the lnst
tuition that first induced the dreadful expert
ment which has resulted in its final subiuga
tiOn. life OF association with the institution
| mad taught It's yotartes to look upon it rs
patriaTchal, and indispensable TO their wei.
fare; ana vet il was evident 10 all, both North
and South, that sooner or later the black evil
must have suCCumbed to the onward march of
liberal ideas in the North. His all being in it
viewing it as the foundation OF MS domestic
prosperity (Whetner correctly or nOt), II was
natural that he should seek to devise some
escape from its pending destruction. Separation
seemed to HIM the only panaCea. We are en-
deavorng to view the question from the South
ern standpolut-tO see II ms he saw IT. and 10
dlVne, II possible, the real motives which i'm
PEELED him TO the mad scheme. II is only
thus that we can arrive at an impartial verdict.
Circumstances, IN great measure, favored
the undertaking, and promised final success.
Inc eleven States which were to constitute the
new Government were compact in geography
The right in one or several scattered States to
secede from the rest might seem unjust and
unWarrantable This appeared different with
The increase OF population and geographical
consolidation; and, guided by strong, selfish
suggestions OF a promising future as the result
OF independence, the benefits to flow from laws
according with sectional interest and feelings,
they ventured on the fearful hazard of war
believing, doubtless that the victory would be
a bloodless one. The design was selfish; such
is invariably the policy of States. Viewing the
question from similar impulse, but one thing
was to be thought of on our part-to crush the
attempt at every hazard. A Consummauon of
the measure proposed would have worked
lncalculable mischief to the nation. To reason
was TO rebel. The question was not to be dis
cussed but in Cabinet seCresy. To crush the
monster evil was the only consideration, at
whatever expense it might cost To the
SouthemeTs II was war for Southern indepen-
denCe. To us it was simply rebellion an
attempt upon the very life OF the Government.
AS year followed year in the bloody struggle,
oYeltaking the weakened force of the Confede-
racy, passion grew more inhamed, evaporation
was intensified, until the Rebellion was made
to bite the dust at the bidding OF our victorious
army.
Treason is a crime. 50 said the English law;
and in The prejudiced eyes of Engishmen, ours
was most odious. Had we been overcome by
the British lion, the heads of our beloved
patriots might have been severed, to pay the
penalty OF their odious crimes To us il was
glorious, TOR ours was the cause of indepen-
denCe, sanctihed by the injustice which drove
us to it as the only alternative. However diff
terent may be the case of the misguided
Southener, yet, we would ask, may he not
claim some consideration on credit Of his sim
cerity in the cause, to him, of Southern indepen-
dence? Should this not weigh something
against the odiousness of his acts, and mitigate
the punishment proposed?
We would not counsel forgetfulness of the
past, with its new-made graves, its egiOns of
dead sacrificed in defense OF Union and liberty.
Nor would we counsel charity to the sacrifice
of great national advantages. But we would
dare to be Just to our offending brother un-
| BIASED by passion or selfish considerations and
so hasten the glory which must surely follow
permanent TecO nciliation. We must not fail to
remember that the South has suffered. Dearly
have they paid the debt of their great folly.
Their dead Outnu mber ours. Their widows are
without comfort, and their orphans without
bread ana theytare poweress to relieve and
reCOmpense the wounded, whose cries come
! hourly TO them for aid. The ploughshare of
! war has turned their rich soil and the torch
has swept their habitaliOns from the earth.
! Their riches have departed and in many
! places beggary and starvation stare them in
| the face.
! They are still our brethren, however, destined
! to continue in the national household with us
| to the end. Henceforth we are to abide with
! each other, trade with each other, and, it may
! be, fight together against the common foe. Did
they number but a few hundreds, we might
| safely consider the propriety of severe punish
ment; but they number some eight millions of
souls Can we afford to continue the animosity
OF so large part of our common population?
The prosperity of the country is suffering for
peace between the sections, while we are con-
! tendlng about a question which at best can
yield us no good result. What if they are forced
TO submit unwilhngly, have we accomplished
the the end desiredY Permanent reconstruc-
tioh must include full and hearty reconciia-
tlon-the institution of good-w and a better
Understanding of the people, whose uncalled-
ior ahlagonlslns nave worked so much OF evil in
the past Let us rejoice that the great cause of
all our eartburnings and iealousies is no more.
ana hasten TO forget and forgive the erring and
with one accord struggle TOR the prize awaiting
us in the future.
Let us have peace, that the tide of emigration
SouthwaId may set in, as 1t surely will Let us
nave null reconciliation, that science NAV
appropriate the riches of Southern soil to the
| common prosperity. Let US have a lasting
reunion, that the waste lands of this promising
paradise may be turned into lucrative farms
food and raiment be cheapeued, and the whole
land be blessed with the consequent return OF
foreign gold.
Not one sixtyfourth of the Southern territory
has, thus far, been BROUGHT under cultivation,
The largest yield of cotton, which was in 1860
was five million bales, The capacity of Texas
alone, if fairly cultivated would yield double
this amount. With slavery abolished, and the
acquisition of population improved machinery
and scientific effort who can fully estimate the