The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-18
THE REIGN OF TERROR.

people were as quiet as lambs, and prsfessed
themselves willing to accept any terms which
the Government might see ht to impose.
There was nothing apparently belligercnt In
their spirit or purpose. They thought the en-
selves fortunate to escape with their lives.
Their estates they expected would be eonhs-
Gated to pay the national debt, or If they
could save their lives and their estates too IL
was purely of mercy, for which they ought to
be thankful. They knew that on the side of
the conqueror there was power, and It was
simply question how far and to what extent
the conqueror would exercise his power.
Thus matters stood when we attempted to
patch up peace-a peace upon terms never
before thought Of by any nation that had win.
Dictated its power and Its ability to put down
an insurgent force Of such magnitude which
had been arrayed against 1t.
Through evil counsels, in an evil hour and
= pusillanimous spirit the Federal Govern
ment, or those authorized to act for it, made
an egregious blunder. II obliterated from its
code morally and literally all idea that treason
10 a crime. 1t beBought great criminals to
take part in the affairs OF the Government,
and virtually said that they had CON mitted no
crime. 1t patroniZed rebels, and ftwned upon
and cxonerated men whose garments were
reeking with the blood Of our In accent sol
diers murdered on battle-helds and starved in
prisons. To be sure 1t hung wirz and impris-
oned Davis for q few months at Fortress Mon
roe. But who was Writ An ignorant Hes
sian who did no more than obey his superior,
while the superior went free. 1t patronized
Stephens and Semmes and Wade Hampton and
L. Z. Lee and Albert Pike, and a host of
others who ought TO have been tried for trea-
son and punished. 1t discarded public JUS
tice, and said that treason was no crime, and
we are now reaping the bitter fruits OF this
misguided lenity, this ill-timed kindness and
morbid sentimentalism which WAS pleaded
In behalf of leading rebels who, by their con-
duet, had forfeited all claims to forgiveness or
pardon.
We say that we are rcaping the bitter fruits.
Was there ever anything more certain than
thIsl Let us see how IL 10.
Look at the numerous political murders In
Texas. in Louisiana, and throughout the
South. Let US see what Governor Yarmouth
of Louisiana, says in his letter to the Presi-
dent. He alleged the existence OF bands OF
armed assassins in that State, and asserted
that more than one hundred and fifty political
murders had been perpetrated during three
months. The statement was vehemently de.
MED by " Conservative" members of the Leg
islature; but the Governor furnishes the eyi.
dence upon which 1t is made, and so conclusive
are his facts and testimony upon the subject
that no one can deny the validity Of his state
ments.
When we turn our attention to Texas, what
do we see therei
The constitutional convention in that Com
monwealth "has published statistics showing
that within a few weeks past more than FIVE
hundred murders have been committed in that
State, nearly all for political reasons, and
without punishment Of the criminals"
Are not these the bitter fruits OF our mis-
taken and misguided policyi We have sown
to the wind, In trampling upon the great prin-
ciples OF public justice, and have let the great
criminals escape. What wonder, then, that
we now reap the whirlwindi
Every Southern Democratic paper that we
receive Is filled with the blood and thunder
diGhfbcs OF Wade Hampton, Admiral Semmes
General Forrest ct omne. And what is more
the Democratic party OF the North encourage
this spirit, and say to these men, 100 ahead,
you have our support" And all this the
Democratic leaders are doing for partisan
ends.
We are not much OF a believer in capital
punishment, we confess, but we do believe In
the melting out OF Justice to great criminals
and we have an abiding faith in the doctrine
that treason is n crime, even the worst oil
crimes, and we would punish those who
commit 1t In a way to establish an example
for all the world. The Democratic doctrine
Ia that instead OF making treason odious
we offer premium for 1t. We are now suf
ferIng the folly CT such lenity.