Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-15
The Right and Duty OF the
Government.


The following are the closing para
graphs of Hon. MATT II. CARPENTERS
argument before the Supreme Court of
the United States, on the McCardle case.
They truly and powerfully set forth the
mildness Of the action of the Govern
ment towards the late rebels, and the
right it has to control them:
This government, from the first, has
held the language of a supplicant TO the
south. Much that was due to the insul-
ted majesty of the ration was nceaed
from anxiety 20 win home deluded breth-
rem. We entered the South with the
pretended purpose of looking for our
post offices and forts, our ars3nals aud
our custom bouses-property for which
We had paid our money, and evidences
of our title to which were deposited in
our safe. We went in sorrow, not in
anger; demonstrating. not threatening;
heseeching. not commanding; and as Of
ten rs we would have gathered her peo-
pie Into our fold, and extended to them
our fellowship and protection, they
rould not Our overtures for peace
were met with war, bitter and relentless
war to the knife, and war to The end
until the land was dotted over with
fresil-ail graves ION every high kill and
bsneath every gr en- tree"
Had The corcilatoyy measures OF the
government accomplished the purpose
without the shedding of blood, that
would have been some compensation.
We're the rebel States, even now, willing
to take their place in the Union under
the reasonable regulat. ons proG;ded by
Congress, it might be wisdom to forrai.
as soon rs possible, the dreadful past. If
instead of this, however, these States
come into this court charging oppression
AID tyranny upon The most indulgent
government that ever existed on earth; If,
instead of confessing their fault, they
me here to contest anl wranglc; come
here claiming immunity from punish
mcnt while resisting aud thwarting the
purposes Of congress; if they will drive
Oh discussion of this question, then it
must DO discussed. And if the result
shall tend to remind the people of the
north that they have conquered tie reb.
els Of the south; and if it shall provoke
the government to speak with its sover
ECU voice; if meanwhile reconstruction
in the south stands still, and her people
have TO submit to military rule; f her
fair feds remain desolated, her trade and
commerce languish, her industry be not
employ ed, or Trail Of its reward, she can
not say ace did it.
Unpleasant as it may be to review the
history of the last six years, or dwell up
on the wickedness of this rebellion, in no
other way can we properly consider. or
correctly determine, upon the existing
state of things. Counsel have done
well for their clients by ignoring seces
sion, rebellion and war. They lave
argued this case as though Mississippi
were rs innocent as Massachusetts, and
had been as faithful to her constitutional
duty; and when compelled, now and
then, 10 alude to the fact that war has
existed, they have changed the subject
as soon as possible, and bosought this
court to relieve these they represent
from The just consequences of their folly
and crime. They admit that, during tho
war, the United States could overthrow
and demoish the rebel governments; bur
they insist that the surrender of Lee aud
johnson entitled those governments, or
any which the people of those States
might establish, to full communion as
States of the Union. | remember to
have heard a clergyman dealing in bold
rhetoric. in view Of the fact that the Son
of Man might have called legioas of an
gels to defend him, yet submitted to be
crucified by his enemies exclaiu. uIosus