The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-23
COMMUNICATED.
THE ELECTIONS.
A Few Plain Remarks.
NO. w.

NO. ".
In the last No., reasoned that the In
tense disafiection of the secessionists to the
government Of the United States as evlnced
by their past course, makes 1t necessary
that the people should hold them to further
probation before taking them back to their
confidence.
A point now arises which is Of vital inn
port, and which should sink deep in the
heart of every citizen who adheres to the
Union as the chief hope of our happiness
and greatness.
There are two parties, and but two, seek
ing the popular support.
Which Of the two is safer for the coun-
try? Undoubtedly, the Republican.
The distinguishing creed OF that political
organization, is, devotion to the Union. 1t
had its origin in that sentiment. It saved
the Union. But for it, there would be at
this moment no stars and stripes for us to
stand under. Whom is it safer to trust,
those who impiously essayed to annlhllate
the Union, or those who rescued 1T from de-
struction? The Democracy may make
another effort at disruption; the Republic
cans never. eAt a5s
1t is therefore safer, to say the least, to
retain the Republican party in the ascend
ent, that is if, like George Washington, we
consider the preservation of the Union our
supreme interest and duty. This simple
consideration should be absolutely conclu-
sive with all Union men. In this matter
the path of safety is the path of the highest
duty.
And what should the more deeply inn
press this last consideration on the minds
of true Union men is, that the rebellion has
been allowed to wind up without judicial
adjustification that there is such thing as
treason against the United States.
Before the war and during the rebellion,
the secessionists claimed that there was no
such offence as treason against the United
States, because they argue their primary
allegiance was due to their respective States;
and now that the war has closed, and re-
construction taken place without the trial OF
a single offender against the sovereignty OF
the United States, thousands ina the South
are hugging the notion to their bosoms
| that they may war against the Union at
their pleasure without being accountable.
Is not this accorded impunity tempta-
ton TO renewed secession? Who knows
bat that it is at this moment stimulating
! instruction and treason, and giving cour-
age to those who at heart bate the govern
ment. 71a
A great mistake was made in not bring
ing some one Of the leading secessionists to
| trial for treason. Some of the leaders
should, by all means, have been arra'gned
/ before the courts. Jefferson Davis ought
! not to have escaped. l do not say that
any one should have been hanged. That
was not necessary. But somebody should
have ''come to Judgment and the prin-
ciple of the supremacy OF the government
Of the United States over the State govern
ments, and the supremacy OF the cltlzen's
first allegiance to that government ovel
the States, have been settled by judicia
decree. Not to have it so settled, is tC
leave the question Of primary allegiance
still mootcd; to give to rebellion the wides
license to impel treason; and to fore
the Federal government to exercise IT.
military powers to execute the laws and t
curb insurrection.
See where we are! a. great rebellion
suppressed great civil war ended--'
thousand streams of this fair land reddenet
with brothers. blood-the whole broa'
, land sepulchred for the victims Of an nn
righteous civil war, and not one culpri
brought to Judgment, or even arraigned
The great error of Mr.. Johnson's ad
ministration was that he allowed the rebel
lion to pass off without bringing Jefferso
Davis to trial for treason. He might hav
vindicated, by decision of the Judiciary
the great principle which lies at the bottor
of our institutions, and, without shedding
;; drop of blood, have placed the endurin
:. basis Of Judicial exposition, that "unity
government which makes us one people.
Had Andrew jackson or Henry Cla
f been President, it would be this hour SCI
tied that there Is such . crime as treaso
against the United States and had MI
t Lincoln survived little longer, somethin
= would have been done to "make ueaso
f odious." HAMILTON.