Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-06-04
Mistaken Mercy.

From the New York Times. n rtts, roz
The course which Mr. Jefferson Davis
is now pursuing is well calculated to revive
and strengthen those doubts which have
all along existed, as to the wisdom of the
policy adopted by the Government in its
treatment of the authors Of the late rebel
lion. There is no Disgusting the fact that
a very large portion Of the loyal people of
this country-and by no means the least re-
Elective and intelligent portion-have never
been satisfied with the manner in which
that terrible drama was brought to d close.
The common sense of justice, which is as
old as creation, and as universal as man,
seemed to be violated in permitting the
authors of 80 much misery, and such
widespread ruin, to go altogether un-
punished. For the Shareholders rebel
lion was no ordinary civil war, where one
faction strives with another for tho mas
terry, and the masses have no interest in
either. 1t was blow struck by an aristo-
cratic oligarchy against. the rights of man :;
it was an attempt to break up Govern
ment "of the people, by the people and for
the people," and substitute in its place a
government founded on human slavery as
its cornerstone. The rebellion thus be-
camea crime against humanity, and the
war for its suppression, as Mr.. Evarts
truly said in his speech at the Academy of
| Music ON Tuesday evening, was 'the war
of an intelligent and honest people who
were fighting for what they owned and for
| what they valued. They fought for the
country in which all were equal-all had
an equal share. A personal patriotism, a
personal honor, formed their motives and
led their steps to the battle.
After achieving the victory in such a
expect that Tthe leading rebels who
had provoked it for~their- own sell
fish ends. and who had conducted
it in the most inhunaan and barbarous
manner would at least receive some
punishment for their double treason against
their country and against liberty. The
loyal people of the country certainly had
q right to demand, after their beloved and
chosen leader had been laid in his grave
by the hands of rebel assassin that the
chief Of the rebellion should not be allow
ed to roam at will over the country, and
finally be permitted. after lapse of six
years, to renew his reasonable utterances,
and try to incite another rebellion among
his people. ,si77s.g ok
Magnaninity, generosity and mercy are
all very well in their place, but they should
never be INDUCED in at the expense of JUS
tice or the public safety; and events have
proved that they never should haYes been
wasted upon such afman as jeff Davis at
all. His is one of those natures that con-
strue magnanimity as evidence only of
weakness and fear, Thus, we find him
saying to the people of Georgia..
Filled with that jealousy which springs
from the knowledge of their inferierity,
and of the justiceof our pretensions, and
conscious Of broken covenants and q vio-
lated Constitution, they 1.-THE loyal nen of
the North1 mistrust every movement, and
tremble with fear when they think that
right may again prevail"
1t seems almost like mOckery for the 10y
al people of the country. to ,strew flowers
upon the graves Of Union soldiers, while
they permit this monstrous traitor and
coward thus 10 insult their memories. 1t
may be, as this petticoat hero says, that
punishment for him is played out" This
is what John Real, far lesser criminal
than jeff. Davis, thought but he WAS
hanged nevertheless If the. ExPresi-
dent of the Confederacy keeps on in the
way he has commenced, he may yet finish
his career at the end of a rope. It is a lit
tie too much to expect the people to stand
py quietly while the ing-leader in the late
rebellion goes about the county trying to
ian a flame wherever he sees little
SAlIOhe, & ErR .srFe-EF EF