Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-06-18

o
tional authority, and persisted in it,
at great sacrifice of human life, long
after every hope of its success had
been completely blasted. As the
commander-in-chief of the rebel
forces, he treated the Union priso-
ners whom the fortunes of war
placed in his power, with barbar-
ity and fendish cruelty hitherto un-
known among civilized men, and
seldom witnessed even among saw
ages-literally starving them to
death by hundreds and thousands.
When General Grant forced his way
through the intrenchments that de-
Tended Richmond, this same Jeffer-
son Davis, like sneak and coward,
abandoned his associates in treason,
and, disguised in woman's dress,
sought to escape from the country
whose justice he had provoked and
whose soil he had Redeemed with
the blood of patriotism. His whole
history is that of o selfish, desper-
ate, dangerous, unprincipled, and
exceedingly bad man. He belongs
to the great criminals Of the race,
distinguished by no virtues worthy
of being remembered, and notable
only for those intensities of evil
which assimilate man to a fend.
That he should be permitted to live
in land which has suffered SO
much from his life, and which might
so justly claim his death, is a elem
ency which no other nation but
this would practice. We believe in
capital punishment, especially for
such vile traitor to his country
and such an inhunlan murderer
Of Union prisoners as Jefferson
Davis.
This is the manly a mistake
suffered to live, and by the most
unblushin, effrontery opening his
mouth-who is now perambuiating
the South, and making speeches
filed with the Old venom Of treason,
to his Southern Democratic friends,
ex-rebels, and associates III crime
and murder. The unhung traitor
is still prating about State rights,
including the right Of secession and
rebellion. He does not appreciate
the governmental leniancy that has
spared him from the gallows. He
exhorts the Southern Democracy
to look hopefully into the future,
and patiently wait for the good time
coming when the Democratic part.
shall gain control Of the National
Government, and when the ''iost
cause" through this party 'will be
crowned with victory and triom ph-
ant succe S." He boldly defends the
Rebellion. In his recent speech at
Augusta Georgia, he said: Il am
not of those who accept the situation
I accept nothing" 81 don't believe
L did any wrong" Southern Dem
ocrats, hearing these words, cheered
him with thunders of applause.
This is rebel pluck where it is safe
to be plucky, disarmed but not
changed, and ready to fight again
at the first favorable moment. JEFF
erson Davis don't mean to give it
up, and he don't mean that the
South shall give it up, if he can help
it. He is to-day the representative
man of the greater portion OF South
ern Democracy. The North will do
well to understand what this South
ern cheering for the rch-traitor
means. Politically considered, his
speech-making is a grave misfortune
to the Democratic party; yet it re-
veals O fact which the American
people should thoroughly ponder.
A party whose principles make such
man its friend, and whose success
is the basis of his hopes, has upon
it the mark of Cain. The old issues
of the war and Of reconstruction,
manifestly, ere not dead. They are
still living and active, and will be
as long as such men as Jefferson
Davis are the favorites of Southern
Democrats. They will confront the
people at the next presidential elec-
ton. Another battle remains to be
fought, and another victory to be
won, in order to make secure the
proper fruits of the war; and the
best way to gain the end is to re-
elect the conqueror of the Rebellion
for the next President of these
United States.-EDchcnge