Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-04-13

We confess that we do not understand
the logical process by which Republicans
arrive at the conclusion tfiat the Democrat
ic Thugs Of THE South can be suppressed
by the passage of q general amnesty law.
The case stands thus: BY the defeat of
the rebellion, every man who voluntarily
took up arms against the Union became
liable to trial and punishment as traitor.
With clemency unparalleled in the his
tory of the world, our government gave
every traitor his life. More than this, the
right to vote for the election Of State and
Federal officers was also conceded to
them But there was one restriction I'm
posed upon q certain class: Men who
had added perjury to treason, who as Of
ficers had once taken an oath to support
the Constitution of the United States,
and had pe1ured Themselves by taking
mp arms to destroy 1t, were made iueligi-
bic to Office. This was surely light pun
ishment for those ,yhC Justly deserved
the gallows- Democrats now tell us IN
effect, and some Republicans are inclined
70 coincide with then, that the Ku-Klux
Democrats will continue to mob and muir
der Onion men IL the Southern States I'm.
til this restriction Is removed. Shall the
government of the United States yield in
the face Of this threat, or will it measure
strength with the murderers, and make
them once more feel and respect the pow
er of the nation? Whatever may be the
abstract virtues of the amnesty policy,
now Is not the time to try IL. When
Southern Democrats cease to murder men
on account OF their political opinions, and
evidence some regard for the lives and
rights OF others, when they cease their
vaporings about retrieving the lost cause.
when. in the language of that able Demo
crat, Mr.. Groesbeck, of Cincinnati, they
made up their minis that "the late war
has legislated," and that its enactments
fixing the civil and political status of the
freedmen are solid and accomplished
facts, 1t will be soon enough to talk to
them of amnesty. But whilo engaged in
their work OF murder and intimidation
while breathing threats Of q new rebellion,
they should be reduced to obedience by
the bayonet, the bullet, and the halter
tridges afterwards, was Napoleon's ready
and efficient method for quelling the
Partisan mobocrats; and il is only the
manifestation of some such spirit by our
government that will bring the Democrat
&c outlaws tO tnelE senses. FOR lew
months after President Grants inaugura.
ton peace and quiet prevailed in most of
the Southern States Property ard life
were secure, aud society was becoming
settled. Aftet q while. some Northern
Democrats began to whisper that when
the Democracy obtained the control of
the government the South should hsye
its "own again" and this, with few un-
important success of the Democracy In
the Northern elections, emboldened
Southern Democrats to try the plan Of in
timidation upon Southern voters. At
some of their late elections they carried
their point by the use Of these means, and
have been growing holder every day. I'M
Ill they are enabled to overawe the civil
authorities when they can not control
their action, and life and liberty are now
held al their sufferance. We believe force,
and nothing but force, should be used to
put down these Democratic outlaws. un-
til they cease TO pcrsecute and murder
men on account of their political opinions.
Ind. Journal.