Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-07-02

Passing by his private life, and
speaking only Of his public career
we have repeatedly and severely
censured the record of Mr.. Vallan
d CHAM; and we now see no occa.
sion to take back a single word. The
motto of burying ones faults with
him, and remembering only his
virtues, is hardly applicable in such
a case. History will not and should
not deal thus leniently with his
name. The Rebellion, with which
he sympathized, was one of the
greatest crimes known in the annals
Of the word. 1t had not the slight.
est Justification in any injuries eth.
err inflicted or threatened by the
General Government. It's great
purpose, as admitted by Alexander
d. Stephens, was to perpetuatt
slavery and extend its area-a sys.
TEN which John Wesley described
as "the vilest system upon which
sun ever shone." It was armed
treason against the freest, purest
and mildest republican government
under which any people ever lived.
1t proposed, as the means 10 it's end
the dissolution of the Union, with
all the prospective damages and
dangers certain to arise therefrom
in the event of its success. 1t was
patriotic and religious duty, when
al means of Cancellation had failed
to crush this rebtlli by the sword
No other course was left. The ma
ton must die, or the Rebellion
must be conquered. For four lona
years the Northern people. at vast
expenditure of treasure and blood
fought this armed treason, and al
last overwhelmed it. Were they
right in so doing? Ii not, then il
is never right to suppress a rebel
lion. Then civil government is q
sham, not having the right to ex-
ercise the powers necessary 10 the
preservation Of its own existence.
To present this question in some
of its details, was the lamented Lin
coin right in his calm and persist
ent purpose to conduct the Govern
ment to final victory? Was tn,
Congress OF the United States right
in devising TIE ways and means fol
successfully prosecuting the war
| Were the soldiers and officers whC
constituted the Federal forces right
n fighting to preserve the Uniol
ma sa-e the nation from being dis
integerated ard ruined? Was th,
pulpit righ. in praying for the sue
cess Of the army, and so preaching
IS to arouse and encourage tn,
public heart? Were the people
right in lending their money to tn,
Government, and straining ever,
nerve to sustain it in the day OF it:
peril? Is the nation right in nov
honoring the living who fought ant
survived the struggle, and decorat
ing the graves of the heroic deat
who fought and fell?
These questions supply their owl
answer to every man who had tn,
head and the heart of a patriot dur
ing the war; an answer, moreover
which never changed with time
TIE Government ,cas right; and ii
triumph 'cas mol simply that Of might
bit also of right. The Rebellion wa
a crime, and it was the duty of tn
Government to put it down. s.
we thought them, and SO We thinl
now.
MIR. Vallandigham did not stan,
with his country and its cause il
his struggle for the right. He wa
found on the side of its enemies
and this is the ing!orious recor,
that will go to posterity. 1t ough
to be condemned. 1t was condemn
ed while he was living; and his dealt
furnishes no reason for changin;
this Judgment. His so-called "Ne,
Departure indicated no softenin;
his old unpatriotic and proslaver
principles, but was merely a pro
fessed acceptance of results agains
which he had fought with all hi
might.
| We believe it to be duty to hol
up such ch racters to public scorr
and warn all men not to imitat
their bad example. The fact tina
they believed themselves right
though it may modify the degre
of their guilt in a court of conscience
no more iustities their wrong tnal
was Saul OF Tartarus justified by