Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-08-08

10 place II among INC kreat IefoiutiohS
OF history. The country suffered from q
tour years war. In which men and money
were sacrificed in such numbers and
sums that it were Impossible to compute
the loss. This rebellion was crushed.
Then the vicIors-the Republican Party,
IL you choOSe-aad all those who in
gated and iostered the movement in
their hands. According to all precedent
those at the head of the so-called Con
tederate government, should have been
immediately executed. Every leader in
the rebel army should have shared SIM
i.al ;.te; while each man found in arms
against his government should have been
DISTINGUISHED for life. This, we say,
would have been warranted by precedent
and, doubtless, such course would have
been not only sanctioned but commended
by all nations.
But our government saw tit to take
new departure in dealing with this class
OF criminals. II concluded to try the for
givenesS plan. By degrees it has forgiven
these offenders. until, ten years after the
death OF the rebellion, nearly all those
who participated in il, arc as free aud
honored as those WHO have been always
Iowa. This freedom and immunity from
punishment is not enjoyed as right by
those men, but is great aud uuprece-
dented pririlege All the right in this
matter lay with the victors--theirs the right
10 punish or forgive. But the recipients
of these favors have begun to forget this
fact. Ten years of prosperity have led
them 10 make demands which are most
arrogant, and 10 claim universal amnesty
as right. While there can he little sat-
isfaciiou. at this late day in keeping any
trOm the privileges OF citizenship, or in
disqualiiying any from holding office, we
think il will be well TO except a few from
the general amnesty. so long as there Is
any claim laid to it. So long as it is
sty led persecution. when the light pen
ally OF diSfianchisement is laid upon the
man who, as the visible head OF the Con-
iederate government. is responsible TOR
sll which has followed the attempt TO es-
tablish it. be should be kept down. 10
remind his friends OF the position they
actually maintain before the general gov
eminent.
IL any otfense against the government
should disqualily persons from holding
office during lite. OF course the greatest
oAense-treason-sh be the one 10
which that penalty attaches. Sill. when
few are thus left under the bans. they
cry persecution" How insincere and
selfish this complaint is. however, may
be shown by the acts of these same men.
when placed in power. They discover
ihst q Cabinet ofiicer-SecIetary OF War.
Belknap-has been guilty Of light
ofense against the government. Not
content with the legal punishment pre-
yided Tor such eases, they immediately
begin to "persecute" him-Ihat is. dis
qualify him from holding ofiice-impeach
him. Mr.. Belknsp has been guilty oil a
crime against the government tor which
he should be punished. He has been
captured 0y Democratic Congress. and
We hope they will not allow him to
escape. His ohense is that OF using his
official position to secure personal sd
yancement. lie sold positions. In so
doing, he neither took money from the
Treasury, involved the nation in war, or
endangered the life OF any citizen. Still
he should be punished, and punished. too,
by those who have been forgiven aworse
offense than biz. While they are per-
forming their duty by Furnishing Mr. Bel
KNAPP. however, would it hot be we'll for
them TO remember their own condition
before the law and the people. Ii they
propose TO impeach Mr.. Belknsp for the
tri1ing crime which be has committed
an act which has but recently been con-
stinted crime-will il not be more
consistent tor them 20 cease their cry OF
persecution" because some OF their
leaders are left in position similar to
that In which they propose TO place Mr..
Belknsp:
We do not. in the least. propose to e1-
cuse Mr.. Belknap. His offense should be
treasured up against him; but If it is
persecution" TO disfranchise the leader
OF q grea, rebellion. what shall we say OF
an attempt 10 disquaify an officer from
ever holding governmental position
who has sold paltry t.tIadership
Yes, and he man too, who did what he
could to preserve the union. Is he 10 re-
ceive life sentence for exhibiting q
weakness for money. while those who
sought 10 destroy the government. sit in
judgment upon him, untrammeled by
bond or ban? How weak. wicked and
inconsistent it is 10 charge the Repub-
lican party with au attempt TO perSecute
any body when this state OF thia rs exists.
SECOND DISTRCT CoNvENTIoN.-rhe
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