Year: 1862

HH1DA1, NAL ., 1cb1s


DON'T HARM THEREBELs.
The Confscation bill still hangs in s1s-
pense. There are more obstacles thrown |
in its way; more scrup1es and arguments
used to stop it; more efforts. threats and
combinations devised and employed TO
prevent its passage, than would before
hand have seemed possible to any plain and
honest lover Of the Union. Howerermuch |
our ideas may be confused By the sophistry |
and follies Of those who resist the passage
Of the bill; and however our Judgment
may be perplexcd and be"1ldered by the
conflicting provisions Of various parties, |
and their contradictory and jauing opin
ions as to what policy requires, or the Con-
stitution permits; Of one thing, there is in
the minds Of al good and true Union men
no doubt, the duty Of the Government to
cunish The traitors; and as far as is posi-
bic. make the property OF the men Tho
have conspircd and rcbelled, pay the ex-
nenses and losses Of this most wicked war,
And it eeems to us, that with this duty
kept clear in the mind, and its solemn re-
sponsahi1ity felt as it must be by every
loya, heart, there cannot be any great diff
Guilty in passing the necessary law.
The traitors must be punished, and the
authority Of the Union must be vindicated.


Every man who lives beneath the protec-


ton Of the General Government, must be


made 10 see and feel, that to conspire and


rebel against it, is q crime Of such atrocity,


with guilt 50 deep and black, that it de-


serves, and ever will receive the most


severe, prompt, and terrible punish


ment And it must be known and under
stood by all men, that from this doom there
is no escape; but that the road is a broad
and short one leading straight from treason
h death and infan1y. Nothing more dan
gerous to our future peace and order could
he done, than to have the impression left
On the minds Of men, By the clemency
and pardons, the amnesties and reprieves
Of the Government Of the Union, that
Sediion Is q vcnial cHense; that Conspira~
CT must ever be forgiven and forgotten;
that Treason evcn, should frequently be
pardoned to men Of high temper and IN
go7ernablc spirit; and that rebel hands,
red With the blood OF their brethren, may
all be washed white and clean by the tears
OF fond and paternal Government, To
encourage any such belief, or act SO as to
bcget any such hope, would be most fatal
and terrible mistake. Not to visit treason
now with all the pains and penalties, and
pour out upon rebellion all the severities
Of the frrnest and most unrelening justice,
would be to prepare the ground and SOW
the seed Of endless revolt, plot,
war, confusion, misery, and ruin


Neither ought traitors to come out o1
this mad and crazy Rebellion, with any no
ton, that they can set In motion whatever
disastrous and destructive elements their
ambition or pride may suggest, and see
them spread havoc and ruin amid the pos
sessions and interests of all loyal men
while their Own property and means arc
preserved in entire security behind the safe
guards Of the Constitution Just so long
as men believe that they may go off or
any wild raid for power or advantage


may 1avage, burn, kill and destroy al that
belongs to others, while their own is so pc
culiarly sacred that nothing can harm o.
seize it, 50 long will treason have followers
and rebellion flourish. It would indeed bt
for Shareholders glorious state of things, i
il. they can secede and revolt and wage
civil war whenever they please to build uE
and extend Slavery, but that in no event
Slavery shall be injured by such attempt
They are 10 have the right always to rebel
conspire, and fight for Slavery but Slavery
is so sacred that no profane hand mus
touchit either to lay upon it the burdens
Of the war waged for it, or injure it in any
way We cannot think that Congress car
be for moment SO deceived and cheated
Wc trust they will teach Rebels, among
other things, that Treason costs more thar
it comes to; that Rebellion in behalf 0
Slavery don't pay; and make out the bill
in its full and tremendous length Of all th.
expenses Of this atrocious war, present i
to our traitor fellow citizens and collect i


to the last cent No other course is right
safe or decent And Congress, if it fail


to provide the most thorough and stringen
measures for int1ict1ng upon all traitor
Just punishment; and for making the guilt,
men and communities bear the full burdel
Of the expense and losses brought On us b.


their treason, will be guilty Of neglecting


duty so obvious and imperative, that th
country will neither forget nor forgive i