tter cup, are fully, aware, when the

American people should be made to understand the

tine nature of crime. Of crime generally, our

people have a high understanding, as well as or the

necessity of its punishment; but to the catalogue of

crimes there is one, and that the highest known to

tbe law and .the Constitution—of which, slooe the

days of Jeffers on and Aaron. Burr, they have become

oblivious —tbatvis Tbbason. Indeed, one who has

become distinguished to treason , and In this .re­

bellion, faid that “When traitors become nume­

rous enough, treason becomes respectable,” ana to

become a traitor was to constitute a portion of the

aristocracy of the eountry. God protect the people

against Bnch an aristocracy 1 ,

• Yes, the time has come when the people should

be taught to understand .the-length and breadth,

the depth and height of treason. An Individual

occupying the highest position among us was lifted

to that position by the free offering of the American

people—the highest position on the habitable globe

—this man we have seen, revered, and leved ; one

who, if he erred at all, erred ever on the side of cle­

mency and merey—that man we have seen treason

strike, through a fitting instrument, and we have

- beheld hi# fall like a bright star, falling from its

f, 'h!cw"there Is none but would say, if i|he question

esme up, what should be done with the individual

wbo assassinated the Chief Magistrate of a nation 1

He is but a man, one man after all; but if asked

what should he done with the assassin, what should

be the penalty, tbe forfeit exacted, I know

what response dwells In every bosom.- It Is

that he should pay the forfeit with his

life; and hence we see that there are times

when merey and olemeney without justice b'eoome.

a crime. The'one should temper the other, and

bring about that proper mean. And if we would

say this when the case was the simple murder of

one man by his fellow-man, what should'we-say

when asked what shall be done with him or them

who have raised Impious hands to take away the'

lire of a nation composed of thirty . millions of

people 1 What would bo tbe reply to that question 1

But while in mercy we rememberjustice, In the lau­

guage th&t has been uttered I say justice towards

tbe leaders, the conscions leaders,; out I also say

amnesty, conciliation, clemency, and meroy to the

thousands of our countrymen whom you and I know

havebeen deceived or driven into this infernal re

hellion.

And so I return to where I started from, and again

repeat that it is time nqr people were taught to

know that treason is a crime, not a mere political"

dlfiererce—not a mere contest- between two parties,

in which one succeeded and the other simply failed.

They must know it Is treason, for If they had suc­

ceeded the life of the nation would have been reft

from It—the ITnlon would have been destroyed.

Surely the Constitution sufficiently defines treason.

It consists in levying war against the United States,

and in giving their enemies aid and comfort. With

this definition, it requires the exercise of no great

acumen to ascertain who are traitors. It requires

no great perception to tell us who have levied war

against them, nor does It require any great stretoh

ol reasoning- to ascertain who has given aid to the

enemies of tbe United States. And when the Go­

vernment of the United States does ascertain who

are the conscious and intelligent traitors, the penal­

ty and the forfeit should be paid. I know howto

appreciate the condition of being driven from one’s

home. 1 oan sympathize with him whose all has

been taken from him ; with him who has oeen de­

nied the place that gave his children blrth|; but let us,

withal, In the restoration of the Government, proceed

temperately and dispassionately, and hope and pray

that the time'will come, as I believe, when we all

can retumlandjremaln at our homes, and treason and'

traltors-be driven from our land ;when again law

. and order Shall reign, and this bannerol our country

be unfurled over every Inch of territory Within the

area of the United States.

In conclusion, let me thank yoojmost profoundly

for this encouragement and manifestation of your

regard and respect, and assure you tnat I can give

no greater assurance regarding the settlement of

this question than that I intend to discharge my

duty, and to that'way which shall, to the earliest

possible hour, bring back peace to our distracted

country, and hope the time is not far distant when

our people can all return to their homes and fire­

sides, and resume their various avocations.

WASHINGTON.

Proclamation by tbe Pre