Franklin Repository

Attorney General Speed has published an official opinion relating to the status of rebels who may be indicted in the State Courts for arson, robbery, murder, &c., committed while in the service of the so-called rebel government. The question arose in Kentucky where some of the paroled rebels have been arrested for crimes committed during the Morgan raid in that State, and the Attorney General was asked whether the government would interfere and protect them as prisoners of war. In answer to this Mr. Speed says that "the government of the United States ought not to prevent or interfere with the execution of such process" issued by the State Courts. Again he says--"whether such persons are guilty of robbery, or whether they have any adequate legal defence to such charge, are questions for the judicial determination of the Court before which they may be tried. The jurisdiction of the Court to decide these questions, after the parties are arrested, is unquestionable, and the government of the United States should not interfere to take the cases in question out of , or place them beyond the cognizance of, the State tribunals." The opinion is also endorsed by the War Department, and may be accepted as expressing the settled purpose of the government.

Under this decision the question of the guilt of such vandals as M'Causland, Gilmore, Smith and others who sacked and burned Chambersburg, is left solely to the judicial tribunals of the State, and it will be for our courts to determine whether thay can be protected by the plea of belligerent rights. Such a plea would not, we apprehend, avail in the court of this State, for we are not aware of any act of this State, either judicial, legislative or of any other kind, by which the rebels have been recognized as public enemies, and in the absence of any such recognition they can have no defence other than is afforded to any other robbers or murderers who offend against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth. Early, who ordered the destruction of Chambersburg, is reported dead; but as he was not in the State we presume that he would not be amenible; but M'Causland is now living comfortably on his farm in Western Virginia, and within the reach of the civil power of the State. Gilmore, who was the chief in the work of destruction, who fired a number of buildings himself, and insulted all who came in his way, is also alive, and many turn up under the persuasive appeals of a requisition. Capt. Smith still boasts a habitation on this sublinary sphere, and is probably enjoying his fathers fine home in Washington, Virginia, which was always carefully guarded by Union troops when they occupied that part of the State, and his family supported themselves by selling vegetables to our officers. We speak advisedly when we say that Gov. Pierpont will respond to a requisition from Gov. Curtin, and no one need be told that Gov. Curtin will perform his part whenever the cases come probably before him. If these chief actors escape the law, it must be by becoming fugitives from justice, and we are for pursuing them until some of them are brought to Chambersburg free of charge, and brought to face a Franklin county court and jury in the midst of the ruins they have so wantonly wrought. If M'Causland and Gilmore run off, it might be well enough to send after one Robert E. Lee who passed through here in 1863 and issued public orders for plundering our people generally. He was a first class highway robber in his way and would answer admirably to test the question whether because a set of perjured cut-throats see fit to attempt the overthrow of the most beneficent government of Earth by war, they can rob, and burn and murder at will within the limits of Pennsylvania without violation of her laws. There is plenty of material for Mr. Stenger to try his hand on and we presume that the August grand jury will give him plenty to do in that line.

Let every one extend a most cordial welcome to the bronzed and battle-scarred heroes, who have just returned from their victorious fields to resume their places among us as citizens. Let them be greeted as they deserve with generous hearts and considerate efforts to promote their well-being. Their heroism and achievements afforded the richest material for fourth of July orations and speeches of welcome; but the true test of a just appreciation of the services of gallant soldiers of the Republic is to make their welcome home substantial by providing them prompt employment and aiding them in every possible way to resume the arts and labors of peace. They have been absent for months and some for years, and others have filled many of their places in the various channels of industry. Many of them have families dependent upon their labor, and every true friend of the returned soldier will manifest his friendship by aiding him to attain success in the industrial pursuits of life. Many who in time of war were not conspicuous for their friendship for the soldier and his cause, now forsee social disorder as one of the fruits of a large army disbanded into peaceful pursuits. We do not fear such a result. A good soldier cannot be a bad citizen; and the history of warfare gives no instance of a more heroic and invincible soldiery than was embraced in the Union armies. They were good soldiers, because they were good citizens; and they will resume their places in society without even a ripple upon the surface. But they will need kind friends. They must have aid to procure employment, and let every faithful man see at once that the returned soldiers in his neighborhood are proffered suitable labor. It would be heartless ingratitude on the part of a people whose liberties have been preserved by the valor of our volunteers, should any soldier seek employment in vain and suffer want in the land he has rescued from the peril of treason by his sacrifices. Let one and all extend a kind hand and generous heart to the heroes of the Republic in our midst. We owe it to them to do so, and let the debt be paid promptly and cheerfully, and all will be well.

WELCOME HOME

O, the men who fought and bled,
O, the glad and gallant tread,
And the bright skies overhead,
Welcome home!
O, the brave returning boys,
O, the overflowing joys,
And the guns and drums and noise,
Welcome home!

Let the deep voiced cannons roar,
Open every gate and door,
Pour out, happy people, pour,
Welcome home!
Bloom, O banners, over all,
Over every roof and wall,
Float and flow, and rise and fall,
Welcome home!

Splendid column moving down,
From veterans soiled and brown,
Grim heads, fit to wear a crown,
Welcome home!
Grim heads, which a wall have been,
Keeping sacred things within,
Keeping out the hosts of sin,
Welcome home!

There the women stand for hours,
With their white hands full of flowers,
Raining down the perfumed showers,
On the dear men marching home!
Do you see him in the line?
Something makes him look divine,
And a glory makes him shine,
Coming home.

Look out where the flag unfurls,
Look out through your tears and curls,
Give them welcome, happy girls!
Welcome home!
Welcome home from war's alarms,
Welcome to a thousand charms,
Waiting lips and loving arms.
Welcome home!

Strong man, with the serious face,
If you saw him in his place,
Marching swift to your embrace,
Coming home,
You would weep with glad surprise
At the dear dead boy that lies
Underneath the Southern skies,
Far from home.

Women, with the tender eye,
Weeping while the boys go by,
Well we know what makes you cry,
Weary home!
God be with you in your pain,
You will look and look in vain,
He will never come again
To his home!

So amid our joy we weep
For the noble dead who sleep
In the vale and on the steep,
Far from home;--
For the chief who fought so well,
For the Christ like man who fell
By the chosen son of Hell,
And went home!

And we thank you, Slavery's dead,
And the hosts of Wrong are fled,
And the right prevails instead.
Welcome home!
Limb, and tongue, and press are free,
And the nation shouts to see
All the glory yet to be,
Welcome home!

Gossip With Our Friends--While walking past the Germantown depot, the other day, a curious sight arrested my steps--a carriage, driven by a white man, and containing a negro and two little darkies. That innate curiosity which makes one a bad citizen, but a good gossip, impelled me to try to discover who the sable travellers were. The wool of the man was sprinkled with grey; and the boys, severally eight and ten years old, had that look-about-where-are-we-air, that marks the stranger, black or white. The carriage drove up to the depot, and the party descended, the old man saying in true Virginia pathos (I know the tones, its tricks and its manners; for did not Lee's army occupy our town for three weeks: "Now, chill-un, tote up you' traps; be keerful. How much, sah?" he said, turning to the driver. "Two dollars," was the prompt reply. From one pocket and another came, here a twenty-five cent and there a ten cent note, and now some fives, and then some pennies, until the amount was made up. With true editorial pertinacity I followed the party into the ticket office, and into the cars, where I seated myself beside the old man, and elicited the following recital, which I will not attemp to clothe in his dialect: "I am sixty years old. I have lived in Virginia all my life. I was a slave until Mr. Lincoln made me free, about seven months ago, since which time I have served in the army as a cook, and in the forage department at $25 a month. I am as glad to be free as though I were ten years old. These boys are mine; and I hope they will grow up to enjoy what I am almost to old to use as I should. For the last seven years I have been hired out by my master in Petersburg. I was separated from my wife and boys, and have been looking for them a long time. She was looking for me and the boys too. Once we were on opposite sides of the river for a whole month, dying to see each other; but neither of us could find out where the other was. At last I heard they were away North. I earned enough money to bring me here, and yesterday I found my old woman in Germantown, where she has a good place. She told me the children were in Salem. I went down there for them, and here I am on my way to Germantown, to show them to her. We are all going South again, where we can now live together, and where we can work for ourselves. Bless God and Mr. Lincoln for it." I asked him how his money held out, and why he spent two dollars on a carriage. He answered, "I am almost out of money, and I hired a carriage because I could not find my way. I am a stranger." I returned the old man a very small part of what the white man owed him; and he reverently asked God to bless me. It is true he said, "May God Almighty bless you," but I think God Almighty understood him. For the sake of truth, justice and mercy, let us be kind to the negro. We have been fearfully scourged, North and South (and old Chambersburg has come in for a full share) for our participation in this monstrous evil of slavery. We have not done all when we have freed the slave. We are yet deeply in his debt. Will we, dare we, repudiate?

New York is now nearly at its heighth in dirt, and mud, and dust, and stink. Were it not for the occasional pleasant breeze from the sea, that rich and poor can alike enjoy, it would be almost uninhabitable. Monday of last week I saw a man dying from sun-stroke on the side-walk, and the day after winter clothes felt quite comfortable.

Our female correspondent who accompanied Jeff Davis from Irwinsville to Fortress Monroe, has reached New York, and is preparing a careful account of her conversation with J. D. Mr. Bennet has seen the manuscript as far as it has progressed, and professes to be much pleased. He says "it will please the public taste as well as though it was false." This unqualified praise from so eminent a journalist is sufficient to advertize the forthcoming pamphlet, which will be entitled

"THE LAST TIMES
OF
JEFFERSON DAVIS, ESQ.,
and a full account
of his
APOTHEOSIS,
with minute details of how
he became his own
MOTHER."

Business is very dull--every one holding off for lower prices. Manufacturers, jobbers, retailers, and consumers acting in council.

Barnum has a large painting on the outside of his museum illustrative of the capture of J. D., and every window of the print stores exhibits pictures of all sizes and at all prices commemorative of the same historical event. How grateful these exhibitions must be to the representatives of the Southern chivalry who had made their homes in N. Y. We had a big meeting at the Cooper Institute, last Thursday night, which Gen. Grant honored with his presence. Such a crowd was in and outside of the Hall that the Police were almost useless, and indeed were as enthusiastic as any of the great unwashed. Grant made a speech exactly seven seconds in length, and was quite exhausted in consequence. He can't make a speech as well as McClellan, but he took Richmond.

"His deeds exceed all speech."

There, Shakespeare makes a good ending.
New York, June 10, 1865.