What have the wretches to offer in atonement for these outrages upon
nature, these violations of the spirit and majesty of the law, from which
they now claim protection?
Will the blood of these living monsters expiate the martyrdom of the host
of dead heroes? No!
Will it give ease or bring congratulation to the broken and aching hearts
who yet revere the memory of the thirty thousand victims? Never!
The divine spirit of liberty would protest against the defilement of her
sacred altars with the foul blood of such filthy and depraved sacrifices.
Let the gates of the prison open, and these men stand forth to the full
gaze of offended mankind, assassins and murderers as they are.
Vengeance does not belong to the human race.
There are times in the history of men when human invectives are without
force. "There are deeds of which no men are judges, and which mount,
without appeal, direct to the tribunal of God."