![Gen. Lew Wallace (Hartford, Conn. : The War Photograph & Exhibition Co., No. 21 Linden Place, [between 1861 and 1865]; LOC: LC-DIG-stereo-1s02866 )](https://www.bluegrayreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/1s02866r.jpg)
‘no political rights for rebels and traitors’
Baltimore erupted in April 1861 as Northern troops marched through it on their way to defend the United States’ capital. Three years later, the recently appointed military commander in Baltimore apparently was trying to make it clear that he wasn’t going to play any games.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch April 8, 1864:
The prospect for Baltimore.
–The people of Baltimore have a gloomy prospect before them just now. Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace has been appointed military Governor of that department, and we find the following in the Baltimore American concerning his entering on his duties:
The new commandant of this military department, Major Gen. Lew Wallace, in his response to the welcome extended to him by the City Council yesterday, made the following explicit declaration of his views with regard to the political rights of the disloyal
“He held that a rebel and a traitor had no political rights.”
We therefore regard this declaration of Major General Wallace as a significant intimation of his intention to prevent all who have taken part in the rebellion, or who have, by their sympathy or their acts, given aid and comfort to the enemy, and who have rejoiced over our defeats and mourned over our victories, from enjoying the political rights they have clearly forfeited. Every one of them are still rebels at heart, and their votes will be given only to the detriment of the wishes and purposes of all truly loyal citizens. After the war is over it will be time enough to take into consideration the future political rights of rebels and traitors.–Whilst it lasts they have, in the language of Gen Wallace, “no political rights.”
still a seat of war in 1864
