Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-02-05
Number 8.
complying, of the loss OF their commits.
sions. Here is the black record.
"oRDERs or GENERAL woLL.

llEApouARrERs OF the AMY OF TnE NoRTn
MIR, June 90, 1874,
], Adrian Vol, General Of Brigade, &c. mako
known
!. The armistioe agreed on with the depart-
ment Of Texas having expired, and the war boz
ing in consequence, recommended ageinst the
inhabitants Of the department, all communica-
ton with Il ceases
2. Every individual OF whatever condition,
who may contrayeno the provisions Of the prece.
ding article shall be regarded as traitor, and
shah receive tho punishment prescribed 10 arti'
Gle as title 10, treatise g. OF the articles OF war
3 Every IHDlviDuAL who may DO found NJ
distance Of ono league from the wet bank Of tho
Rio Bravo, will be regarded rs lhyorer and
accomplish of the usurpors Of that part OF The
national territory, aud as n traitor OF his coun-
try aud after n summary military trial, shalife-
ceiye the above punishment.
d. Every individual who may be- comprehend
ed within The provisions Of the preceding urti-
Gle, and may be rash enough 70 fly at the sight
OF any force belonging to the Supreme Govern.
ment, shall be pursued until taken OF put TO
death.n
The orders arc plain as language con
make them. The crime is being ioundin.
Texas. Every Individual from tho fact Of
his being so found, is to be held and deem.
cd to be ga traitor of his country;n and,
as such, monstrous as il may seem! ALL
for there is no distinction made or limited
at--EVERY human being there found, is,
after summary military trial, to suffer a
traitors death
In comfortably pursuing our path OF
peace and of safety, these " Orders" meet
our eye. Are we to pass them by To
notice them might breed a.quarrel. Have
we u right to notice themf ! suppose the
next question will DO, whether We have a
right to fire on the pirates flag, or to hwart
his good pleasure, when he bids his victims
walk the plank, and consigns them TO a
watery grave. Bat, if needs be, We may
find proof that the law Of nations does, IN
some cases--and this is one--permlt usto
follow the dictates Of mercy and justice.
in every civil war, as has been AREA
dY shown from Vattel, international law
requires both parties % "observe the COM
mon laws of war, the rhaxims Of human.
ty, moderation and honor What are
these aws2 Let Vatiel inform US.
Mr.. 0. here read from Vattol's Law Of
Nations, book iii, chap. s, in relation to tho
rules Of war among civilized nations -
that in battle quarter is given to the de-
(eated; that women, children, feeble old
men, and sick persons, though Liable to be
taken prisoners, are not to be maltreated,
much less put 10 dealh-and that other ma
tons may interpose TO prevent such inhu-
man barbarity.l
But the threat is idle, il has been said;
merely meant to intimidate; too horrible 10
be fulfilled 1.-THE blood shed on The plains
Of Goliad had voice; If the walls Of the
Alamo could speak; would they youch for
il, that Mexico is too tender-hearted to
keep her word2 The treaty of cnpitula-
ton with poor Fannin was formally drawn
up and signed by both Mexican and Texan
officers: yet the morning Of Palm Sunday
saw four hundred disarined men marched
out and shot down, like beeves in slaugh.
ter house. From what has been VIC are
justified in deciding what will be.
But still, if these threatened crimes arc
committed by Mexico, where do we find
warrant 10 arrest them? That too, shall
be forthcoming. II would be very strange
if il could not be found. OF what use 10
law without penaliy2 OF what avail
the law Of nations, il nations arc not au-
lhorized to see it obeyed. So decides
Valte
"All nations have therefore n right 10
resort TO foroible means for the purpose Of re-
pressing any one particular nation who openly
violates the laws of the society which Nature
has established between them n--YAT. PRELM.
p. xiv.
Here, then, we have the law and its ap-
plcalion. Mexico has openly violated,
and declared her purpose, in aggravated
form, again openly to violate, tho hoest
laws Of civilized society. By SO doing,
she jnstifes US in resorting TO force for the
purpose Of REFRESHING her. Shall we do
sol 1t is not always expedient to avail
ourselves Of a right We arc not bound
to become the Don Quxotes Of the age,
and sally forth TO redress all the grieyan-
ces Of the civilized world That has ne
yer, so far, been the policy of our country.
Greece and Poland had more or less Of our
sympathy, and that was all. We assumed
no, to decide on the British doings 10 Az.
ghanistan, or TO Judge the conduct Of tho
opium war against China. But Texas 10
our next neighbor, aud was once under
our special guardianship. Weare, to EN-.
ploy the law phrase in its striclest sense,
her nearest friend. To Us, il to any ma
ton upon earth, she has right to look for
succor and protection. Shall wo forsake
her now2
II such be our decision, il behooves US,
as prudent men, fully to digest our plan
aud trace 10 its final consequences.
Say that we remain inactive and neu-
trial, aid suffer things TO take their course,
What happensi Just at this moment