The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-19

Austrian observation-disclosures Treatment
OF Women-The Law OF Nations.
We cannot help again referring to the atroclty,
tie demoniacal and hellish spirit, which has marked
the conduct of the Austrian generals in the war
hre which they have for some time past, and,
hank God, unsuecessfully, carried on against the
gallant and noble Hungarians. Ii is disgraceful to
Europe, disgraceful to the world, disgraceful to
The nineteenth century, and disgraceful to HUMANE
" as well as Christianity 1t is no wonder that
they do not succeed-it no wonder that the
Austro- ussian forces afflicted with plague
and lice-that they cut down, destroyed, and
compelled to flee from time to time before their
noble-mlnded and patriotic foes. Our readers
have, no doubt read and pondered over the address
issued by that demon in the form OF a man, Gen.
Haynau, the Austrian commander-in-chief, to the
inhabitants of Buda and Pesth, on the occasion of
his leaving them, to hasten to the rescue Of the
Ban of Croatia. Doomed to death, he says, ono
matter of what rank or sex-doomed to instant
death, on the spot of the crime, is every one who
dares to assist the of the rebels by words OF
BY deeds, or by revolutionary dress; doomed to
death is every one who dares to insult any OF my
soldiers or those of our allies; doomed to instant
death is every one who enters into tratorous COM
munication with the enemies Of the crown, or
who maliciously presumes by rumors to assist the
rebellion, or to conceal weapons" Gracious God,
can such things occur in the nineteenth century
this age of intelligence, Of intellect, and OF en-
lIehtened and Christian Europe, too! The docu-
nent is a genuine one-there is no doubt OF 1t.
Aye, and ere this, hundreds Of innocent children,
Of lovely women, of tender girls, have g.
before the ire of that inferno - -'' tri' nue.
on humanity, that ,-- un''H, ''
= !. = =. commander-in-chef. II breathes
he same spirit that has actuated the Aus
Bians and their savage allies from the COM
meneement Of hostilities to the present day
Let MS give an instance or two of the manner
n which the Austnans carry on their unhoy
warfare Lovely women of rank, fortune, educa-
ion, and accomplishments, have been shamefuly
stripped, and their tender persons exposed TO, and
sxcoriated with the lash, by the rufiany soldIery,
for their fidelity and patriotism. Yes; and some
have been shot Soon after the commencement OF
the campaign, Hungarian officer was taken pri-
soner, tried by court martial, and condemned to BE-
executed at the end Of twenty-four hours. He was
beuohed to young lady, the flower OF her sex in
beauty, and everything else that constitutes female
excellence She made her way TO his cell she
prevailed upon him to exchange clothes with her,
10 pass the sentries and escape. He succeeded,
and reached his own camp In safety AT the period
allotted for his execution, he was missing, and in
his stead was his beautiful and devoted betrohed.
Did her heroism-did her romantic conduc,-soften
abe heart Of the Austrian General Haynau' A file
Of soldiers was ordered out-she was tied to post
her eyes were bandaged-and she was brutally
and inhumanly shot
We think the time has arrived when the nations
Of the world should interfere, and demand that
this hostility, # IL unfortunately should exist much
lsnger shall be conducted according to the laws Of
modern warfare. This ioggng, scourging, and
shooting Of women and children, Is contrary to
the law Of nations, and humanity demands that l;
shall be put a stop to. As far back as the time Of
Grotius, the law OF nations prohibited the use of
poisoned arms, the employment of assassins, vio-
hence to women to the dead, or even making
risves Of prisoners. Montesquieu, Rutherforth,
Martens, vattel, and all other distinguished
writers on the laws Of nations, have invaria-
bly, laid il down, that all unnecessary ngor In
war is condemned by the conscience and reason
Of mankind. They have all, with great power and
sloquence, reasoned against unnecessary cruelty,
base revenge, and all mean and perhdious war
hre and the opinions and sentiments of those
distinguished men eompnse, as regards war, the
laws Of nations at the present day. Indeed, SO
much have the ngors Of war been sofiened by the
a.euaging influence Of Christianity and the pro-
gress Of intelligence, that private property is not
taken, without compensation, unless IN special
eases, dictated by the necessary operation OF war
Chancellor Kent says Contributions are some
times LEVIED upon a conquered country, In lieu of
a conhscation Of property, and as some indemnity
Tor the expenses Of maintaining order and afford
ing protection. II the conqueror goes beyond those
knits wantonly, when it is not clearly indispen
sable the tpuposes Of war, and seizes private
property for the sake Of gain, and destroys private
dwellings or public edi6ces, devoted to civil pur-
poses only, or makes war upon monuments of ar,
and models Of taste, he violates the usages OF war,
and sure to meet with indignant resentment, and
10 be held up to the general scorn and detesation
Of the world" Such is the tenor Of the laws OF
nations, in regard to the taking Of private property
Nothing Is said about scourgng lovely women, or
booming TO death " no matter Of what rank or sex,
on the spot Of the crime, any who dared to
assist rebels" Such atrocty was not dreamt OF,
and therefore was not provided against. II was
left for the internal demon, in human shape, Hay
nau, the Austrian Commander in-chief, to exceed
even the Goths in atrocityit is left for the civil
ned nations Of the world to fill this gap in the law
Of nations, thus opened by that monster.
To thIs time, there lie no recognized way OF en-
fbrsng the laws of nations but by public opinion.
Bis, as Chancellor Kent informs US, "enforced by
abe censures Of the press, and by the moral in
suenee Of those great masters Of public law who
are consulted by all nations siorscles Of wisdom;
and who have obtained, by the mere force of writ
rn reason, the majestic character, and almost the