The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-09-10
RETALIATION.

RETALIATION.
lesson for that sentimentalism Of the day that
would reject the policy of retaating upon the
Yankee prisoners in hands the deeds of outrage
and ignoniny inflicted upon our prisoners, may be
found in the records of our revolutionary history
and in the distinguished example Of Washington
| himself
| The conduct of General Washington in the
| romantic case of Capt Asgi was perhaps one OF
| the truest exhibitions Of character at once firm
and benevoent-not insensible to humane senti-
ments, but recognizing the truest humanity as that
proceeding from the conscientious and unrelaxed
discharge of plain and patriotic duty.
| The facts of this interesting and romantic
episode in our revolutionary history are as follows:
1t while negotiations were taking place in
| Europe for the recognition of our independence,
after the American successes in the Carolinas and
Georgia, and the capituaton of Yorktown, that
the Tories, maddened by the loss of their property
and friends exhibited the most savage and des-
perate spirit of vengeance towards the Rcpubli-
cans On the 30th of March, 1888, Philip White,
notorious Tory, executed by a set of men
| called the Monmouth Retaliators"
few days afterwards, Joshua Huddy, captain
IN W Washington 8 army, was seized and hanged by
the Tories, label being affixed to his breast.
stating that he had been hanged as an act Of re-
tribution for the execution of White
Sir Henry Clinton Immediately ordered the
| murderers of Huddy TO be arrested; and Captain
Lippincott, their leader, being tried by court
| martial, verdict Of guilty was returned, on
the plea that he bad merely acted in obedience to
the commands Of his superiors, the ' Directors Of
the Board of Associated Loyalists."
The application of Washington for the rendition
of the murderer, Lippincott being refused, he i'm
! mediately resolved upon retaliation The circum-
stances of the case were peculiar. War had been
suspended; yet Washington considered that the
right of retaliation, recognized BY civilized code,
still continued in existence The outrage had
been committed by Tory organization yet
Washington did not fail to perceive that the
murderer had been protected and screened by the
British commander He instantly gave notice to
Sir Henry Clinton, in response to his refusal to
surrender Lippincott, that he would retaiate--and
that too, upon the British prisoners in his hands
For the purpose Of selecting object of just
vengeance for the murder of Captain Huddy, lots
were cast among the prisoners. The fatal lot fell
upon Captain Asgill, prisoner taken at York
town. He was son Of Sir Charles Asgill, and
only nineteen years of age. The rank and peculiar
circumstances of young Asgill aroused strong
party to ntercede III his behalf Washington was
inexorabe. His duty he felt to be painful; but he
knew its performance to be indispensable to check
and destroy the bands Of Tories that, under the
IT,,
ening to execute the vengeance of assassins upon
the Republicans.
Lady Asgill, the mother Of the unfortunate
prisoner had interceded in vain the British Gov
ernment, to whom properly belonged the power to
release her son. by the performance Of an act Of
justice their part in the rendition of the mur-
derer of Capt Huddy She bethought herself of
writing to the French Minister. Vergennes, be-
seeching his interference, as friend of Washing
ton, with that commander Her affecting letter
being read by Vergennes to the King and Queen
Of France they commissioned the Minister to add
their desires to his own, 'that the inquietude Of
unfortunate mother might be Gained and her
tenderness reassured" These letters being in the
nature of official intercession of friendly
Government. Washington was prompt to lay be-
fore Congress; and the result order from
that body to set Capt. Asgill at liberty.
That Washington would have hanged young
Asgill but for the powerful and imposing nterces-
sion, and despite of appeals to his sympa-
thies, where his Of duty had been nterested
does not admit Of reasonable doubt. If his
action in this instance, all his actions were, the
dictate Of jud gment at once severe and humane,
and not unworthy an example, what policy other
than that of retaliation, such as his, we re.
commend in circumstances much stronger than
those in which he exercised it, It should be con-
sldered that the present circumstances in which
We recommend retaliation are those of fagrant
war; of acts of barbarity committed directly by
the public enemy HIMSELF and of outrages which,
in themselves. can have no color of retributive
justice, from anything we have done, TO give
cause or occasion for them.-Rich. Examiner.
The "Enthuaasn' Of Ne,c York.-The New
York correspondent Of the Philadelphia Evening
Bulletin says:
am not sure that army of Confederates In
vading New York would not find good amount
of their own eolors waiting for them. I am not
sure that the excellent and fashionable ladies' of
Fifth and other avenues not almost as ready
TO futter their cambria for Beauregard as for Nc
Clelan There is dreadful state of sentiment
here. OF this there is no doubt It is probably
the strict truth that Ne. York should be under
martial Law to-day