The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-22
The Presidents Message.

The Message of President DAVIS has the
rare merit Of sseyity. The period has been
SO recent since the adjournment of Congress,
that little was TO be brought before the atten-
ton Of that body which had act been urged
in the previous Message. Accordingly, the
President has confned himself chiefly to a
cutting rebuke of some of the positions taken
by LINCOLN in that functionarys late Message
20 the Northern Congress.
The Message is admirably written, and is
most just and severe in its illusions to the
course Of conduct pursued by the North in
the war they are waging on Us. We are glad
To- see the position taken by the PRESIDENT in
respect to the policy Of retaliation. There ID
but one cure for the barbarities which tho
North are systematically prseticing upon
Southern citizens and property happening to
fall into their power In this war and the
country will unanimously sustain the Presi-
..ent in his determination to meet their outrages
by measures as severe if they are less coarse
and brutal. An eye for an eye, and a tooth
tor a tooth, is the true text for cur policy to-
wards such all enemy as we have to deal with
In this contest.
There is large class ct barbartios which
the South cannot expect to avcsge ia kind
Their ruthless war upon women and noG~com-
batants cannot be initiated even in retaliation.
Their Infamous petty practices Of pig stealing
and hen -roost robhiug cannot be arrested for
Il is repuisive to the instincts Of Southern
soldier to meet petty theft by petty injuries as
low and vile. QtAss modes Of severity, less
outrageous aud less vile, however, can be
adopted, and We trust that sterd end complete
satisfaction will be exactsi through the pF;son.
ors that fall into our hands. The enemy has
had his last Rich Mountain success. lie will
enjoy no more fortune of that sort. We s;aall
capture from him many prisoners; and We
ph all have il in our power to punish with in
sxorable yisar VIVA tower enormitiss he may be
guilty Of in the future.
We admire the frmncss Of tons With which
presidsn, DAVIS has given LINCOLN to unAsf-
stand MS intentions in this regard. The occa-
sion of tho condemnation Of our priyatoers in
New York was admirably chosen for sending
this admonition. If the cowardly Yankees
shall dare to intiict judicial murder aud igno-
miny upon those brave men, we shall meet the
act by consigning an equal Number Of prison
ers to the exact fate which may be visited upon
those men. The conduct Of WASHINGTON in
tho matter Of tho distinguished spy ANRREs did
more to teach Great Britain proper respect
for the laws OF war in the Revolution than ell
the ienisncy which he had magnanimousiy
used towards them in the whole course OF The
mar.
We SHOULD make our examples equally con,
spie aous and notable, and we Should execute
our measures OF yigor with the same calm re-.
solve aud dignity rs that which marked the
conduct Ut WAsniscroS in that affair, In
which We iaay suppose bis manly heart was
wrahs, ~ Violently as his deiermina alton to ex-
vet needsal measure Of public justice Was re-
lsnties.
10 all ages and among the most enlightened
essuists the Ter talionis has been held lsgiti-
lnste measure Vi warfare, and etien nseos-
sary ins.ruEenta!ity Of public justice. If
there ever was war 10 which it VAS more
than auothsr jisti6Able in the circumstances
provoking ssesrt 10 il, ~ ssors necessary a.
. nssas " seif.protsctiea against the most
shoeAinG and wantoD taIbari,iss, 1t IL this war
IL To T1Ak1ss spon tho soath. We trust
fhas csssfsss viii confer the largest authority |
upon the Prssidsus IN the premises.