New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-12-11
THE COMMENSURATE COMMISSIONERS.
The following appeared in a late number of the

II THE DoNEeEDfRATEf COMMISSIONERS.
\ The following appeared in q late number of the
J New York Herald fai7@ 1T VIVA &g n
Il Il is now determined by I'll the powers that bel:
TO order that Mason and Slide the chief Of traitors
pc closely confined at Fort Warren, upon fare
served only TO criminals guilty of the highest
offences against law, until Il Is known, from tie
most reliable source that Col. Corcoran and other
otheers, taken prisoners upon different fields In
honorable battle, are treated with respect due to
a Iher position according to the asages of war
the world over. Besides it is tile intention of Tie
N Government to hang all persons taken upon the
high seas In tie act Of violating the Law Of nations
4 against piracy, whether such persons belong to
Massa ohnsstts Or South Carolina, to England or
| the Sandwich Islands and no threat .of any kind
coming from those who are in rebellion against the
legitimate government will deter the Federal arl
thorties from executing this policy to the fullest
4 extent 4, ~ consequence of such action, the
loyal citizens Of the United States who are now
prisoners Of war in Southern dungeons receive
other treatment than that to which tie practice Of
civzation entities them, the matter of disposiTg
Of Confederate prisoners now in the custody Of the
Germ. II ta MI, 4 = q '7Ts7
The above was written and published before
Lincoln's Congress assembled. Since assembling,
resolutions have been introduced in the House Of
heprese ives requesting the Presidential Gorilla
70 eonfine Messrs. Sidell and Mason in criminal
dungeons, to visit upon them all the priyations due
those guilty Of the most infamous crimes, and,
to hold them as hostages for the safety Of
certain Northern officers captured in, regular
battle It is clear, therefore, that the Herald
s"spoke by authority" 9s iaa5
The idea Of treating civilians and ambassadors 4
- this manner. surpasses If possible, all former
meannesses and villainies Of the Gorilla admins.
tration, and must bring upon 1t the undisguised
contempt and loathing of every civilized nation
on earth. But, Government that sanctions brutal
ontEages upon women, that wars upon children,
that sets at defiance every rule of civilization that
arrests without cause and eonVcts without trial that
repudiates all the usages of Christian countries.
and that openly strives to bring upon the women
and children Of the South the Imaginable and al,
ginable horrors Of ssrvile insurreetions--
not sink low ian III has already sunk There ia
no lower deep fol- the Lincoln Administration.
has reached the lowest depths Of corruption and
deprayity, and now presents a spectacle from
which Ghristendom must shrink back appalled,.
Well, we are very sorry for the expressions
likely TO be practiced upon onr distinguished
friends. The whole Southern people sympathize
with them but the policy of the Confederate Gov
eminent cannot be changed. IT Is fxed and m
alterahie; and until the Washington despotsm
agrees to abide by the rules Of Civilized warfare
the principle Of retaliation will be inexorably ad-
hered to.
.Messrs. Mason and sideH are very old men.
Therefore, as a matter of course, they cannot be
expected to withstand the privations which dun
geen life Imposes upon its victims. They are I
physically incapable. They would probably Ian
gpish and die under the deprivations Of close con,
hnement withina very few weeks. Should this
sad result be brought about by the Internal cruelty
q the Lincoln dynasty, we trust President Davis
Will order the immediate execution Of every pris-
ope si Ct warin bis possession, and announce in
formal proclamation, that no prisoners viii be
taken hereafter. He will be fully justified before
HE nationalties Of the earth liz 80 doing.