Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-07
rhs spIrit 81 enc ranaal..

The spirit of the Abolition horde, which contro
the action of LINCOLN and his Cabinet, is manifesto
in ten Thousand acts Of malignancy and folly, b.
we have seen nothing more characteristic Of tbs
satantic print than the following from the Ne'
York Times, Of the 3lst nit:
WHAT SHALL DE DONE WITH PRISONERS AND "cosTRA
BAND OF WAR;"
We have been so unused to war in this countr,
that It is with the greatest difficulty we can addres
ourselves to it in earnest. We forget the more Wig
orous, the more humane the blow Inc momen
we touch the soil of 3 seeding state, We sn0ulS
make clean work. Every rebel should DC IAAe1
prisoner and instantly marched out OF ihe oe.te
the idea of letting him off patrol OF honoI IS
delusion which we should no longer practice upor
ourselves.
There is no honor in rebel. Where was the
honor Of JEFF, Davis, Floyd and Thompson, and the
whole tribe of conspirators in Congress and tnf
army and navy, who were plotting to overtime y
the Constitution they had sworn to support IL
treat such persons leniently only adds to their ma
lightly II is the nature of such men. If we lei
them off we shall on the morrow, be always doing
the work of the day before, and the war will never
be ended. The moment rebel ia captured, partic
ulary If IN arms, he should be instantly packed of
TO the interior of Massachusetts,, or New York, or
Ohio where extensive barracks should be imme-
diateIv erected for his accommodation.
We should clear the soil as we go, leaving no enc
nv among us or in our rear, to take advantage of
the least reverse. The moment this course is taken,
traitors would be very sca even upon the soil of
Virginia. We should hope to make pretty good
haul, for we could perform no more useful service
than to take 10000 Virginians and give them six
months schooling in the interior of Massachusetts,.
They would see things that they never dreamed OF,
and home when the time came for their discharge
wiser men, and fitted to introduce in their own
State the Industries and habits which have made in
Maoc oah tie 0oV.fla Osrf of
want of which Virginia, though garden by nature,
is still desert, far as art and industry are con-
cerned.
We shall also soon need similar provision for Gen.
Buffers "cOntraband of war" negroes. We shall
soon have large number of these on our hands. We
cannot at present return them 10 their owners If
we would; unless they are well known Union men.
Their owners may have, in their haste, left them
behind. They may belong to parties in arms against
us, We are not prepared to say what disposition
shall be eventually made of them. This may depend
upon future events Till these occur, the negroes
must be provided for at some safe place. This duty
is one of the sequences which necessarily grows
out of the peculiar contest in which we are en-
gagged.
The question of the disposition to be made CT the
negroes falling into hands, is the most difficult
one that is to arise. General Buffers construction
of the law in reference to articles contraband of
war, was happy fancy, and is very well when ap-
piled to fifty or hundred persons but when the
number swels, as it is very likely to do to 10000,
10000 or $4,000, such mass of ''contrabandF can
hardly be put to a valuable use upon fortifcstons
But they must be safely taken care of, notwith-
standing, and the we set about the better.
We particularly desire to impress upon govern
ment the necessity of the course recommended In
reference to prisoners of war. They should be
treated as SUCH So far we have plugged, not enacted
war. Our part in the drama has been to how
little harm we could nhict. This speaks well for
our humanity, but not for eur good sense. Let US
be more logical for the future, and treat those
meet in the seeding States they are-either enc
mies or friends. Ten thousand men captured in
Virginia and sent out of the State would at once
end the We should leave 70 element of strength
Dr. power unexerted, if we desire speedy settle
ment of our difficulties with the smallest possible
" aste Of blood and treasure
Says this blood>thirsty journal 1.-THE moment
we touch the soil Of seeding State we shall make
slean work" Yes, either murder all the white in
or send them as slaves to work in the
actories North-take the negroes "contraband of
war;" and keep them for futue disposition. This is
he programme laid down for gallant Virginians.
Think of capturing 10000 Virginians and sending
hem to learn industrious habits under Northern
masters. Wonder what the Virginians will say to |
IL Wouldn't such feat immortalize Plcayune |
Butler? Wonder when the programme will be |
arried out