Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-07-24
IFOETDAS POLK
Major General P. \. c. S, commanding.
From the Richmond Enquirer. !

\ WAR OF RAPINE AND OF SAVAGE BAR
BARlTY.
In the report Of Secretary Chase made to the
present session of the Consolidate Congress- is found
the following paragraph:
1t will not, perhaps, be thought out Of place if the
Secretary suggests here that the property Of those
engaged in the inSurrectiOn, giving aid and conf
fort to the insurgents, may properly be made to con-
tribute to the expenditures made necessary by their
criminal misconduct. As part of the punishment
due to the guilt of involving the nation in the
lamtics Of civil war, and thereby bringing distress
upon so many innocent citizens Congress may just
ly provide for the forfeiture of the whole part of
the estates of Offenders and for the payment Of its
proceeds into The public treasury.
Those whose property it is thus proposed to con-
fScate embrace all Southern men who are true to
their Government. No one is exempt unless he be
a traitor, or tory. Those "ehgdgei in ihsurrCc-
ton are brave officers and soldiers, who arc
perIng their lives in camp and field for the ill.,
critics of their country. Their property is to bc
contiscated, and employed to pay the wages and to
feed and clothe and supply with munitions of war,
the armed bands that are hired TO invade us. Not
only theirs, but the propeit Of all who give them
said and comfort is likewise to be seized upon
and appropriated to the uses of our enemies Under
this last head is embraced every loyal citizen no
matter what his immediate employment Every
lady who makes uniform or hayelock, or sends
loaf of bread or draught of cordial to a soldier
comes under the condemnation. Nay, the friendly
waving of n handkerchief the uttcring of a kind
wish, even the giving a cup of cold water is to
be punished by robbery, under the name of confs-
cation, and it has already been taught TO Rev. Mr.
Leftwch, of Alexandria, that an invocation of the
favor OF heaven is by no means to be allowed.
The mother, wife, or sister, or friend who dares
to carry the of the absent the closet of
prayer, and ask God to decide between the wrong
doer and the wrong sufferer, is to be robbed for
giving aid and comfort to the insurgents" In short
no one can escape the net of Secretary Chase save
the exceptional cases of Garlic and Andrew John
son, and tories and traitors such as they. The
Southern people in mass to be outlawed and
handed over to pillage and robbery.
Will any one be good enough to explain what
room there is in such condition of things for mod
Grafton in plans and efforts at resistance? Why
should we order soldiers to retreat in tender
ness to the property of people, lest in conflict it
might destroyed? Is it not more than DESTROYED
when the enemy takes it. as Chase advises and
turns it against US? Who wants to see his house
spared that it may shelter his foe? Who wants his
farm or his store saved that the enemy may piage
1t? No! If such policy as Chase advises be adopt
ed, better lar that we should meet it after the Rus
sian method Let US surrender nothing Let us
make every consideration subordinate to the work
OF defence If ever we must recede let it be inch
by inch, and by battle after battle and far better
to destroy by fire and explosion what we cannot de-
1enu or remove than leave 1t to nOuriSh the enemy
or reward his mercenaries. Look at Martinsburg
into which the enemy have but recently entered /!
Read the accounts, even in their own Journals, of
the pilage and rapine and violence with which they
have abused our retreat their conquest whichever
be the proper description. Does this not disprove
the tenderness of retreat? Is not such tenderness
only apparently Is it not real crueltyP Do we
want the fertile fields and elegant mansions and
cheerful homes of our beautiful valley, or humble
| abodes of the most humble neighborhood in our
States, saved from the pers that attend defence on
ly to minister to the comfort of the invader? Shall
they be spared only to serve him? Neverl
No! Lincoln is forcing US upon our policy, wheth-