New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-01
PEasecUT,s..s a. vws. sOUTm.

This war is O i,, ol &. r-7g of tie r,he''.
q war Of craelty. A. sea, il sni be colo, .o''
BY pirates rll IL .an6, wben .tc opportunity
offers, by II, q, -.us mobs. The experiment of
an attack upol troops, however, like that at
Baltimore, il nct likely to be repeated, not from
the want, indeed, of viii or their part, but be-
cause the chance is not likely to be offered them
on ours. But the persecution of peaceful people
in their quiet homes is becoming marked fea
ture Of the violence and cruelty which will, more
most stringent despOtism is exercised O'er all
aud more, characterize the rebellion. Al
ready, throughout the rebellious States, the
persons in favor sf the Union, and not these
Obiy, but those VINO are not in favor Of Seces-
sion. The number Who have been already BAN
ished it is impossible to tell, as they fly uncount-
ed through all parts of thu country; but from
the few whom, by chance, we happen TO fall in
with ia this city, we know that Inc persecution
is general and the fight universal. AS in the
days Of the old french Revolution, il is enough
that man bc suspected to bring upon him tho
elmity OF the Secession mob, and the test of an
oath TO the rebclious State is q! aLce offered.
Nor is an oath enough; the suspected pe'fon
must enroll ut once 10 serve in the army or in
the homeguard, to protect the cog1try from 'be
Northern enemy, and the eneny sosn still myfc
dreaded on their own plantations and at their
own Gresidcs. But this is only ia the Bordo.
States. Further South, the man on whom .asp-
cion points had better iy Tor bis life before
worse comes Of it.
We have seen in this City, within three days,
whole finilies-rien, women, and children-who
have thus been compelled 20 escape from Nir-
einia, and were glad to escape with their lives.
They have left farms and houses. implements and
furniture, horses, cattle and produce, as spolls to
the mob. Sometimes they have been permitted
the use Of their own teams to reach the nearest
halfway stations; but once there, they have left
horses aud carriages standing at the roadside for
tic use of whomsoeyer chose to take possession, and
have got into the first train, stripped Of all their
worldly wealth, except the clothes they stood in.
Only two weeks ago, we had IRON the lips of the
head OF family an account Of their es8pe,
At f. O'Clock at night, he received noticAtGsS
they must leave within twelve hours, ~
less lie took the oath Of allegiance
to Virginia, an missed IN q local
company. He swore .aa. .a.e hiu. God'
he would never raise Ills hanu age 1t 40 flag
under which he and his had always found pro.
lection. In the morning, they effected their es-
cape, leaving even the brealiasttablc as they
rose from it. This MAJ las let behind bin not
less than $4,000 worth Of property, Of which
now, no doubt, his rebel nrighbors arc in the
full enjoyment. These are examples merely Of
numerous instances. The persecution which has
already been brought agains. hundreds and per-
haps thousands OF persons, compelling them
to fly for their lives, has brought upon that class
which is reluctant to engage in rebellion al the
horrors of the most rclentless war.
We have no doubt that the sufferings Of all
these persons viii be in due time considered BY
Government. But that is not enough. In the
mean time they are exposed TO loss and suffering
for which there can be, in the nature of the
ease, no compensation. The fright. the exposure.
the sorrow of women and children driven from
home, the temporary poverty. the necessity Of
beginning life anew-all these things are wrongs
for which there can b. ~ pccuniary compcnsa-
ton. 1t may be that there is no remedy, ior a
mob is es unreasoniDg as an angry beast; but
there may be, at least, some attempt to check
this persecution. The Government should make
il known that the coniscaton of the property OF
all rebels will be enforced in all rebclous
States, and that all who have suffered from their
prosecutions shall be compensated out Of the coz
iiscaicd property.