Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-14
rho Character " a en- lincoln is giving
70 the War

I The rumors and the news from the North poins
70 course Of policy on the part OF Llneoln Wnien
If really carried out viii place the ban Of outaEry
upon hIs Gosernmeatin al the courts OF the civil
1 led world. ----..----,-,--,-.-
/ Prisoners Of war, tskea upon regularly com
mssioned privEteer Of the Confederate states, are
DOW trial for their life in New York, If Indeed,
| they have not already been condemned to be hung.
priyateer's commission Is recognised BY Civilized
| nations, sanctioned By the usages Of war; and
| by more has the right 70 issue such commissions
been more sturdily asserted and more freely exer-
| eised than by the people and Government Of the
/ late United States including both the communities
| now at war. q right which on 10th sides Of the
/ Potomac has always been thus clalmed-a right
| which England though alvey jealnrs Of it, has
| always conceded, and now admits cannot with
anV color of reason justice be denied by either
| party TO the present hostihIies
| The pretension Of the Northern Government can
rest on no higher ground than that the people Of
the Southern Confederscy traitors and as such
liable TO be hung There is nothing which confines
this pretension to the sea There is no didsreece
between Magruder fighting at Bethel with clJlo-
nels commission in his pocket, and Baker fighting
on the highsea under priEateer's eommisaiLn-
for the two commissions are equally lawful
We are sure we run no risk IN assuming that the
Administration of the Confederate States will not
Tor an instant tolerate such brutal doctrines aud
purposes the part Of the eonsoidaie government
The brave men who rally under our flag, whether
by land or by shall be secure n all the humani
esthat belong 70 the contingency OF capture
Confederate soldier snail De ReiQ the eQ ual OF any
soldier earth-entitled 70 every right and every
privilC z that attends the casualties OF war. Let
the cons Ddate government IccOrd him less at their
peril, Let one brave man. battling at the command
and In vindicatiOn Of the rights and honor Of the
government of his choice, be treated with barbarty
by the consolidate government, and swift Fetr1aOT
will teach Lincoln q lesson that Conscience and
humanity should have impressed upon him and his
Cabinet Lincoln and Seward, aRd Chase, and
Blair, and Cameron will fad IL II their hears. no
70 ha1 no men U E0s
long, and against whom they are WagIng war But
though they find il their hears, they cannot find
il the books. They have no right, human or divine,
70 treat our prisoners otherwise than with humani
ty Their preEention that we traitors may sound
very well on their side Of tho Potomac, and the
word may serve TO spice the pulpit profanity Of
Henry Ward BeeChoF. and the low bilingsgzte Of
Horace Greeley. But they may as well understand
that here It passes simply as the Idle ebultiOn Of
impotent rage. Let tbSD aet Upon L II they dare.
Lea them unlswfIly, and contrary 20 the ussges Of
civilized nations harm bU: hair on the head of
single Confederate soldier and they viii DC made
70 understand that the people and Government Of
the C0ufedsTats States understand their rights too
well and respect themselves too much TO submit
either to injury cOutumely. As for Our Presi~
dcut, Jefferson Davis his record has been written
IN vain, AMI we have studied his characters to no
purpose. and if v0 had doubt as 20 his course.
He will allow no man VhO tights under his orders
TO be treated if he were less than man or less
than the equal Of any other nan.
matter where sptured are thrown into dungeons
az criminals and put into docks answer for theIr
lives is itself a wrong and indignity worthy Of
luke and retaliation Il Is no. 10 De expected that
prisoners taken By Us. shall be allowed to walk the
streets on parole, dwell in their own hired cham
beFs, while Confederate heroes are chained in cells
10 be tried under criminal Indictment By packed
iVries. Oar soldiers in captivity must &c treated
properly, or theirs must share whatever OF i1dig-
nifty or dzngeris visited upcr ours. The world Will
ldiudge the Northern Government responsible for
The sufferings Of all. The original outrage and the
retrIbutIon viii both be Chargzabis
to Lincoln, so thst his soldiers viii unite with
1urs and with the world, in pouring maledietions
upon his name
We see, too, that the consolidate Senate Is already
aking steps for the eOnfscadon Of the property Of
Southern citizens in arms. II We have to deal with
robbers ss well as sRTages, our Government will
prove itself equal to the uugracious task With
what measure they mete, it shall be measured 70
hem again: and 1t is to be hoped that retributiOn
lr the dres5 Of il, will supply the place OF con-
science and reason, and humanity, and the precepts
Of christianity and civilization and thus secure some
iecency Of outward demesnoF, If It cannot infnse
rirtuoUs sentiments Richmond Eagtirsr