Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-07-10
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The Captured srivat eTs.
The New Yotk HsTaid Informs thai indictments
have been found in the F<desa Court Of that State
against the Of the Savannah for piracy and treason
The savannah captured While cruising as privateer
under the authority of the Confederate States What
ever may be the aSiuuess morality Of the unnatural
cooHet nauguraed against the Sou hern States by the
Government at Washington that conflict crisis and the
parties beyond all doibi, belgsrenss Dc Jaeo Az
sch II il presumed that the usages Of civilized nations
are to be observed By themselves well BY neutras
The cre- of the Savannah therefore be regarded
prisoners Of var and can only at most be subjected to
iuprisopmens un,il regularly released exchanged
Ths Idsa of proceeding against them pirates or trait
M. to DO tolerated BY u.s. nor couatenauced BY any
eusrA poser yet there is much reason TO expect that
The Government wslsl has instituted these proceedings
intend 70 carry them ca; ~ summary Judgment and
degrading death The savage proposition Of the TrbsHe
eks past that all prisoners taken in PrvsesFs should
h.h. yed without trial their treatment on arriving 10
Va Yo,s uhsrs they were paraded publicly, through
The ..resss 10 be booted and jsered BY brutal mob,
from whose insults ey relieved oOly BY being con
signed TO the felOu sells Ct the common jail-these
things we say indicate the haOle late OF these prison.
ers and call loudly for prOSos snf sSnAi reIA4'on 10
the event Of their execution.
We do not doubt that The subject has engaged Ss o.
tsntiOn of the President and that his action vi" meet
the demands Of public justice and expedency. There
an instructive precedent in history and striking Parael
10 the circumstances surrounding us 10 the course
Of our o~n great Washington. The profession was set
an or rather the right asserted BY the British officers
an early period of the Revolutionary war; to treat our
captive soldiers IS indicators and CelOns Gen Wash
ing:on lost no time IN repalling it, He addressed let
Ger to Gen Gage on the llh of August 1875, in which
he says:
81 understand that tho eaieers engaged 10 the
Ibery and their country, Who by the fortune q war
shave fallen into your bands, have been thrown inds-
" crininately into a common gaol appropriated for
{" felons."
"Let your opinion, sir of the principle which sesuates
hs be what il may they suppose that they act from
the RobIest of all principles love Of freedom and Of
l." their eoun1ry. But political principles conceive
orega to this point The obligations arising from the
" Shts of humaAy and claims of rank universally
binding and extensive except in Of retaliation
Thee should have hoped would have dictated more
tender treatment of those individuals Whoa chance
war had pa: in your power. Nor can forbeaF sGs-
costing It's fatal tesdsucy widen shat unhappy breach
which you and those Ria.srs under which yoa ac:,
have repeatedly declared your wish to see forever
4" closed.
my duty m,kes IL necessary TO inform yea. that
." for che future shall regulate all my conduct towards
those gentlemen Who are may be- in possession,
szae,y BY re rule you shall Observe towards those Of
/" ours nov in yOas custody"
General Gsge promptly replied
40 the glory" Zoe wves) Of civilized nations, bu
nsnty and war have been compatible aud compassion
{" TO the sabdued is become almOss general systsm-
BritO1s, ever pre-eminent in mercy, have OUTCOME
common examples ant overlooked the criminal in the
captive. Upon those principles, your prisoners whose
"Hves By the Law Of the od are desaod to the cort
have h,h RIO been treated With care and kudness-
"'-' Ny Intelligence - would ls'ify ree'imina,ion
a.. Should those uader shOse usurPod authority Won
"acs - dare to cal sssssiy retaliation, 70 God Who
kuoss all hearts Do the appeal for the dead ii coase
"qaeness."
Ga receiving this letter Gen WASHINGTON resolved 20
adopt the sane mode Of treatment towards the Bstsh
prisoners In DIS possession which prsc,ised Gen
Gage add issaed orders thas effect which, however,
were subsequently recalled or modified
He did not prmit the insOlence, however Of the Brit
isl Roy alst 70 pass unrebuked. Whether
oar virtuOus citizens" he says whom the hand Of
tyranny Las forced into 10 defend their wives
their children and their property the merceDary in
strumens Of lIEless domination, Avarce and revenge,
best deserve the sppsaOn of rebels, and the punish
msat OF that cord which Jour affected elemency has
forbOrns to ibiet whether the authority undsr which
act IA usarpsd founded upon the equine Prirei
pies Of liberty we're altogether foreign 10 the sub
"jscG
"You can best tell bow far the eonvulsion, which
has brought such ruin both countries, and shaken
the mighty empire Of Britain to is foundation, may
be traced to these malignant causes ~ msrePresen
zAtioo Gnd falsehood
"You sisst sir to despiss al rank not derived from
" The same source with your l cannot conceive
one more honorable than that which flows from the
uneOrrup.ed ehoiss OF brIVs and free Peopo the pu
res, and original fountain Of al power Far
from making plea for cruelty, mind Of tsus mag
a. nanimity and enlarged ideas would comprehend and
" respect il
What may have bsen the ministerial views which
shave prseipitAtsd the present ers Lexington, Con
cord and Charleston bes: declare. Nay that God,
10 whom you appeal judge between America and you
"Under His providence those Who influence the counse
of America and all the other inhabitants Of the United
Colonies at the hazard Of their li7es determined
to hand dosn to pOs.enlg thoss just and invaluable
prvilssss which they received from their ancestors"
h,s correspondence the reader will observe occurred
bsfor, the formal declaration Of independence and
behalf II people who the lawful subjects Of Britt
authority Il can scarcely BE- denied that the movement
ATS then stage, was technically rsbsili0n yet even
chen Washington repsed the epilhet ofTebes as applied
to those engaged in H. and demanded under threat OF
the strctest retaliation that they should be treated as
prisoners of war Here example Tor President Da
Wis and a warning for Abraham LiucOln-sn example
and warning 70 which ten-fold weight Is given by the
circumstances attending the present war The people
OF the South are not and subjects OF tie
Uoou and could no. therefore be guilty Of rebellion
Their movement has not been in the nature Of an IN,
organized popular eommOton and resistance. as wa
she character of the Amercan revolution 10 the begr
nng-but has been the formal action Of lawful au:hoi
ties and constituted governments. And numbers
sti,u,e an element Of discrimination between rebellion
add revolution those engaged in the present Mt
ont number those engaged in the revolution three
one The action Of Washington, therefore, eouueOds
itself example 10 authorities by fOrteri
sderlons Of the potent and conclusive character.
His very lAngusgs, molly defending bis eomPatrots
from the aspsrsons Of the enemy, Is scQaeny sppro-
prias 10 the patriots Of the South forced take up
arm, in 6aence Of all tina. Is dear to them. With the
light Of 80 Srand example before US Is would be i'm
possible e hesitate duty should the prisoners
ur.A. s,,.no.h ha dali - IN AZ pirates