The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1861-08-23
VIVA, is to be one with the Pirates,

What is to be done with the Pirates!
The Washington Correspondent OF
the Philadelphia Inquirer says:-This
question is now seriously discussed in
the Cabinet, without any definite answer
beieg arrived at. It is supposed that in
the next four weeks our newly sent out
feet will have captured at least four hun
dred Southern sailors, who, according to
the doctrine enunciated by the Executive
must be regarded as pirates, and execu
ted as such. But you are aware that
the subject is full of difficulty. At the
time Gen. Mcclellan took SO many priso-
ners with Col, Pegram, wrote to you
that the War Department had sent or
course, he obeyed, stated at the same
time that the Administration had decided
not to hang any of the sailors taken on
board OF Southern privateers. This was
true at the time. The decision was
made, not from any feeling of clemency
toward the captured sailors, but from mo-
tives of policy. No instance of hanging
has yet taken place on either side; and
the Administration felt unwilling to begin
course Of policy which might he follow
ed on the other side.
The result Of the Inauguration of sucl
a policy would be the indiscnmnate mur,
der Of hundreds of pris ners in the hand,
of the rebels. including many valuable
citizens, and the enactment OF scenes O
horror unequaled by those Of the Frencl
Revolution. Tie Administration, there
fore, decided, as have said, not to han.
any of the pirates. But within day o
two the question has been again raised il
the Cabinet. At least one member Q
chat body is in favor, as be expressed it
of "di>carding all squeami>h nonsense,
and Of hanging every rebel found j
arms against the Government, whethe
taken on the sea or land, This is un
doubtedly the course that ought to b
taken. if the Government regards thi
matter simply as an ''insurrection.
This is the view taken Of it by Presider
Lincoln, and he. too, although he depiort
, the necessity Of such dreadful meas ure
is in favor of such course as will sho
to the world that we are in earnest
this matter, and that traitors found
arms against the Government mnst e.
pect and receive traitors doom. B,
the Secretary OF Stat is in favor of milt
err, and as be thinks, wiser course
policy. He admits that. by the stri
relies OF law, the Southern privateersme
are pirates, and to hang them might
justiliable, but, he says, necessity h
led US to disregard former constitution
provisions. since the commencement
:, this strife. In tiIis instance, the ssr
necessity wonld seem to dictate relax
ton of the strict rule of law. FIVE hal
these men, the Rebels will hang Mr. El
Isl Col. Corcoran, and Col Wilcox: a
ir then We, in retaliation, will hang h
IS Faulkner and the prisoners at Fort /
st fayette. Thus there will be no end
horrors. 70 avoid this, Mr. Seward
vors more lenient course than he Wot
recommend under ordinary circumstant
His opinion has great weight with
- President; but the matter is by no mea
: yet decided The other members Of [
Cabinet are divided in sentiment on
= subject. Mr.. Wslles sides with \
- Seward, and the Secretary of War bo
/, about the same views, only he objects
49, any further release of prisoners, as in
case Of Col. Pegram's men. Mr.. Ba
and Mr.. Blair both go for extreme me
ures, regardless OF consequences, and
no Smith also entertains the same views
!