Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-07-15
re Character Of the War.

lie Toequevihe, in hisbeok America predicted thai
,h var ever broke o1t ia this country il would be
tended with atrocities unknown since the Christian
Tie Yankee powers indicating the agacity Of the
frenehman Though less than months have elapsed
since the beginning Of hOstiites every crime known to
the calendar OF infany has been perpeated BY the n
Vsdins armies. Theft devastation srsor rape and
der have been committed wherever the Yankees have
advanced upon the so of Virginia It Is true the CON-
handing Generals have prOfessed strong indignation
against thsse dgrAeeful outrsges and threatened terri
DE punishment to thcse who perpetrssd them But We
have never heard that they executed their threats In
soma Instances the proof Is conclusive that officers
high a. cOlODes participated in the spOis if they did
not commit the roS6eries themselves.
We nov hear from no less authority than Secretary
nAse hat 1t Is to be Of plumber and eouHsca,ion
as sspOrs to the Runp Congress, We fad the fol-
loving PAssass
II win not, perhsps Be thought out Of place il the
Secretary suggests here that SSoperty Of those en-
RACED ia ins1rreet0n, or in giving aid aa comfort the
insurgents may properly be made 70 contrib1s TO tie
sIpenditnres made necessary by their criminal conduct
As part Of the punishment due to the guilt Of involving
the nation in the eAlsniles Of civil war and thereby
bringing distress upon many innocent citizens Con-
zress may jusyprovide for the forfeiture Of the whole
or part OF tho estates Of offenders and for the pay
taent Of its proceeds into the public treasury.
The New Ysk TIass thus seconds the recommends
tons Of the Secretary:
We hope Ongress will not hesitate to pass suitable
laws at once sloodying the principles herein embraced.
IL viii strsngten the loans proposed by the Government
70 hayen asred that they will rest UPON the pledged
wealth Of ID, entire Union-of thrsyfour States and
thirty mllios Of people. And il will greatly cheer the
loy States md their citizens know, by the enacted
lyss and receives Of the American Congress- that the
an ~ fNh hal hyf h.
Government 10 suppress treason and will be drawn
ultimately every dollar OF IT, from the property and in
dlsy Of those whose wicked have made the expen-
dture necessary.
No doubtit would "grsGsly cheer the loyal Sa,ss" to
know that he South would pay their debts and We sus
pect the cute Yankee Is not far Of the mark in suppos-
ing that the Government loans would be much strength
sned by resting the pledged wealth Of the s1lir.
Union. II Is very Questionable, whether those loaos
resting on Yankee wealth alone will have any sreogth
.. all Yankee wealth Gciion-it consists of stocks
that pay dividends, idle spindes ard rotting ships
None Of the capitalists Of Europe would adventure dosr
such security This promise Of reimbursement BY the
conHseAtiOn Of Southern property is designed
twOend 10 dupe foreign capitalists and the other to
reconcile the Yankees to the awful burdens which the
Governhsnt "a imposing upon them. We have no
faith in the success Of the 6rss and feel profound ndif
tsssnSej in respect to the last.
Bat the recommendation Of the Secretary is impor.an,
a. indicating the spirit and proportions Of this II i
var to be Waged on barbarcu5 principles and in tOta
dsregard Of the uSagss among civilized nations We
haze not doubted is character and gAi this
authoritative testimony in regard TO il; Our people can
longer doubts the Struggle for liberty homes honor
and lives We must meet the issue ike men, ready t.
hazard every thing for victory We wage the var
In the spirit in which it is waged agains. Us Eye
for eye limb for limb invasion for iASasiO-; devastation
for devastation. Offensive often the most
effective for defence That Is the case at present We
must make the invaders feel the herrOrs of war which
tAsy seeking TO visit upon An army of 50 600
In Philadelphia or New York viii be the sPsediess and
most effective mode Of teaching them The Of inyA.
don and the morality OF confscation