Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-07-24
Major General P. A. C. S., commanding
From the Richmond Enquirer
A WAR OF RAPINE AND OF SAVAGE BAR.
RARITY


A WAR OF RAPINE AND OF SAVAGE BAR
BARITY
In the report of Secretary Chase. made to the
present session Of the Consolidate Congress- found
the following paragraph:
1t will not perhaps be thought out of place if the
Secretary suggests here that the property of those
engaged in the Instruction, giving aid and COM
fort to the insurgents may properly be made to con-
tribute to the expenditures made necessary by their
criminal misconduct. As part of the punishment
due to the guilt of involving the nation in the Ca
amities Of civil war, and thereby bringing distress
upon so many innocent citizens, Congress may just
provide for the forfeiture of the whole part of
the estates of offenders and for the payment of its
proceeds into the public treasury.
Those whose property it is thus proposed to con-
fscate, embrace all Southern men who are true to
their Government. No one is exempt unless he be
traitor, or a tory. Those "engaged in insurrec-
ton are our brave officers and soldiers, who are
perilng their lives in camp and in field for the lib
critics Of their country. Their property is to be
confiscated, and employed to pay the wages and to
feed and clothe and supply with munitions Of war,
the armed bands that are hired to invade US. Not
only theirs but the property of all who give them
"aid and comfort is likewise to be seized upon
and appropriated to the uses of our enemies Under
this last head is embraced every loyal citizen no
matter what his immediate employment Every
lady who makes uniform or bavelock, or sends
loaf Of bread or draught Of cordial to soldier,
comes under the condemnation. Nay, the friendly
waving of handkerchief or the uttering of kind
WISH or even the giving cf cup of cold water is to
be punished by robbery, under the name of confs-
cation, and it has already been taught to Rev. Mr.
Leftwich, of Alexandria, that an invocation of the
favor OF heaven is by no means to be allowed.
The mother wife, or sister, or friend who dares
to carry the case of the absent ones to the closet of
prayer, and ask God to decide between the wrong
doer and the wrong sufferer, is to be robbed for
giving aid and comfort to the insurgents" In short
no one can escape the net of Secretary Chase save
the exceptional cases Of Carlile and Andrew John
son, and tories and traitors such as they. The
southern people In mass are to be outlawed and
handed over to pillage and robbery.
Will any one be good enough to explain what
room there is in such condition of things for mod.
Grafton in our plans and efforts at resistance? Why
should we order our soldiers to retreat in tender
ness to the property of our people, lest in conflict it
might destroyed! Is it not more than DESTROYED
when the enemy takes it as Chase advises, and
turns it against usP Who wants to see his house
spared that it may shelter his foef Who wants his
farm or his store saved that the enemy may pillage
it? Mol Ifsuch policy as Chase advises be adopt.
ed better far that we should meet it after the Rus
sian method Let US surrender nothing. Let US
make every consideration subordinate to tl1kwork
lof defence II eyerlwe must recede, let It be inch
by inch and by battle after battle; and far better
to destroy by fire and explosion what we cannot de-
fend or remove than leave it to nourish the enemy
or reward his mercenaries. Look at Martinsburg,
into which the enemy have but recently entered
Read the accounts even in their own journals Of
the plage and rapine and violence with which they
have abused retreat their conquest whichever
be the proper description. Does this not tiisprove
hn IF rotr 1s IL
only apparents Is it not real cruelty? Do W.
want the fertile fields and elegant mansions and
cheerful homes Of our beautiful valley, or humble
abodes Of the most humble neighborhood in GU,
States saved from the perils that attend defence on
" to minister to the comfort Of the invaderi Shall
they be spared only to serve hims Nsyerie (
MOL Lincoln is forcing US upon our policy, wheth