New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-12-14
RuRNINs OF CHARLESTON.

aAy :
The Northern invaders, despairing of conquer
ing US by the ordinary modes Of warfare, have
/ resorted to something's Of which savages should be
| ashamed. We have no doubt that Charleston was
| set on fire By Yankee enissaries or sympathisers.
So destructive conf7agration could not have hap
pened accidentally, or been started by one man.
The circumstances warrant the truth of the tele.
| graphic srepors that the city was fired in three
places at one time. Perhaps, after the burning
began. the torch was applied, in the confusion and
excitement Of the moment when detection was
improbable, in half dozen or a dozen places.
Il win not do to say that there were no enemies
in Charleston They are in every Southern city
some Of them here in New Orleans. It is use.
less to minee matters, or try to deceive ourselves
about this thing. The truth should be known, go
that every precaution may be taken.
Several of the New York papers had cores
poHdeDts in Charleston when Beauregard was get
ting ready to lombard Fort Sumter, and oil the
efforts to discover them were fruitless. If there
IS anything specially distinguishing the Puritan
race from MI others, it is low cunning, consum
mats hypocrisy, and the Accomplishment of an
end by indirect and stealthy means Even were
there no traitors in Charleston, yelling their pur.
poses and sentiments under professions Of extreme
devotion to the Southern cause, it il easy mat
ter enough for people so cunning and nnscrupu-
lous to introduce incendiaries into the city from
the naval rendezvous at Port Royal.
e And In one or the other Of these ways, an act
has been committed before which civilization will
hide its head in shame. A city distinguished for
the high tome cultivation, social and moral excel
lenoe, and refinement of its people, has been partly
laid waste by the midnight torch of the most
degraded and villainous race Of people that the
Almighty, in His wisdom, ever permitted to inhabit
the earth
Such things as these, which may be repeated at
any time in other portions of the South, admonish
US that we must change the character of this war.
We are not fighting race of gentlemen--we are
not fighting civilized people. We are fighting the
meanest, the most vndictiye, the most internal and
diabolical set Of scoundrels that ever disgraced
humanity. We place ourselves at disadvantage
BY observing the rules Of war, in dealing with such
people. Magnanimity is thrown away upon them
an observance Of the proprieties of civilization is
labor lost. ALLOW in the back from midnight
assassin is chivalric exploit in comparison with
what these people have done, and will do when
eger they have a chance.
We hope the lesson will not be lost upon the au
thorities of this city. Perhaps the enemy had
special spite against Charleston as being the chief
city Of the State which naugnrated the rebellion
and, too cowardiy to attempt its destruction by
arms, have resorted to arson. But they have no
love for any Of as Let us guard especially against
their insidious plans and designs; and let US act
on the principle which ws ought to have acted on
from the first, that such an enemy is entitled to
none Of the rights, privileges, and immunities of
civilized warfare. 5a5s5s.y . .e.