Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-03-16
The uses Of Martial Law.

From the New Orleans P~icsyuuel
The bal barities which have marked the Fede
raj administration of martial law over such cities
and provinces as have been overTuu by them,
have created in msny minds an indetnahle dread
of its being declared by our own authorities.
But there is a wide difference be Ween the rule OF
martial law by a foreign enemy, who employs it
to repress and smother the manhood Of a people.
and that established by the home government to
jnvirorate and systematic the detenses Of our
hresides and families.
The Lincoln satraps resort to martial law to
stihe the aspirations of the brave, or oniics the
submission Of the vensl. In Baltimore its de-
vices are the bsstile and the bayonet, in Nash
vile cheap coffee and calico but in either case
the design is the same-the subjugation and
abasement OF the people. 1t is butchery here,
bribery there and, judging from the e~xultant
tone Of such Of their journals as find access to
the South, one would be led to believe that gin
ger poD and Yankee notions have proved more
/ ehcacious jemoralsers than grape og canister.
We are persuaded that the army caterers OF
the northern press have bssely slaudeTed the
southern people within sirlines; but whether so
or not. they teach ~ that the enemy blows hot
or cold on ar cities they have captured, as they
5asalt best for their purpose to freeze Or warm
the people into toTpor. Either process will serve
where the temperament Of the community is
sympathetic with the temperature Of their rulers (;
neither viii serve where manhood is robust
enough to withstand the frost Of adversely or
the artificial heat Of a relaxed Yankee provost
msrshal.
There is no more analogy between the rule
of martial law as administered by foe and friend
than there is 10 the purpose Of any other of the
devices of suhiugatiOn and resistance. The peO-
pie Of New Orleans may well dread tke appear
spce of a Lincoln provost marshal IN theE
midst, and if having one OF our own will in any
wise contribute TO the indefinite postponement of
the appearance of & kangaroo d~ignitary of that
dimension among US, we cannot have one too
soon.
The whole scope and design Of martial law is
to hold the city steady in its orbit, in times Of
commOtion to leave no enemy in the rear when
our armies are facing the enemy in front; to pro
tect persons and property from the ruthlessness
OF disguised foes, and The interests OF society
from the madness of infatuated friends to bring
order out Of a chaos Of unsettled purposes, and
to converge bewildered opinions to q focus Of
practical usefulness.
To take an extreme case. There are some
weI-meaning, jealous people, who think the city
should be burned in case the enemy succeeded
in passing the frontiers. What would be the
effect of the prevalence of such an intent upon
a husband or a father, or q son, fighting Tor
! liberty, for home, and for his family affairs, If he
/ imagined al he held dear, ana most that he was
c~onteuding for, was trembling upon a rumor OF
disaster, OF might be sacrificed upon the report
of an incendisryl He knows that, besides
those who, in the excess Of zeal, think this mode
Of defeating the cupidiiy Of the enemy, there are
others who would FIRE the city for the sake OF
plumber.
The extreme Of frantic patriotism and brutal
robbery would present to his mind a dilemma
either horn Of which was poisoned. Now 1t is
one Of the chietest objects of martial law to or
gsnizs such zeal into prowess against the foe
and to dispose of this incendiarism IN a way to
make it harmless. Il will be time enough to
burn the city when our generals declare 1t d
military necessity time that will never come
till the sacrifice Of women and children by the
thousands shall be deemed a fit Precipitation tc
Lincoln's Cog and Stewards Magog.
Il is Of the essence of martial law that i
brooks no rival Il holds the confused elements
Of society to a fixed sphere Of duty. It reduces
the rhapsodies OF enthusiasts TO the eloquence o
action. So far from its giving alarm, it should
sppease the apprehension Of the most timi'
mother, by assuring her that she has but on
enemy, and that al that is vehement IN val0r o
enduring in patriotism will be Rassed aud mar
ahGlsd to drive that enemy from our border.