Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-07-25
ESoLIHEE':S COEEESPoNbEA ch'
,yropraNT CORRESPONDENCE.
':GUrSwGoD lloTEl,
Richmond, Va, July 18th, lSU-.>
NJ yI,,nH,3nI

1'""' "'"''' Secretary Of 7I'a
S,p.-I respectfully desire to know from :
ron whether the several PartlEan corps u
ponrcrs. now organized, or that may De or
,.nizcl in tho several States oil liic I"h'e'e~
r,rr ,rc To sac regarded rs part "i thr army
nr The Conirdcracy, and protected ny VIZ
Government MS suci. AMI whether II any
wise while IN the line Of their duty, By, the
enemy. this Government will clam for them
the same treatment as prisoners If 'rar, which
is now exacted for Jrisontrs hei""g'"9 I"
or Pr0ri$ion0l -irmg
Are not all corps Of Partisan Rangers. or
CANCEL by your authority, emy'hm'cm"Y, Il
mart If the Confederate -irG'y, ;lnd will they
no, be regarde. and treated as "nrh
consider that it Is not only the ''ghi, but
he dun Of every loyal citizen i'll tho C"nied'
crate States, to resist, by all means IN his
mower. ersn Ia the death, ii necessary, the al
;empt Of the enemy in body or single 10 IN
yadc his domicilc OF to capture his person,
or that Of his wife child. ward, or scrrani."r Ia
take from him. against his will, amy ri his
property; and il, in making such resistance
whether armed OF not, our citizens are cap
turcd by such invading cnrIny, have they not
the right to demand I" be treatcu by Inc ehr-
nv AS other prisoners OF war ana VIII not
this Government exert I'LL lis power, II ne
ccssa rv to the end that lis citizens are thus
projected and treated
This war wagrtl against The sovereignty
Of thu several States nf the C"nicdcracy, and
AGAINST the lives, liberty, and property al
every citizen vicIlin. allegiance To the States
and Government al their CHOICE, III which
theyrcsiIc. Such war la. no parallel III
the history Of Christian nst'"IlS.
respectfully request YOU t" Si'e me yo'r
opinions ON the several points IN THIS Litter
in :. form to he submitted I" ny constituents,
10 cn!ghtcn them Ill regard To the cAtcnt "i
their rishts and powers, a. Viewed 10y thi>
Government: and how far their government
will protect them in the exercise oi ti"'c
RIGHTS, which. to All intelligent freeman, are
Iearer than life itself
Y0!ir early answer is rcspectln'l: 'rI'!ratcu'
With grrat respect,
IrTrnadl joins l.. CL,EeE.
CONFEDERATE STATcs Or AMERICA,
W.g DEr'r, RICHMOND, Va. july 10, icCGS
lion. JoHa Il. CLAEEE, c, 5. Senate:
SIR: have the honor 10 acknowledge Tie
receipt Of Your letter of the 18th instant,
and TO reply: that ParliZnn Rangers are a
part OF the Provisional Army Of the Conled-
crate States, subject 10 all the regulations
adopted for its government, and entitled |"
1r r1 respect, r1ltItrr,ir Ipair
troops OF the liHc, except That they are not
brisaded, and are employed oftener on de-
tached service. They require strlctcr dscl-
pline than other troops, TO make them clllcl-
ent, and, without discipline, they become q ter
ror to their friends, and are contemplate i'll
the eyes of the enemy.
With reference to your enquiry as I" the
protection which the Government vii! ca
tend To private citizens, taken Ill hostile acts
against the el,rtnv, il IS not easy 10 lay down
Il GENERAL rule
War IL; conducted hy civilized nations, is
usually :. contest between the Respective
governments ul the hrl!igerent:, and rri-
waite individuals, remaining quietly az
home, are respected ~ their rights OF
person and property lm return Tor
this privilege, they are expected I" take
no part in hoStllillrs, Unless calico Oh By
their Government.
IT, however, in violation of this usage pr-
yate citizens of Missouri should hr oppressed,
and lnaltrcated by the public enemy, they
have unqllcstionahly 4 right To take arms in
their own defence; and if captured and COLI
fined by the cnemy,nnder such circumstances,
they are entitled, as citizens Of the Confcde-
rate States, to all the protection which that
Government can afford and among the inca
surcs to which it may be useful 10 resort, is
that OF the lee aiicn,s.
We shall deplore the necessity ol retaliation,
as adding greatly to the niserlc; of the war,
without advancing its objects; and therefore,
we shall act with great circnmspccton, and
only upon facts clearly ascertained. Butifit is
our only means Of compelling the observance
ofthc usagcs Of civilized warfare we cannot
hesitate to resort 10 it. whom tn proper time
arrives.
Very respectfully.
Inur 0hrdcnt servant,
lSi,rnrd GEO. W. PaHBoLFH,
s:ecretarT' 81 War.