Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-11-27
From the Ricbm md Dispatch
he Massacre In Missouri.

We have forborne all remark upon the atrocous mur
iers committed by the Yankee General McNe, in
Missouri, until could arrive at the exact truth We
published the sta emant OF the enemy yesterday, soften
3D. no doubt to make the favorable to them as
possible. Giving it ali the credit which possibly be
claimed for it, it Of the most unTarranted
and unprovoked murders which civilized warfare ever
brought forth. To fad anything Ike it we must
to the aonals of Mexico and SPAIN and even they In the
highest fury of civil war, scarcely present
that SURPRISES it.
The of nee this A man named Aisnan, forme
y soldier and of late spy upon his neghbors, when
be was regularly paid to keep watch upon and to de-
nounce to the Yankee authorities, wos seized and d.
tsioed by par of Confederate guerias. There az
pears to be no proof whatever that he put TO dah
although his employment as spy upon his negboon
would amply justify such measure of retaliation
Gen Mcneil, the Yankee commander in that quarter,
forthwith wrote note to Joseph o. Porter, IN which
he threatened that unless Alsman was returned bya
certain hour he should proceed execute ten Coined
crate prisoners then in his hands This was done by
officer OF the Government, whose troop never ene
any place without hurrying of to prison all the male
inhabitants, old Or young who refuse to take the OATH
| and whose bastiles are crammed to sufJcaton witt
| civilians from the Coniederacy. The not having
been returned the assassin proceeded to execute his
threats with all the circumstances of deVilish cruelty
that could suggest Themselves to an imagination that
reveiled in crime. Some OF the unfortunate victims
are told not killed at the first fire. and the ere
serve called in to dispatch them with their re-
vjlvers!
If the Government of the Confederate States take not
! some steps to make reprsas for this damnabe de Of
bio 3D. it should least abdcate its fuDctions and give
place to meu WHO have the to protect the lives Of
its citizens If thu conscience OF ruler is 50 ten Ter
that he cannot reconcile Its prompngs With his duty
then let him withdraw and give place to sterneT aud
more calQus men, better suited to times like the present
The protection of the Confederate Government has been
promised the brave m Missouri, who ere. peril
ing their lives in cur cause, although they sepa
rated from by the Mississippi and il it be not
corded the whole people of those States will b. Dis
graceI. The Yankee Government wishes TO establish
the doctrine that brave men, defending their homes may
be murdered 10 cold blood by au horIty OF Law, and
upon that doctrire they acting all Over Inc
country. And we !! What do we do? Why, we Issue
laundering proclaim alton now and then, aud withdraw
IT as soon as each particular atrocy begins TO be less
| vvldly remembered In the meantime, the Yankees
burn and murder worse than ever, and submit to IT,
f though they really were our lawful masters and We
their rebelious slaves
II the Gov rnment is afraid to take this mater up
we hope it will at be taken up by the army, AID
that they will exact vengeance for this deed the vry
mention OF which shall appal postery to the hu0dredb
generation The combined VIrginians, Norm Car0l
Mans and South Caroinians, who fought and gained
the battle of Kings Mountain, hung nineteen torfs
whom they found among the prisoners, and who had
rendered themselves conspicuous by their atrocities
J. This example We hope will BE- initiated by our own
It mi 8 whether the Government sanctions it or not
Is When the Emperor Alexander OF Russia, or hi
death bed, he said to the attending priest who vas Of
: ing him the consultations CT religion: All alha
kings have much more to repent Of than private men
And so they have, ard have all rulers who do their
duty it ought to be done. The decision Of lie END
death is constantly n their hands, and ron that dec-
o sion there is neappeal. The whose conscience IS
tender that be cannot discharge dny though
it may tie lives of hundreds, perhaps tn5osrd
while it only involves the loss of single One bad b'
:, divest bimse OF his authority as soon as 1t mayO
IS practicable. Had dozen Yankee officers been nuO3
in retaliation for the murder of Mumford should no
~ now be called upon to urge vengeance for the oa
m murders. We see no remedy save that to when We
&c have above alluded. The army will be compe. 10
protect itself by taking the law into its hands
The Yankees laugh at our clustering procama'ionS.
h. and answer them by burning unarmed towns and m9
a. derng unofending citizens. Blood will have DO a.
in spite OF all that may be done neglected to be ao