Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-11-26
The BeIIIgersnt Right. ana Power
oEGOTeFHmenG-

IL WE G1aAy
JACOB HORsBEoOE.
The BeIIIgerent Right. aud Powers
oHGOTernment-
EdifOrs LntsiEigeaeer:
Wish you would publish in your paper
the following extracts from Yattera Books
on the Laws Of Civilized Warfare:
"A eiTi! war breaks the hands OF society
aud government, or AZ least ends their force
and effects, it produces in the nation two
Independent parties, who consider each
other as enemies, and acknowledge no com
mon judge. Those Two parties, therefore,
must necessarily be considered as thence
forth contributing, at least for time, Two
separate bodies. two distinct societies.
Though one Of the parties may have
been TO blame in breaking the unity OF the
State and resisting The laWfnl authority,
they are not the less divided 10 fact Be-
sides, who shall judge them1 Who shall
pronounce on which side the right or the
wrong lies? Uu earth they have no COM
mon superiOrs. They stand. therefore, IN
precisely the ERme pIe3ieHment ss two Ds-
tiOns who engage il a contest, aud, being
unable TO come TO an agreement. have re-
course to atms."-Book 3, sec. 293.
Whenever, therefore. a numerous body
of men thinking they have right to re-
sist the sovereign. aud feel themselves in q
condition TO appeal 10 the sword; the war
ought to be carried on by eontending par
ties in the same manner MS by diHerent ma.
tions Book sec. 994
Nov. 10 reference to the property OF the
beligerentS, what is the m4nuer of carry
ing on var by different nations ?
"a State taking up arms in just cause
has double right against her enemies. /.
A right 70 obtain possession Of her proper
~ withheld by the enemy, to which must
be added the expenses incurred in the pur-
suit of that object, the charges of the war,
and the reparation of damages, for we're
she obliged TO bear these expenses and is-
sues she would not fully recover her prop
eriy or obtain her due. She has right
To weaken her enemy in order to render
him incapable Of supporting his unjust vi
oIence-a right to deprive him of the means
of resistance. Hence, as from their source,
originate all the rights which war gives
over things belonging to the euemy.-Book
,, sec. 100.
his possessions. Of every thing which may
augment his strength and enable him 10
make war. This, every one endeaYors TO
accomplish 10 the manner most suitable to
him.
"Wheuever we have an opportunity we
seize on the enemy's property and convert
it to our own use; and thus diminishing
the enemy's power we augment our own,
and obtain at least II partial indemui6ca-
ton or equivalent, either for what consli-
tutes the subject of the war, or for the ex-
penses and losses incurred in its prosecu-
ton: in word, We do ourselves Justice p
Book 3, sec. l6I.
"The right TO security often authorizes
us TO punish Injustice or violence. II is an
additional plea for depriving IN enemy OF
some part of his possessions. This man
ner of Christening a nation is more humane
than making the penalty to ialI on the per-
sons of the citizens. With that view,
such as rights, cities, proVinces."- Book
3, section I62.
Now. Mr.. Editor, it is plainly to be seen
from the above extracts from Vattel, who
is considered, by most of the civilized
world as good authority on the laws
which govern civilized wars, that the
government of the United States has
all the rights and privileges in its effort to
crush out the present cursed rebellion as it
would have in warning against foreign
nation, and this too, is In addition to the
right which the constitution and laws give
the government to hang all rebel traitors.
Ny object in desiring these extracts pub
lished is to show some men in this couaiy
that the President had right according
TO the usages of civilized warfare to issue
his proclamation to weaken the enemies oil
our country.
Vattel says tive have right to deprive
our enemy of his possessions or ANYTHING
which may augment his strength aud ena-
BILE him to make war" Il is welI-knowu
fact that the rebel strength which now
threatens our existence as nation con
sists of about six or eight millions of white
traitors, who are mainly supported by the
labor Of about four uillion of slaves which
they own. Now is there any good LOYAL
| citizen SO blind that he cannot see that to
deprive the rebels of this slave support
would weaken them 50 much that they
would be easily conquered? And can any
| reasonable man doubt that the constitution
and laws of the United States authorize
and make it the duty of the President, who
is commander-in-chief of the army and
navy, to suppress rebellion With all the
means in his power? And what means can
be use which will accomplish the desired
object more quickly, cheaply aud efectu-
ally than to take the rebels main support
from them7 Indeed IL seems to me ike
national suicide not to use the means when
we have the power to turn the main strength
of the rebels against them.
"But, say some ofour fshy Constitutional
sticklers, it would be a terrible thing TO
turn the niggers loose" Well, suppose it
Is, will il not be more terrible to have our
Government destroyed and we left IN an.
archy,2
Mr.. Editor, we have few men 10 this
county who love the Union but who un.or
tnnately love the niger better; and any
thing which has a tendency TO disturb sia.
very 10 unconstitutional with them. They
agree that the Government has a right 10
take all rebel has except lis nig1ers
These few men together with the disloyal
trash of this county are trying to make
good people believe that the Presidents
emancipation proclamation is uneonstitu-
tional. But hope all good citizens will
consider this question as it is, and remem-
Der that all rebel traitors who have tram.