The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-05-16
Rebel Barbarities.

The Committee on the conduct Of the War
made report in tho U. s. Senate, in regard
to the barbarous treatment by the rebels at
Manassas Of the remains Of officers and sol
diers Of the United States, killed in battle
there. They examined q number Of witness
es, whose testimony is submitted. The facts
disclosed are Of repulsiyc, shocking and
fearful character.
The Committee say In conclusion:
The members Of your committee might
content themselves by leaving this testimony
to the Senate and the people without word
of comment, but when the enemies Of a just
and generous Government are attempting to
excite the sympathy Of disloyal men in our
own country and to solicit the aid OF foreign
Governments by the grossest misrcprescnta-
tions of the objects Of the war, and Of the
conduct of the officers and soldiers Of the
Republic, this the most startling evidence Of
their insincerity and inhumanity, deserves
some notice at our hands.
History will be examined in vain for q par
allcl to this rebellion against good Govern
ment, long prepared for by ambitious men.
who were made doubly sure Of success by the
aid and counsel of former Administrations,
and by the belief that their plan, were un-
observed by magnanimous people. They
precipitated the war at moment when tho
General Government had just been changed,
under circumstances Of astounding pcrfdy,
without single reasonable ground o: COM
plant, and in the face Of repeated manifes-
tations Of moderation and peace on the part
Of the President and his friends.
They took up arms and declared that they
would never surrender until their rebellion
had been recognized, or the institutions es-
tablished by our fathers had been destroyed.
The people Of the loyal States, a, last con-
vinced that they could preserve their liber-
ties only by an appeal to the God Of Battles,
rushed to the standard Of the republic In re.
sponse to the call Of the Chief Magistrate.-
Every step Of this nonstrous treason has
been marked by violence and crime. No
transgression has been too great, no wrong
too startling, for its leaders. They disregard
ed the sanctity Of the oaths thOy had taken
to support the Constitution. They repudi-
ated ali their obligations to the people OF
the Free States. They deceived and betray-
cd their own fellow citizens, and crowded
their armies with forced levics. They drove
from their midst all that would not yield to
their despotism, or filed their prisons with
men who would not enlist under their flag.
They have crowned their rebellion by tho
preparation Of deeds scarcely known oven to
savage warfare. The Investigations Of your
COMMITTEES have established this fact beyond
controversy. The witnesses called before US
were men Of undoubted veracity and chsrac-
ter. Some Of them occupy high positions in
the army. and Others high positions in civil
life, differing in political sentiment.
Their evidence presents a remarkable con-
currcncc Of opinion and Of Judgment. Our
fellow.countrymen, heretofore sufficiently i'm
pressed by the generosity and iorbeamnce Of
the Government Of the United States, and BY
the barbsrous character OF tho crusade
against it, will be shocked by the statements
Of these unimpcached and unimpcachablo
witnesses; and foreign nations must, with
ono accord. however they have hesitatcd here
toiorc consign to lasting odium the authors
Of crimes which, in all their details exceed
the worst cxccsses of the Sepoys Of India.
lnhumanity to the living has been the lead
ing trait Of the rebel leaders, but 1t was re-
served for your COMMITTEES to DISCLOSE " .
concentrated system, their insults 70 '''
wounded and their mutilation and desee'"-
ton OF the gallant dead. Our '0idie" 'Aksn
prisoner, in honorable battle have bcen sub.
jected to the most shameful Treatment AL
tho considerations that inspire ehivalric emo
,;o,. .nd generous consideration for brave
men bayo been disrcgardcd, Il u almost be-