Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-07-31

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tai soldiery.. As long as we hold in
Jeopardy the lives Of Federal prisoners
we have some guaranty against such
conduct, but when once We have bound
ourselves to parole their surplus priso'
ners we have no means of retaliation
|left, and our countrymen within the
enemy's lines are liable to every act o1
brutality, without even the power ot
restraint on the part of our government
It is doubtless desirable to get rid Of
the large number of prisoners. now in
our hands, but their possession is le.
yer that will upturn the policy Of the
Federal government if rightly used by
our authorities. Once let it, be made
known that an exchange of prisoners
was broken, off because the Federal
government would not stipulate against
] arresting private. citizens, and that
Federal prisoners were to be carried
! down South to spend the months Of Au.
gust and September in the swamps Of
South Carolina and Georgia, the pub,
lie voice Of the North would cry out in
such tones that no more private citizens
would ever be arrested.
This is matter Of the greatest i'm.
portance, and one that the Government
doubtless duly appreciates. If we are
oyerreached in this matter, and the
Government fails to protect our citi-
zens within the enemy's lines, voice
of Indignation will be heard in trumpet
tones against the Government.
The policy that has delivered up SO
much territory to the enemy has already
caused no little dissatisfaction, but to
superadd to this the manifest injustice
of not protecting our exposed people
in the present cartel will very properly
difuse indignation throughout ou1
country. -. -.
The arrest of private, citizens is un-
authorized by every law of war among
ciyilized nations. We cannot retaliate
as long as our army remains within our
territory. Retaliation upon prisoners
4 is the only mode Of preventing this out
rage. -. -. =
The country had rather see no ex-
change than one that does not prevent
this outrage in the future. 1t is mat
tier that has been brought to our atten-
| tion in the earnest letters from our tn-
fortunate people, and one that necessa-
Irily excites the iveliest interest among
| the soldiers from those States whose
territories have been abandoned to the
enemy. There are soldiers in our army
whose fathers and brothers are priso-
ners in: Washington and the North, and
they most naturally feel deeply solici-
tous upon this subject.
This cartel marks an important era
in the war. It is the acknowledgment
of our puass nationality. We are by it
made belligerents, and the Government
Of the United States treats with the
Government of the Confederate States
through commissioners. They have
learned something at last, and in this
respect; the Federal Government has
improved upon the Bourbons, who
never learned anything. One more
victory, and commissioners for truce,
an armistice, will meet-those necessa-
ry preludes to peace.
Richmond Enquirer.
----..~>+---
Operations in Virg1nia--Gen. Schenck
E.. in danger.
The Washington correspondent of
the New York World, writing on the
18th inst. says:
Government is sadly puzzled. It is
not true that, las yet, any decided ad-
vance is making towards Richmond from
this direction. Immediately after the
great battles, Gen. Pope was ordered,
on impulse, to concentrate all the forces
scattered between the Alleghanies and
Fredericksburg and march overland to
attack the enemy in the enemy's left
flank or rear. Reflection showed that
the enemy's position was really mena-
cling Washington, and that dangerously.
By exertions $4,000 troops, perhaps,
could be massed from the debris of Nc
Dowells, Banks and Seigle's corps
But these forces should push for Rich
mond, by the way of Manassas or War
renton, Stonewall Jackson could easily
sweep down the Shenandoah Valley,
cross the Potomac, and enter Maryland.
If, on the other hand, Pope should 60
down the Valley, what should hinder
the Confederates from taking the
straight cut across lots and bombarding
the capital from our ill-garrisoned forts
darlington Heig ghts! 49,.
We have not got out of this dilemma
yet. The truth must be told. If 50,-
600 militia-three months men-were
at once drawn from the North for the
protection Of Was hington, I think Pope
could then march down, and that
through his aid, McClellen could route
the Confederate grand army. aAt this
very moment the enemy has again ap-
peared in. the Shenandoah Valley. Ug-
ly tidings! Thus far sedulously con-
cealed from the people. A bad omen
pervades such dispatches. General
Schenck now at Lauray, telegraphs that
three thousand Confederates are be-
tween him and Gen. Banks. Of course,
if three thousand are there, twenty
thousand are not far behind. Every
soldier knows this must be so. And
the fact is that, instead of being en-