Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-10-10
SPEECH OF HON CHARLES W. RUSSELL

sfEECH Ot hun. CHAhLES W. RUSSELL
Or VIRGINIA,
On Retali0tion-,fslirer..! ia tie House Of
Representatives., OciuOer lyt, lSC2.
Having, by direction of the Judiciary Com
mittee, reported to the House the b,ll "to re-
press atrocities Of the enemy think it my
duty to explain its general scope aud objects,
and the reasons on which it is hnStd.
The late atrocious proclamation Of Lin
coin, inviting servile insurrection, is but one
Of system Of measures deliberately pursued
by the Federal Government, all tending to
exterminate the loyal population Of these
States, by numbering OF banishing those who
will not bow the knee TO Northern power
The present bill is designed to inaugurate u
countervailing system for the protection Of
our people.
There are some of our couutrymen, not in
this hall, whose ears l could wish to reach
with my voice, while | attempt to vindicate
the propriety Of this measure. In Northern
dungeons there are manly OF our citizens eX-
plating the crime Of loving our cause and our
country. ExileS and prisoners, they are per-
secuted by our enemies because they are our
friends. Not captured % soldiers, but kid
mapped as citizens they have been dragged
from their homes--even venerable Incn and
faithful women-to grace IN. ignoblc tri-
| nmphs which cowardly foe delights 10 win
from non-combatants. | would have them to
KNOW tbs. We are resolved, at every hazstSl,
to discharge towards them the natural offices
Of fraternal affection, and the indispensable
duty of government to its people--that we
are ready to brave the utmost fury OF pow
erful nation, rather than abandon any citizen
in undeserved misfortune-that this govern
ment watches over the safety of all who ad-
here to it, with "the tenderness of the dove
aud the coursge of the eagle" and that our
gallant people are all linked together with a
magnanimous purpose 10 defend and to res
cue ons another or to perish together IN uni
VerSal ruin.
Although some provisions Of this bill ap-
pear harsh, it will be found, upon eXamlna-
ton, that they are conceived in justice and
humanity. They leave open the way for a
return to the practice Of civilized usages by
the enemy, and they are Designed to promote
that result. The enforcement 'f them is con-
fided to the discretion of the President. ho
has been huInanely reluctant II employ re-
taliatory measures. We shall sIgnfy to him.
by passing the bill, that in our opinion such
measures have become necessary for the
protection of our people, but he will execute
them according 20 the conduct Of the enemy
hereafter.
This legislation is not urged because the
President is dcrclc; i'll his duty. nor be-
cause he has not power To intilct retaliation
already. In the absence ofsny law to rr5trall
him. he has authority TO iniiicI any injury
whatever upon the eucIny by the use Of thai
force of which he is CODmandcr ln-Ct:lef. =
He has used the power Of retaliation with
prudence, frmness and effect In a few cases
But still there are we;ghty reasons Tor thi:
| legislation.
The atrocities Of the enemy have become 81
| numerous and so egregio"s, and the purkoat
to persevere in them is sn persistent that they
can be checked only by such sweeping ane
severe measures Of retrIbutiun rs have never
yet been rractised. As the atrocities are be-
yond all example, the retaliation must also
| surpass all precedent. We must DO that, per
haps, which will astound the world. while tht
world remains ignorant OF the facts wnlcf
Justify our conduct. We may have to open
new page Of history, written in blood and IT,
Illuminated with fire. From such necessity
we all naturally recoil. We ought not to ex'
pect the President to encounter The perpetua
responsibility Of that action without the sup,
port of Congress If we believe that such
measures have or will become necessary, We
ought to assume our full share of thu respo,l'
sibilit7. Moreover, the Federal Congress has
committed the most heinous "tfence. and II
should be answered by this Congress.
Legislation is proper for another reason
The President cannot be expected to lniilei
retaliation unless the right is clear, not only
in morals, but according to positive rules ac-
knowledged by all nations. Now, there are
no such rules, applicable to two subjects, a.
least, which are Of vital Importance TO US
Although the principles of international la"
and natural Justice, as well as national exaln-
oles, authorize us to settle the open questions
for ourselves by positive rules, we ought 10
settle them as the Legislature of the Contede
racy, and no. require the President alone Ia
adiudge the cases and to shed blood IN puT-
suance OF his single Judgment.
One ct the uhjccls 70 which aIiude, Is the
status Of unarmed citizens i'll war OF seces-
sion--secession beiug new political fact
The other is the treatment Of the black popu-
lation, with whom We have relations not cou-
templated by any of the posit We rules OF War
acknowledged by all nations. Since rules are
now to be established on these vital subjects:
and since the enemy has declared policy
which violates the principles Of morality, il
becomes us to declare the rales which we will
maintain with the entire force ofthiS Coniede-
racy. This is a leading purpose OF the pre-
sent bill. In laying the foundations OF
slave-holding Confederacy of seeding States,
we cannot treat these topics with too much
care or rigor.
Without insisting on other reasons, it is be
leved that the propriety Of legislatng o.;
questions of retaliation will beackuowledged'
notwithstanding the plensry power which
NAV belong to the President already. AT all
events, we shall but follow the example sat
when an act of Congress, with the concur
renee Of the President, authorized him to re-
taliate the treatment Of captured prlVateers.
This bill, then, recites few OF the most
faerant atrocities of the enemy, proposes to
establish certain principles by declaring spe-
cited practices to be unlawful, and authorizes
the President to infict, at his discretion, re-