Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-02-05
AN ENGLISH OPINION OF THE CONFEDERATE
RETALIATORY PROCLAMATION.

From the London Times Of January 49,
We receive Mr. Daviss proclamation denouucing death
without mercy upon Gen. Butler and his officers by the
same mail which informs that Gen. Butler has been
relieved by the President from the command which he has
disggaced AID that another commander whose ia
at any rate concatory has been sent in his stead
Mr. Davis denounces death upon all officers serving with
armed negroes against the South and uses the sentence
by appeal to Mr. Lncons proclamation at time when
everybody is uncertain whether the proclamation il TO be-
put in force or not lift was cessary t. act at all ia this
sense would il not have been better postpone so stern
and terrible resolution to the very last moment possible
But was that resolution necessary
For every life that taken under this proclamation tho
Southern President well knows that another life will be
required He knows that by putting to death prisoners
taken IN war in order to avenge the faults Of their generals
be is nauguating state of things under which qua
will neither be given asked and which will degrade
that war the usages of which he anxious to maintain
Into an indiscrminate and merciess butchery
Mr DAYS ought also to remember that, though Eng
land and France have conceded TO the Southern Stses t6
position Of begeens it behooves them TO exercise their
begerent rights with the utmost orbearance and moder
ation We have not sciuped to express our sympathy
with the South IN their gallant struggle for national indie
pendence and strong has been that sympathy that il has
overpowered the repuson Inspired by the institution of
slavery
But the South should remember that thew WARE The s.t
to draw the sword in this quarrel that they rose against
established government the exercise of IFS legal unc
TONS that they obtained by the agency of traitors n that
Government, considerable supply Of arms and money
and that that Uni which they seek to dissolve ia IA
events have proved the dearest wish of every American
heart These things prOvocaOns of ordinary mag
ntude ar in some degree sxtenuate though they can in
degree justify the Ourages which have followed the
capture of New Orleans Better to bear lttls longer
such inques those of which they complain than
to aggravate the horrors of contest already sufficiently
dreadful by licensing system of murder from which nei-
Their party resp any possible advantage and which can
only tend to envelope the American in everlasting
ignominy.
No doubt may be suggested excuse for the South
that they have the fate Of ST. Domingo before their eyes,
and have the most dreadful apprehenons of the lot which
may overake their homes their wives and their children
war which they must have well weighed and considered
before they raised the flag OF insurrection Their own
vaor and have created the danger by driving the
North to despair and they ought to it with the calm
Of resolved aud prepared not with the fury of
surprise and panic II the North, which we will not vet
believe should carry out its dreadful threat the evil will
not be ayeed by killing the officers who may be detached
service which is not in itself contrary to the usaQes
Of war They will not be detered from undertaking it,
and, should they be sain their death will be bloodily
avenged.
Lastly Mr. Davis ought to consider whether it is worth
his WHILE in order to crafty the justly ncensed feelings of
the South to cut off from himself that European sympathy
which ne possesses and to appear before the civilized
world IA the frat to convert honorable contest into
war OF determination We earnestly hope to find that this
plan of retaliation has remained unexecued and that the
horror of cold blood may be added to the
miseres OF contest between Of the same language
the same lineage, and the same country.