Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-03-17
Cold.RIooded Murder.

A friend who writes US from one of our Western
Counties says: '.r
"Even the foul murder at Palmyra, No., has been
outdone lately in the Laufel War in Madison
County on those men who took the salt in Marshali
No murders were committed by them, and no South
erners were killed in the fight; yet am credlhly
informed that the wounded laurel men were muir
dereo where they'lay on the ground, and that the
prisoners were marched a mile OF SO from the camp
and shot down in cold blood The officer who did
this knew that the only object of the raid made by
these men was to seize TIE salt which they believed
was wrUugfully withheld from them. They killed
no one in doing this, though they could have killed
hundreds. am no apologst for these miserable
ignorant thieves, yet many Of them were not aware
that they were committing great wrong. But
hold thatthe Constitution and the laws Of this coun-
try guarantee TO every man and woman IN the
Coniederacy, no matter what their crime, lair and
impartial trial"
Well and truly said. But these poor creatures
had no trial The wounded were butchered where
they fell, and the prisoners were marched. out and
shot, and thrown into trench and covered up Two
or three boys undeT fifteen among the victims
and what adds to the horrors of this deed is the
fact that some Of the women who stimulated or ap-
proved this raid for salt, or who endeavored to Sc
crete and shield the men and boys who were guilty
Off, were roped around the neck and Whipped i
These men had committed great wrong against
society. They deserved severe punishment 1t
may be that death BY the law should have been their
portion; but the Ian not allowed to speak. Its
justice was not even invoked The musket did the
work. The red hand Of vengeance was triumphant
and the voice of mercy, which is heard every where
except in bell, vas raised in vain. We dcnounce
this act as both cowardly and wicked In the name
of a violated LAWN the name of outraged humanl-
ty, we demand the punishment of the officer who is
guilty Of these murders. Who IS her
This is the first act Of the Kind pcrpetratedby the
military during this war and County in North
Carolina, it seems selected the spot which
to do the deed. We trust that Gov. Vance, who is
the advocate of law, and the friend of the ignorant
and the fendiess will demand satisfaction for this
blot on the fair escutcheon of the State. Let the
officer who committed this murder, have that trial
which he denied to others. Let Justice do her work
in his case also, and let mercy who was not heard
by him. be heard in bis behalf if indeed she has any
plea to offer
We have heretofore alluded to this Laurel War;"
but it may be necessary to explain it to readers
These people inhabt the laurecrowned mountains
in this State bordering the Tennessee line. They
are a hardy, independent fearless race, not much
accustomed to the forms, and restraints Of law
They are for the most part industrious, and live
within themselves They thought they had reason
to believe that the portion of salt which was due
them had been unjustly withheld, and so they de-
termined to go to Marshall the County seat of Mad
ison, and take the salt by force. They. did so,
woundng one or two persons, and causing much ex
element. In one or two cases. we believe, they de-
stroyed stole private property during their raid;
and doubtless some old grudges were paid off by
them in severe and summary manner. Itmay be-
but we have not heard, that they we're in open re-
belliQn against the Confederate authorities and that
they sympathized with, and were accompanied by
some Lincolntes from East Tennessee; but admit
ting all this to b. so, and ten times worse, it was
cowartly, unchristian, and wicked to kill them as
they lay wounded, and it was murder to shoot those
who were taken prisoners without giving them
trial