Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-12-08
The AtrocItIes Of the war.

The Atrocities Of the war.
Three years have nearly elapsed since
the initiatory steps were taken for the
teommrncensnt of the bloody and nnatur-s
al conflict that is now rendering tie name
Of our Isnda word Of reproaeh, at least
amongst foreign nstions. The deeds Of
barbarism and cruelty that mark the paths
Of tho 6elligerent armes On either side, are
snough-tO blacken the reputationof civilz-
ed nations, saying nothing about what the
effect ought to be where such inhuuanity
and vontan devastion are practiced upon
men Of the same kindred-upou neighbors
and brothers.
* Atthc commencement Of the war, the
principles and usages of civilized nations
were adhered to until our ranxs were filed
with patriotic volunteers, but as the con-
test progressed, each party seemed to care
less for the great aud restraining laws that
have prevailed amtng civilized nations,
rial The great ard humsne rules cons
corning the observance and respect to be
paid to the rights Of non-combatants, the
treatment of the capturaG, aud care for the
wounded mi respect for the dad, have
been almost discarded ty the infuriated
armies Of the two sections Of our un 'ortu>
nate country.
Indeed, the n6ct has almost assumed
the character of the bloody strifes ofts n
! waged between the chiefs of savage tribes.
! The massacre at Lawrence, the ciuel treat.
ment and starving Of prisoners, the utroci~
ties against lnw-abiding cit;z:ns 10y the
rebels, find parallel in the devastation
which attends on every side the march Of
our armies, the murder of captured rebels
by officers enj yiDg Government conf.
dence, and the scrvilence with which the
territory captured from The enemy is ruled.
Camp Douglas, two years ago this winter,
afforded precedent for the recent suffer-
iOgs of our soldiers in the rebel prisons
10 truth. the history Of tie war thus far
has been characterized BY q series of atroc.
tiles revOlping to humanity, aud as dis
graceful to our country ss they are brutal
and bsrbarous. Well may civilized Daliuus
stand ogkast ct the appalling spectacle.
And what is most to be regretted is, that
the Church, bhth North and s ;uth, instead
OF dissenting irtm and expostulating
against such ihhuman mode Of carrying on
the war. encourages, in too many ways,
the shocking crueltiSs and gross outrages
Prayers are. offered up for more blood and
ton, instead Of for peace and the
reign OF the snotlirg precep,s of the Cos
pei. And many Of the reputed ministers
OF divine blessings aud, professed disciI les
Of the Master Of peace and good will to-
ward men, have been loudest in declsma-
t'on fer the war to 20 on, aud for the soil
TO be still nJ:e deeply crimsoned with
huma1 Egre. Are no, such false teachers 7
BdVNSreader may ask, what is to be
done to avert the atrocities which are rem.
derirg the war disgrace to the sgs. We
answer that much can be ACCOMPLISHED if
orr Government will pursue the proper
course. Let it discard the brutal Buffers
and McNiels, and instruct our officers to be
governed By the usages OF civilized nations
in conducting the war, and :he rebel, will
be forced to initiate the example set them
Like begets like" is an old ajags.
This change Of policy is not only called
for by the civilized worll. blu. by every
consideraii... IS TT. rir.I' Tor tina fnIs-e.
And 1t is also needed in behalf of the brave
men who have enlisted TO fght Cor the
Union. 1t is due to them should they, BY
the fate of war, fall into the hands of the
enemy, that such policy should prevail
that their misuse and atrocIous treatment
would be uDFrovoked. IF our rulers be
ctRtrolled By the laws of civilized warfare
hereafter, We shall hear of 90 more such
appalling scenes as have recently been
witnessed in military prisons at the Suuth.
Let US set the example, and woe bs to our
enemies if they do not follow it.