The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-05-05

dogs, without the knowledge OF the
British government We have laldy
been called upon 10 deal with rebels,
For the sake Of humanity we have
conceded much, and treated the cap
;ured Of all ranks as prisoners Of war
and not as rebels. And now, having
given up principles which England
never would and never has TO this
day, anger may well be excused, when
we are continually hearing indignant
cries from this same England about
inI.lman waTtare and barbarous cruel
tics. We claim the right to haag the
leaders aud confscate the property Of
those who will not return to their al
legience, and expect 10 exercise that
right But according TO English ex-
amples we might DO much more. We
might have hung Buckner, after an
examination Of his case conducted in
bis absence, giving him no opporuni-
ty to make his defence, denying him
the presence of a clergyman or the use
Of Bible in his last hours, and aes-
troying with brutal words, the letters
containing his farewell to his friends.
We might take five thousand rebel
prisoners and treat them in the most
inhuman manner conceivable, in order
TO force them TO enlist in our army
We might gather up twelve thousand
prominent rebel citizens, crowd them
into prison-ships, and feed them on
rotten meat and bracklsh water until
they died. For all this, we have
precedents in the treatment OF Ameri.
can rebels, by that very England
which now believes in having war
waged on system eminently honora-
bic and humane.
During the revolution, the British
government found it convenient to
employ sayages to assist the British
red-coals. No attempts were made to
compel their auxiliaries TO conform TO
the customs Of civilized war, because
it would impair their efficiency. And
so these allies of the British govern
mcnt made themselves useful, accor-
ding 10 their own ideas OF warfare
If the English soldier Killed an Amer
lean, tie Indian scnlped him. II the
soldier took an American prisoner,
the prisoner stood a good chance Of
being mas>acred by the soldiers friend
and ally. If tie British lines passed
over some portion Of our territory,
leaving behind some inhabitants, re-
lying on the protection Of the British
generals, the Indians were very like
ly to use their properly and persons
according TO their savage Instincts
But the steadiness of the British bay
onent and the terror Of the Indian
iomahawk, were both unayaling.-
Marked out for destruction, yet oes-
tined to tie erApire Of a continent, the
colonies achieved their independence
and were recognized by Great Britain.
But although she had been compelled
to acknowledge oul independence, she
did not consider herself bound to treat
Us according to the law of nations, or
even the dictates Of humanity. Being
unable to sustain an open conflict, she
betook herself to exciting the angry
passions Of the sayages on our berdcrs.
During Washington's administration,
we We're continually engaged in Indian
wars, for which we have iohold the en-
psaries Of tile British government re-
sponsible. England's feelings tow
ards as were somewhat pecuiar.-
Inasmuch as she was unable 10
bring the colonies under her own rule,
she would deliver them up TO the ten
der mercies Of the Indian Warriors
If she could not send the British
columns through the land, she would
bring the sayages upon the defence
less borders. II she could not hear the
news Of British victories on fair fought
baitle.fields, she would content her
self with hearing Of villages burn
ed, crops destroyed, and settlers
murdered, by their former allies.
This may not seem very ehrisiian-like,
bat ], was very safe way Of disturb
ing a nation too powerful to be open
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