The Placer herald., 1863-01-24
THE PLACER HERALD.
AUBURN, JANUARY, "a, 1868.
Barbaritv of Americans.

heretofore Wanted to some extent, their high
character as a civilized people, and boosted
over other nations their advanced ideas and
practice in all those exalted moral qualities
which distinguish christian men and women.
We once firmly believed there was more of
truth Than boast in this assertion OF superi
orily, and in this belief felt proud Of our
birthrght, and grateful to our country.
men.
The historian detailed instances of horn
rors practiced by our British ancestors, and
pointed TO the malked contrast of our own
people in the two struggles we have had
with that power. AS his pen portrayed the
savage murders of the red men of the forest,
melted to such atrocities by British agents,
or the inbuman and wanton crueities of the
enemy to prisoners, our young blood chill
ell back to the heart before the tragic pic
tuie.
Within our own time we have seen our
armies march successfully over neighbor
ING Republic, protecting the private proper
ty Of the citizen, paying for all supplies fur
nished by him, and doing as little harm
as possible, and only shedding blood as
honorable men may in the wager of battle.
Wherever our sabers cleaned in the red
path of battle, honor and chvary were
found Victory to our arms, was attended
by respect Of The rights Of the vanquahed.
Safe guards aud sentines protected palace,
church aud howell The domestic hearth
and chastity were even safer when surround
bed by our bayonets, than otherwise There
never before was an invasion conducted upon
such exalted principles Of humanity, and not
an American but was Proud of our army
and gloried in the reputation of our people.
The developments of the present war IF
either side is to be believed) indicate a mark
ed change of character in this respect
We do not propose in this connection to
include those acts of vandalism, each in
itself leaving black page upon our record
as for instance the "Stone Fleet" ana
melting slaves to intestine rebellion, but
rather 10 embrace those of a more personal
nature, which taken in the aggregate be
smear the reputation of people.
In the beginning of the contest the South
erners paroled the Federal prisoners until
it was announced that this practice would
not be reciprocaed by our army-rebels (as
we insisted) not being entitled to such
amenities.
Finally the universal voice Of Europe
declaring the Confederates "belligerents'
and entitled to the rights of war, in connec
ton with the fact, that more prisoners were
lost from our side than gained from theirs,
induced different rule of action. The
prison doors were thrown open and cartels
of exchange took place.
The enemy's privateersmen were treated
as pirates, and condemned to be hanged as
such; but a threatened retaliation upon COL
Corcoran and others, turned these pirates
into soldiers and officers.
Certain of General Buffers transactions,
at New. Orleans are such that no high
toned nation can defend, yet he is compi
mented by vote of thanks by Con -ress.
Mr. Davis in his official messages charges
barbalism of the grossest character
upon our Administration, whilst a commit
tee of Congress report series OF acts,
charged against the Souherners, as having
been perpetrated upon our wounded and
dead, that would disgrace nation OF gorrl
las,-n fact they lay it on SO thick that
no one believes it.
Some two months since, an officer Of the
Federal army, in Missouri, caused ten men
to be shot, upon the bare suspicion that'a
man who is now alive and well had been
kidnapped. The Confederates demand that
this officer be delivered up to them for pun
ishment, or that they will inhct a similar
barbariv upon our officers and soldiers in
their hands as prisoners.
Complaints and threats are made by our
officers against the Confederates for ShootI
ing three men in their hands-claimed by us
to be prisoners, by them as being desert,
erS.
The sacking of the residence of General
Taylor, and scattering among the rough
camp followers the relics Of the hero Of
Bueua Vista, the destruction Of costly fur
nitu,e destroying costly apparel, burning
Libraries, and general vandalism, are made
the subject of boastful narratives and publish
ed approvngly, by the majority of newspa'
pers in the free States.
Under date of the 10Th we have the fol-
lowing dispatch from Washington:
"The General-in Chief has issued orders to