The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-06-02
A DOCUMENT OF EVIDENCE,

that the Yankees are fighting for civilization and
the Union as contemplated by the Constitution of
the United States. In view of the outrages Of the
yankee INVADERS ought We to tolerate in the South
any man who faVor5 re union with them:
REpoRr 1.-THE CONFEDERATE SENATE.
/ Outrages Of the Enemy-Report of the select COM
m,ittee by Hon. G. c. clay Of alabama.
The Select Committee of Thirteen, consisting
Of one Senator from each the Confederate States
raised under resolution of the Senate at its last
session, to collie, and report the evidences of the
outrages committed by the enemy upon the per-
sons and property Of our citizens liz violation Of
the rules of civilized warfare and the rights of
humanity, ask leave to report
That they :aye received statements of wrongs
injuries and outrases committed by the enemy in
only four States of the cracy-Alabama,
Arkansas, North Carolina and South Carolina
and that these embrace only small part Of that
has been suffered by our citizens in these States.
But those statements SHOW that our invaders have
been utterly regardless of every principle of lawful
warfare every precept of the Christian religion,
and every sentiment of enlightened humanity. In
a spirit of wanton and vindicive malice, of rob-
ber-like rapacity, they have destroyed or carried
off property for which the estimates, made almost
invariably under oath, amount in the aggregate to
about SIS, 100000 La many parts of those States
they have burned the dwellings and out-houses,
granarics, gins and mill houses, the fences and
crops, the implements Of husbandry and tools of
! trade, and provisions for subssting both man and
beast; have cut down or otherwise destroyed the
fruit trees and vineyards, have killed the oxen,
COWS, sheep and hogs; thereby evincing tic base
and savage purpose of taking from our people all
their means of present and future subsistence; of
forcing them to seek food and shelter beyond the
reach of their armies; AID of wasting anJ Lesoat-
ing the land that they may convert ii into desert
They have Burned or battered down public edi-
fees devoted to civil and religious purposes
school houses, court houses and churches-and
have either destroyed or taken of the public re-
cords, the books and the sacramento vessels;
thereby displaying desire Or intention to destroy
our muniments Of property, our evidences OF mar
riase legitimacy, history and the very bonds
of society, and resolve it into condition of civil
strife and anarchy where mo- mans rights arc Sc
cure aud wrong may be done with IMMUNITY. They
have not spared even the memorials OF our dead,
or suffered their remains to rest undisturbed they
.have torn down and mutilated the monuments in
cemeteries and have cxhunled and opened Collins,
either to crafty sordid avarice fendish malig
nifty. They have nlutilated or removed public
and private libraries, portraits and other paintings,
statues and other works Of art and taste, pianos
and other musical instruments, aud all household
furniture. They have robbed many persons of re-
lies Of deceased parents, children or other relatives
or friends, which were invaluable to them and
valueless 20 the robbers, merely to torture the
souls Of OR citizens and to satisfy their mean
malevolent luminosity. They have murdered
peaceful and unoffending citizens, and have seized
and taken many Of them far from their families
and heu.es, aud incarcerated them in prisons Of
the United States 10 others they have offered
the choice OF prison an oath OF allegiance to
the United States. They have rushed by regi-
meats, bat;alious or companies into our villages,
and robbed, like banditti, both men and women, in
their dwellings and on the streets, of money, wat
ches and oi:cr ieWelry. Their soldiers have in
dull cd their b riai passions upon women, some
times in open DAY and in public places, Within
punity, if not by license of their officers. They
have not spared neither age, or calling. Old
men, women and children, ministers Of religion,
peaceful artlzans, merchants, men of science and
letters ticrs Of the earth and others not bearing
arms, OR guilty of any misconduct, have been made
to suffer a. hostages, vicarious victims, for the
severe but defensive, blows inflicted by our gallant
soldiers upon these cowardly invaders. Even those
unfortunates whom the mysterious providence Of
God has berett of reason, of the faculty of
speech, or the sense of sight hearing, have not
escaped the demoDacal wrath of our enemies.
The Committee would cite examples of each of
these outragcs, and the testimony by which they
sustained, but it would swell the report be-
yonG the limits which will insure its publication
and perusal, and as the wrongs and injuries done
are not half told, the investigations having extern
ded to only small part Of four States they have
deemed it best to postpone full recital to another
session Of Congress, when they may make final
report
In conclusion, the Committee feel warranted in
saying that the conduct OF the war on tie part of
our enemies has not exhibited the moderation, the
forbearance, the chivalrous courtesy, the magma
nlmity, or Christian charity, which the spirit of
the age demands, and which the practice of civil
lied nations for several centuries last past has
generally illustrated. 1t has been a war not more
against our unarmed men than helpless and limo.
cent women and children. 1t has been prosecuted
to destroy not only our means of defence, but our
food and raiment; not only to conquer but to ezs
term mate. 1t has been war not only against the
bodies, but against the spirit of cur people also;
their souls have been tortured b. ll-hc base arts
OF cowardly despotism; By subjectins them to III
suits and humiliation, if the very slaves of their
enemies; by robbing them of priceless treasures,
consecfated in their affections by association with
dead or absent kindred; BY false reports 20 those
within their lines, and who cut off from COM
municaton With their fellow citizens beyond
them, of repeated defeats and disasters attending
Southern arms, and of our concessions of the hone
iessness of our cause; by desecrating graves,
Churches, and other sacred Places by destroying
things which do not add to means of hostility but
are only useful in Deace aud serve to nromota tbo