New-York daily tribune., 1863-09-02
REAUREGAHD's LETTER TO GEN
GlL1rIDkE.

GsL1iriOkEs
All war is barbarous. After the best
attempts of civilization TO qualify a matter of
life and death, by the arrangement Of certain
mutual amenities, smack of the original saw
agery remains. ''Our's gentlemen" said the
Duke Of wellington to the surviving English
officers who had fought at Waterloo, sis a
damnable profession" This was akin to another
remark made by the same great commander.
There is nothing saddor," said he, " than a
grca. victory, except great defeat" But if
wars he necessary, those which are efficiently
and rapidly wagcd are clearly the most humane,
whether we regard the general suffering of the
army, or the trials which are demanded Of non
combaants II is not the severity of war, 50
much As its sluggish prolongaton which leaves
an invaded country utterly exhausted. The
bombardmcnt Of a single city may be meas
ure of relief to a large rural population, and at
the same time one of thosed events which
preclude the continuance of hostilities. Ever
since the present war broke out, The slave
holders have undertaken TO dictate to us
the methods by which it should be wagc1, The
measures to be allowed, ard the courses to be
avoided In doing this they have displayed a
Characteristic arrogance Although all history
shows that the emancipation of the enemy :
slaves has always been regarded as legitimate
stroke of warfare. we were told in the beginning
by the Rebels, with fcrocious significance,
tha, we must lot their blacks alone. Although
no nation has ever undertaken to prescribe -
another the color Of the troops which It might
bring into the field. We were also told by this
sham nationality, that if we employed certain
class of our citizens we must do IT at the risk oil
subjccting them if captured, to unusual and ex-
ceSsive crueltes and indigntics. And now,
upon a notice OF the intended bombardmcnt OF
Charleston, Ger. Bealregard replies that II we
undertake i, he will DO something exceedingly
and nameessly terrible. Ii he il 10 be shclcd,
he wishes Us 10 wait until he gives Us notice
that he is all ready to submit TO the opera
ton. This would be amusing. If 1t
were not 80 consummately insolent. We must
confess that we are 10 but a limited extent agi-
,ated by Beauregards threat Of stringent
measures of retaliation" We are more afraid
of his remaining guns than o. any thing elSc'
and We are not much afraid Of them. Retala-
ton is not game Of solitaire Upon the CON
trary two can play Al II with the greatest ease
No Union commander can allow himsclf 70 be
turned from his purpose by indefinite threats, or
pern, his antagonist 10 prescribe his plan oi
operations. Gen. Bcsuregard scolds Gen. Gill
morc a. If he already had the United States OH
Ger a, his mercy a. close prisoner of war. We
think that We have hal quite enough OF THIS Kind
Of cpis.olizng. and that in future snch letters A.
this of Gen. Bcaufegari should bc promptly r.
turned TO their writers.
We mus, declare hat iLcrc il something in
our opinion. COX sar!onic laughter IN Ucn. Beau
regards fine talk about humanity. t. rny
nothing OF the suffcdngs which their arrogant
impotence has eniailcd upon the Free States,
aad upon those Slave Siatoswhich have declined
20 JON in their conspiracy, considerably lcss
than bali mill!Ono! Shareholders nave brought
upon The mass of their own white neighbour The
er'remc Of inlircncc and Of personal danger
These neighbors include the women aud ch.l-
den and non-combltnn,, generally, whose pcrl
has inc.tel Gen. B. % lecture The Union com.
mlndcr in such a fine strain Of pi'iiul morality
r. CRAFTY tie personal ambition Of mc!c hand
iul Of men, and The personal hatred OF another
a whole broad land has been gwen up to ravagc
and - alarm The Confederate are fighting 20
prolong The lie Of An institution The very es-
sence OF which !. sheer, unldultcra,ed, and, q,
we inay say. sublimlted inhumanity. especially
toward women and children II every inhab'
/ liant OF Charleston should be slaughtered the
aygr.gate wretohodness and suffering would not
! be 40 great a. that which Slavery brings upon
i,s victims in single month. And yet Mr.
Bcaurcgird talks about civilization" and
"blrbarism :" II the First Grea, Rebel ever
reads that letter, how be will howl with
laughter
Sooner or later II will become evident 20 The
mos, s,od and prejudiccd Northern mind that
in this war we are not b. go 10 the Sllyeholders,
either f,r our policies or mOralities. Habit Is
hard 70 be rid Of; and there IS one habit Of con
sidcring a. gospel everything which comes from
a Stakeholder which still inioots Il small portion
OF our citizens. We DO not know how far the
Rebels rely upon the existence Of thi', but 1t is
certain that 30 a certain extcnt they do count
upon it, tone of authority and custom of
dictation are not easily laid aside when once
they have become confirmed. The Southern
Generals bully in the field, as tho Southern pol
itclns bullcd in the Senate. If the latter had
been firmly met at first. We should have lad no
War If tie former are firmly met now, the