Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-01-29
The London Times on jeff. Davis's Nee.

The London Times of the 18TH inst, in the
course Of long editorial on JEFF. Dave'e re-
taliatory mes sage, says:
No measure could possibly be more IN timed
We receive Mr.. Daviss proclamation, denounc-
ing death without mercy upon Gen. Bu Der and
his officers, by the same mail which informs ue
tEst Gen. Butler has been relieve by the Pres.
iGPnt from his command which he has dis-
graceo, and that another commando, whose
language ls, at any rate, more conciliatory, has
been 81 mt IN his stead. Mr.. Davis denounces
death upon all officers serving with armed
negroes against the South, and justifies the
sentence by an appeal to Mr.. Lincoln's procla-
NATION. at a time when every body is uncertain
whether the proclamation is TO be put in force
or not.
lit was necessary 10 act at all m this sense
would il not have been better 10 postpone 80
stern and terrible q resolution to the yery Last
moment possfble7 But was that resolution ne-
eessary Wehaye set ont the heads OF The rea-
sons given in Mr.. Davis's proclamation for re-
fusing quarter to captured enemies. We win
not presume 10 say that there are not in this
enumeration Of offences some things contrary
TO International law, as there are assuredly
many things plainly repusnant 10 the most OBJ
FIous dictates OF justice and mercy. But q
mere violation Of the usagee OF war 10 not
enough 10 justify, in the eye of reassn and good
sense, recourse 10 the last and most desperate
remedy-retaliation.
He knows that in putting TO death prisoners
taken in war IN order 10 avenge the faults Of
their Generals, he is inauguraiing a state OF
things under which quarter will neither be
given nor asked, and which will degrade that
war, the usages OF which he is so ANXIOUS TO
main tain, into an indiscriminate and mercilese
butchery.
Nr. Davis ought also TO remember that,
though England and France have conceded 10
the Southern States the position Of belligere lts
IL behooves them 70 exercise their bellgerent
rights With the utmost forbearance and moder-
alton. We have not scrupled to express our
sy mpathy with the South in their gallant
struggle for national Independence, and 90
strong has been that sympathy that il has over
powered the repulsion inspired by the institu-
uon OF slavery.
But the South should remember that they
were the first TO draw the sword in this quarrel;
that they rose against an established Govern
ment in the exercise Of its legal functions; that
they obtained by the agency OF traitors In that
Government q considerable supply Of arms and
money, and that that Union which they seek 20
dissolve is, as events have proved, the dearest
wish Of every American heart. These thines
are prorocatIons Of no ordinary magnitude,
and in some degree extsnuate, though they can
IN DO degree Justify, the outraees which have
followed the solitary Northern success, he
capture OF New Orleans. Better 10 bear little
longer even such iniquities as those Of which
th' y complain than 10 aggrayate the horr0rs
OF contest ALREADY sufficiently dreadful by
licensing system OF murder from which
neither party can reap any possible advantage,
and which can only tend to en- yelope the Amer.
lean name In everlasting ignominy.