Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-03-18
cold.Rlooded Murder. ::

A friend who writes US from one Of our Western
Counties, says: (. .a..,rs
"Eveh the foul murder at palmyra, Mo-, has been
outdone lately in the Laurel War in Madison
County, on those men who.took the salt in Marshall
Nomurders were committed by them, and no South
erners were killed in the fight; yet am cred'o'y
informed that the wounded laurel men were muf-
dered where. they lay on the ground, and that the
prisoners we're marched mile or SO from the camp
and shot down in cold blood. The officer who d'd
this knew that the only object Of the raid made
these men to seize the salt which they believed
was wrongfully withheld from then. They killed
no one in doing this, though they could have k'liso
hundreds am no apologist for these mserao'e
ignorant thieves, yet many of them were not aware
that they were committing great wrong. But
hold that the Constitution and the laws Of this cou-
try guarantee 10 every man and woman in the
Confederacy, no matter what their crime, FAIR ana
impartialtrial"
=, Well and truly said. But these poor creatures
had no. trial The wounded we're butchercd where
they FELL and the prisoners were marched'out ana
shot, and thrown into trench and covered p. Two
three boys under fifteen we're among the victims
and what adds to the horrors of this deed, is the
fact that some of the women who stimulated or ap
proved this raid for salt, who endeavored to Sc
crete and shield the men and boys who we're guilty
oft were roped around the neck and whipped i
These men had committed great wrong against
e..:..y.- 4hey deserved severe punishment. 1t
may be that death by the law should have been their
portion; but the law was not allowed to speak. Its
justice was not even invoked The musket did the
work. The red hand of vengeance was triumphant
and the voice Of mercy, which is heard every where
- III "
this act as both cowardly and wicked In the name
of violated LAWN the name of outraged human,-
ty, we demand the punishment of the officer who is
guilty of these murders Who ishse -.
This is the first act Of the kind perpetrated by the
military during this war; and County in North
Carolina, it seems, was selected as the spot which
to do the deed. We trust that Gov. Vance, who is
the advocate Of law, and the friend of the ignorant
ard the frendess, will demand satisfaction for this
blot on the fair escutcheon Of the State Let the
officer who committed this murder, have that trial
which he denied to others. Let justice do her work
in his also, and let mercy, who was not heard
by him. be heard in his behalf if indeed she has any
plea to offer.
We have heretofore alluded to this I" Laurel War,
out IL may oe necessary 10 pam II 10 ouT reahes'
These people nhabit the laurel crowned mountains
in this State, bordering on the Tennessee line They
are harey, independent fearless race, not much
accustomed to the forms, and restraints Of law
They are for the most part industrious, and live
within themselves. They thought they had reason
to believe that the portion ofssalt which was<due
them had been unjus'!y withheld, and so they de-
ternined to 90 to Marshall the County seat of Mad
ison, and take the salt by force. They did So
woundihs one or two persons, and causing much ex
citcMent. In one or two cases. we believe, they de
stroyed or stole private property during their raid
apd doubtless some old grudges were paid off ly
them in severe and summary manner. 1t may be-
but We have not heard. that they werein open re
bellion against the Confederate authorities and thai
they sympathized with, ard were accompanied by
some Lincolnites from East Tennessee but admit
ting all this to b. SO, and ten times worsc, it VS.
cowardly, unchristian, and wicked to Kill them a!
they lay wounded and it was murder to shoot those
who were taken prisoners without giving them
I trial.