Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-08-14
The Law of Retaliation.

Some weeks since our government slhSrou out d
couple of Yankee officers in prison at Richmond to
be executed by way of retaliation for the execution
by the federal government of two of our officers for
recruiting in Kentucky; and now, it seems, the
federal government has singled out a relative Of
Gen. Winder and relative of Gen. Lee, in con-
finement at Fortress Monroe to be executed in case
the sentence pronounced on the two Yankee officers
referred to shall be carried out Our government,
or rather the administration at Richmond hesitates.
Meanwhile the gallant Gen. Morgan, and portion
of his band recently captured in Ohio, have been
confined in the penitentiary of that State, their
heads shaved, and themselves placed the footing
of criminals. The Richmond Examiner, noticing
this outrage says:
ITO this humiliation, this infamy, have the bra
vest and the best champions of the South been
brought by the timidity and trucking of their gov
ernment Certainly this would never have been
done, if the Yankees had not ascertalned by Loo
and cautiously feeling, that the authorities Rich
mond wanted nerve. If it were an incident which,
began and ended with ITSELF not much needed to
be said of it. But this fact has horrible signif-
canoe. 1t is an indication that the Southern gov
ernment is permitting the enemy to take that same
vantage ground in the conduct Of hOStties which
the policeman enjoys in his contests with the out
laws of the criminal population. 1t has come to be
assumed on one side, and confessed on the other,
that the soldiers of the South are feons while the
myrmidons of the North are the executors of JUS
tce; that all in the wrong, they in the right
that we are rebels to law, and they its defenders
and representatives. They must inhict punishment
without heStating calculating consequences,
while we must expect and submit to it, when We
cannot compel.
Into that hopeless position the nerveless policy
of the South is fast carrying it. The men at the
head OfIts affairs must know it we'll as we do
W hat idea, what motive, what fatal deuSion or hal
lucinaton, holds them back from their obvious
course? Can ii be personal fear? Can it be pos
Si6Isthat they think their chances for sqJety one
Ohit the better IN case 0t failure because they dared
moi shed blood iC retaliation? Such calculation
appears too weak to be possible. Is it nervous hor
ror, shrinking from necessary pain? They are
bringing us, themselves, and their countrymen,
evils by the side of which, the scenes of a retaa-
ton have only the theatrical terrorS Of tragic play
The enemy conducts himself with the reckless
defiance OF consequences which is supposed to be
an attribute of daring insurrection while the
Coniederacy exhibits all the ill-tmed moderation,
aStonlShment and slowneSS of action, which is gen.
orally shown by long established but declining
thorty. Who could have anticipated such a reversal
OF roles! At the outbreak all mankind expected
that the COnfederacy would have been "bloOdy,
bold and reSolute as we'll as able that it would have
faced its gigantic antagonist with the decision Of
revolutionary France before combined Europe. But
the United States has been the Wdrdt, the Robe
sPterre, the DdHtOn the COnfederacy has preferred
the policy of the BourbonS and leaves its best and
braveSt to perish like the noble martyrs Of France
And what is than this, if possible, Mr.. Lin
coin has given notice that for every negro captured
in arms by US and restored to his sold in
to slavery, he will put a Confederate prisoner to
work on the public works We called upon,
therefore, either to admit that he has right to free
our negroes and make them fight against US, or, by
a contrary course, to see our veteran soldiers who
may be taken prisoners put to work like felons in
peuitentares and railroads What will Mr.. Da-
Wis do How will he extricate himself from these
alarming difficulties?
We concur with our cotemporary Of the North.
Carolina Christian AdrOcdte, that retaliation is un.
christian, heathenish but our government has nev-
ertheless threatened it, and it must either go for
ward recede. iii goes forward, the blood of in
nocent men on both sides will flow like water !;
if it recedes it will lose character for frmness both
at home and abroad