Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-12-31
NEW SERIES-vOL. 25-NO. 47.


pervision OF taking the most ordinary
precaution against disease, these helpless
dependents, accustomed to have their
wants supplied. by the foresight Of their
masters, are being rapidly oxterminated
wherever brought in contact with the in
vaders. BY the Northern man, on whose
deop-rooted prejudces no kindly restrain-
ing influence is exercised. they are treat.
ed with aversion and neglect. There is
little hazard in predicting that, in all
localities where the enemy have gained
temporary foothold, the negroes, who.
under our care, increased six fold num-
Der since their importation into the col
olies Of Great Britain, will have been
reduced by mortality during the war to not
more than one-half their previous number.
information on this subject is derived
not only from our own observation and
and from the reports Of the negroes Who
succeeded in escaping from the enemy, but
full confirmation is afforded by the state
ments published in the Northern journals
by humane persons engaged in making
appeals to the charitable for aid in pre-
venting the ravages OF disease, exposure
and starvation among the negro women
and children who are crowded into en-
campments.
The frontier Of our coutry bears wit
ness to the slacrity and efficiency With
which the general orders of the enemy
have been executed in the devastation Of
the farms, the destruction of the agricul-
tural implements, the burning of the
bNnuao nd .bo YlrpJn. af
vable. Its whole aspect is comment
on the ethics Of the general order issued
by the United States on the Oath of April,
1868, comprising instructions for the
government Of armies of the United States
in the field," and Of which the following
is an example:
Military necessity admits of all direct
destruction of life and limb of armed en-
emies. and of other persons whose destruc-
ton is incidentally unavoidable in the
armed contest of the war; it allows all the
capturing of every armed enemy, and ev-
cry enemy Of importance to the hostile
Government, or of peculiar danger to the
captor; it allows ell destruction of prop
erty and distractions of the ways and
channels of traffic, travel or communica-
ton, and OF all Withholding of subss-
tence or means of life from the enemy; of
the appropriation Of whatever an enemy's
country affords necessary for the subsist-
ence and safety of the army, and of such
deception as does not involve the break
ing of good faith, either positively pledg-
ed regarding agreements entered into du-
ring the war, or supposed by the modern
law Of war to exist Men who take up
arms against one another in public war
do not cease on this account TO be moral
beings; responsible to one another and to
| God"
The striking contrast to thsse teachings
and practices presented by our army when
invading Pennsylvania illustrates the
moral character of our people. Though
their forbearance may have been unmeris-
ed and unappreciated by the enemy, it
was imposed by their own selfrespect,
which forbade degenesrting from Chris-
tian principles into plundering ruffians.
assailing the property, lives and honor Of
helpless non com batants If their con-
duct, when thus contrasted with the in
human practices of our foe fails to COM
mand the respect and sympathy of civili-
zed nations in our day, it cannot fail to
be recognized by their less deceived pos
terty.
The hope last year entertained Of az
early termination of the war has not been
realized. Could carnage have satisfied the
appetite Of our enemy for the destruction
of human life, or grief have appeased their
wonton desire to infiict human suffering,
there has been bloodshed enough on both
sides, and two lands have been sufficient
ly darkened by the weeds OF mourning to
induce disposition for peace.
If unanimity in people could dispel
delusion, it has been displayed too unmis-
takably not to have silenced the pretense
that the Southern States were merely dis
turbed by factious insurrection, and it
must long since have been admitted that
they were but exercising their reserved
right to modify their own government in
such manner as would best secure their
own happiness. But these considerations
have been powerless to allay the unchris-
tisn hate OF those who, long accustomed
to draw large profits from union with
us, cannot control the rage excited by the
conviction that thsy have, by their own
folly, destroyed the richest source Of their
prosperity. They refuse even to listen to
proposals for the only peace possible be-
tween us-a peace which, recognizing the
impossible gulf that divides us, may leave
the two people separately TO recover from
the injuries inflicted on both by the cause
less war now waged against us. Having
begun the war in direct violation Of their
Constitution. which forbade the attempt
to coerce State, they have been harden-
ed by crime. until they no longer attempt
to veil their purpose to destroy the insti-
tutions and subvert the sovereignty and
independence of these States. We now
know that the only reliable hope for peace
is in the vigor of our resistance, as the ces-
sation of their hostility is only to be expec-
ted from the pressure of their necessities.
The patriotism of the people has prov
ed equal to every sacrifice demanded by
their eountry's need. We have been uni
ted as people never we've united under
/ like circumstances before. God has bless
ed us with success disproportionate to our
means, and, under His Divine favor, our
labors must at last be crowned with the
reward due to men who have given all
they possess TO the righteous defense OF