Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-07-02

the E0COnY ana TIC VI
To the Editor of the Spy War has its
established usages, and civilized nations are
supposed to respect them. AS yet tits one OF
the usages of war to destroy, as far as posi-
ble the commercial marine of an enemy.
! There is, perhaps, no reason why this should
be more exposed to attack than any other pri-
vate property; and our government once pro-
! posed TO England and France to establish It's
immunity in all future wars. This, however,
was declined on their part; and should war
occur between us and any commercial power,
European or American, We should make every
effort to cripple their commerce. 10 COM
plain, therefore, that any belligerent power
does the same by US is weak. 1t is very
wicked of the rebels to be at war with US but
being so, they incur no extra condemnation
by destroying our shipping.
The business of burning towns, and resort
| ing to indiscriminate pillage when in an enc
my's country, is quite different. Different
| because the usages of war make it so. From
civilized war these practices have now been
discarded, and are hence to be regarded as the
deeds of barbarians,- unless in very excep-
tional circumstances. The parallel, therefore,
between the operations of the Tacony and
those of Col. Montgomery, made by wri-
ter in yesterdays SPY,-does not hold. The
one is in accordance with the present usages
of civilized warfare the other is in fragrant
violation of them.
There are reasons of the most cogent ma
ture why the colored troops should not be en-
ployed in barbarous kind OF warfare: and
we regard it as 10 less than public calamity
that Colonel Montgomery has begun by estab-
listing such precedent. The sniveers in
Europe and at the north have been whining
about the ''horrors of servile war;" and pro-
claiming that if colored troops were brought
into the field, their course would be one of
ravage and devastation. Col. Montgomery is
doing his best to justify the SANDER. The
next thing we know, the French emperor and
| his tools in the British cabinet will be inter-
fering "in behalf of humanity" Heaven
save the mark to prevent a general course
OF burning and destruction; and the friends
Of the negro will have done more than all his
enemies could do to ruin his reputation.
The demoralizing effect of these proceed
ings upon the colored troops must be extreme.
Military discipline should be of great service
to them, helping the freed slaves over the in
terval between their former condition and the
orderly conduct which is proper to free men.
To make it disserviceable, to make it mere
schooling in devastation and Instruction.
For we hold it, hold it deliberately, to be no
less than a crime.
1t does not mend the matter to say that the
enemy, by assuming the attitude of assassins
toward the colored troops, have merited this
revenge If urtroops are murdered by them,
theirs must be judicially executed in return.
| Military usage, the voice of the world and our
own consciences will sustain us in that. In
a course of mere robbery and ravage neither
Of the three will sustain us.
1t is to be hoped therefore, that all respec-
table newspapers will lend their help for the
correction of this abuse. The present writer
| does not see the Tribune, and did not know,
till informed by the writer in the Spy, that it
had expressed disapproval of this savage style
| of warfare. But if it has done so it has
simply taken in advance the position to
which the government and all respectable
men will be compelled, sooner or later, 10
come,-by the hlsses of Europe, il by no 9TH
er means of persuasion, The Kisses of Europe
sci onlya serene Indifference to them, when we
have justice and honor on our side; but the
cheek that deserves to blush will grow red
though only baby point its finger; and those
who merit their own reproaches will take on
no better aspect than that OF shamelessnes in
trying to OUTAGE the reproaches of mankind
But, above all, let him who is a friend to the
negro insist that the negro troops shall be en-
ployed only in eirilized warfare, and kept
within the strictest limits of the code. COL
| Higginson has, within the scope of his action,
| given a splendid vindication of their charac-
ter; let this hint be taken without the kicks of
| the civilized world. D.A. w.