The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1863-04-02
paoa HUxrsvlLLE.


assumed the posi- tion tAt citi1en reHn'n-
ing within the Federal lines might rightl"iiy
be required to abstain from all acts Of hoatii-
ity during the occupation Of the cousATy by
the enemy. This 10 true. provided they OBJ
serve the usages Of civilized warfare, and do
not moiest either the property or the person
Of the citissn, bat vixen the enemy pursue the
course now being prsciiced by the Yankee
army in Tennessee they become outlaws aud
are not entitled to- any OF The rights and privi-
Icyes of civilized warfare. II is deeply to be
regretted, for tho sake Of humanity. that the
enemy should have adopted policy so pal
pabIy in violation of all the usages OF war,
and should have given to this contest such
dark and hide GUS aspect Whatever may he
the result, and whatever course our Govern
ment may see proper to adopt, the fault VIII
not be with Us, and the guilt will aud does
rest on them. The object of the law ct ma
toris in requiring citizens not to take up arms
or TO engage in any acts Of hostility 10 to
soften the rigors of war and to confne It's
evils as much as possible to those in The re-
spective armies, and therefore an hostile ar
my holding country is bound to respect the
IiRnto Of pcIoou vtVpc''y VI N''ES"o WIZ
are non-co mbatants. When, however, citi
zens do take mp arms. or engage in military
service Of any kind they lose the character OF
ctizcns and hecome soldiers, and it seems to
me are subject to all the dangers and entitled
70 all the privileges of any other soldiers and
consequently, if captured, should be treated
prisoners of war. Eat they cannot, Mt. one
and the same time, be both citizens and sci
diers. Any acts of hostility, such IN taking
up arms or conveying information, will de-
prive them Of their immunitiea a. non com
batants, and will cause them, if captured, to
be treated az any o'her prisoners OF war.
1t therefore follows that whenever any of
citizens during the occupation of the
country by the amy choose to lay n side
their character az citizens, and become SOL
diers, they have right To do so, A. d when
captured by the enemy cannot be treated other
wise than any other prisoners of war are treat
ed So long. however, IA they choose 10 main
tain their character as citizens they are re-
quired by the laws Of nations to abstain from
oil acts Of hospitality. No Government has
the right to require any of its citizens TO play
the part Of spies, and therefore, if any citizen
is arrested by the enemy and required not to
give any information or assistance TO the op-
posite army whilst he remains within their
lines he may do SO without violating has obi.
cations 10 his own country. or in any manner
compromising his principles. This ia very
different from giving aid to the enemy or
showing any sympathy with them. Tie one
is the nero acknowledgement OF a beliigerens
IL
important That these clear and we'll established
principles rhouid he understood, in order that
we may not confound what is really no offence
with What is the very highest crime. Whether
taking the oath Of allegiance to the Lincoln
Government was an oHetee or not. depends
upon the peculiar circumstances Of each case
The enemy had no right to require such An
oath. It was not Recognised even by their
own Congress, wes not imposed by order OF
their own President, and had we been still in
the Union. would not have been binding, be
cause no private citizen Of the United States
can be required to take an oath. nuless ne 10
about to become juror. or to Gil some Office.
The oath would have been . nriiity II imposed
nPsI citizens Of the United Stases, how musl,
mote upon citizens Of tire Confederate States
IL ia ss " wvIe ~.< with ureat Britain
and our citizens should Be compelled by force
of arms 10 taxe an oath OF aIiegiancs to that
Cove, nmeps. It wsnld be nsikty, and would
mot in my opiniod, be binding either in the
sight ef Gcd or snss.l II 10 NOT like taking an
oath - jstsr. beosseess Government has
a right to require itS c;tl1ens to take oa,l,s A
juror. and witnesses in osvrt and therefore to
violate those ossis. 10 n q p1ance. Thase
are tho views wA&twts 0u Or mi.
subject - 4 0SwsrSAsnt, R =, Is,.,
corrssPondenes between 0sssats1 80 vsxR,
Haileek, last Falj, and - Skt13s3nx ~ 80 e.
souod ard correct. :. Whisue saS S1s0nnpd IA
oaths imposed BY tha e0ssn Of osaIass,n|
GOVERNMENT were not binding ip,any - ~!
the word. yeti wouid have been giad FL ~
our citizens hsd refused to take them. fhe
moral effect Of sucG 9 oosees =Sos1ei have hssn
Worth 6.sas 61nl to -. AlthoaefiN - -
may have - sigAyt 10 impose xn o6Tkt ~ I6n1
me, And if takS 1t, viii not b EoaSd 'SHsS1
yet II I sstuss aad sab1sik - bsiAg tmsriesss1I
may exhibit . dsgree q moral eVSres Mn j.
will b. worthy of 81 pfajse. 'Those 'Wk>Rc
unfairly. without shy compulsiee, IT, ~
oath. are In N unfortuBute gituatiou. al
who assisted e. yeScs4kf tlb6t u 6s&S -
guilty Of higA e6ne, ,fbs,Ais doibx ID I
become active 1appoftesa II hs encna1. g
Litter Of Can. tee 70 Ao1. sHatlesk, al
habiect, isa m6dS Of ee0pOeeioA,@ AnA -,
rth With clearBess And 6sy6s t61 po6ikt6oi
1hich our Oovesne,snt hse i.ty Il
-, ssf=F,F CouSp0wsa1p