The Portland daily press., 1863-02-18
The "Barbarisms of Slavery"

The "Barbarisms Of Slavery"
Mr.. Sumner has been censured because ne
arraigned slavery for its barbarlsins' though
he had himself nearly suffered death at the
hands of one of its drunken champions and
armed bullies. filed to the maddening degree
with the vile hatred which it has so often in
spred in the hearts of its friends But the
shadows are fast lifting, and candid men are
coming to see that even Mr.. Sumner, with all
his provocations and all his wonderful com
mand Of language, did not reveal even the
half of the denominations for which that ac-
cursed brutalizing system is responsible. The
following comes TO us under date Of New
York, Feb. 10:
Memphis letters of the 18th state that there
is perfect reign Of terror In northern Ala
bama and northern Mississippi. Guerrillas and
bloodhounds are on the track of Union men
who fee 10 the woods to avoid CONSUMPTION.
A young girl carrying food to her father was
torn 10 pieces by bloodhounds. Not less than
1000 Union men have reached CorlEth.
regiment is forming there which already num-
bers six full companies. A number OF Union
lists have been shot and hung, and their houses
burned. Two women in Tuscumbia county
were torn 10 pieces by bloodhounds. Among
the fugitives at Corinth are men eighty years
ofa
We ask sensible men-those who are not
besotted with love Of slavery-if humanity
will mourn over the determination of the au-
thors of such outrages? Why should there be
any more tenderness manifested toward such
friends, or any more conjunction in wiping
them from the face Of the earth, than there
t..; la,
who occasionally fall upon the infant settle
meuts on the Northwestern frontier, and en-
gage in indiscriminate massacre OF women and
children? 1t is time that all gloves were laid
aside, and that the majesty and manhood of
the great American nation were vindcatedby
making summary work with those who disre-
spect alike the laws of God and man, and tie
claims of humanity. We would pursue them
with the same determination and to the same
end, that the Semnoles were once pursued in
the Florida everglades; to conquer them,
though such conquest should involve the sac
rihce Of the last wretch who has disgraced his
race BY the barbarity Of his crimes.
Even the Governor of the "old Dominion
"Honest John Letcher," as he was once famil-
iarly known-is but little behind the gueriIlas
Of the Southwest. 1t seems that he, in inita-
tion Of JEFF. Davis, has instituted 'retaliatoiy"
measures, and proposes to intmidate the Gov
eminent OF the United States by threats of ven
geance upon Union soldiers. He SAYS Virginia
has an army Of her own, independently of the
army Of the Confederacy, to which federal Off
GERS taken In Virginia belong, and to whose
regulations they must be. subject. He says that
Col. Richard T. Zarvona lwell known as "The
French Lady, is regularly commissioned
officer in the service of the State of Virginia;
and that, as the Federal Government has kept
him for eighteen months in prison, he Letcher,
has sent Union captain, a lieutenant, and Ave
private soldiers to the penitentiary in retalias
ton for that Imprisonment, aud will keep them
there until Zarvona is liberated. In addition
70 this, and in retaliation for the imprison-
ment of two West Virginia guerias, Leteher
has sent Union captain and lieutenant to the
penitenfiary, there to be kept at hard labor
until the guerillas are let loose. And he fur
ther says that he will hold as hostages two
hundred other Union prisoners who have been
captured by the State forces under Floyd. He
closes by proclaiming that he will "unfiineh-
ingly retaliate, for any improper treatment of
soldiers or citizens OF the State of Virginia.
II In view OF such facts as the above, the
American people do not arouse themselves,
strengthen the hands of the Government, and
crush out the rebellion with its infamous au-
thors and abettors, then they deserve to be
slaves. 1t is time to lay aside all mawkish
sentimentality, all this fear of hurting some
body, and with a steady, bold hand, strike at
rebellion and rebels, no matter whether they
be in Virginia or in Maine, in epauletts or in
citizens dress. Before we submit to rebellion
let us at least have some determined fighting.
HLiberty is TO die, let her friends at least
make q bold show in her defense.