Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-07-14
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

Observation-Disclosures.
On O former occasion VIC laid before
our readers some extracts from the report
of the Committee who investigated the
massacre at Fort Pillow. We this week
lay before them a portion of the testimo-
ny as taken by that Committee and pub
lished by order of Congress. We have
read but very small part of this volume,
but that contains proof enough 70 satisfy
any one not so. skeptical as to deny his
own existence that it was but the exccu-
sion Of predetermined, deliberate, thor
ough Wholesale and brutal murder as well
MS robbery. It was not the carnage of a
battle, but ferocious, savage and barba-
rous assassination Of a vanquishcd foe, or
rather of men who had surrendered,
thrown down their arms and begged for
quarter. It was not confined to the muir
der Of men alone, but women and chill
dren also werc brutally done to death. -
That it was not done in the heat Of excl
ted passion or the flush of victory, is con-
lslusiyely demonstrated in the mode, time
~ circumstances of the preparation. -
Icy were shot and stabbed. and if not
.tkss killed at once, beaten to death Of
Kicked down the banks of the river, there
I, drown. Others nailed to floors and the
sides of houses and huts, to which the in
cendiary torch was applied and the vic
tins burned to death after being wounded.
Others again were buried, while still liv-
ing. in the same heap with the dead
Others again dragged out of their beds
of suffering in the hospitals to undergo
the same savage usage. These horrible
icrimes did not cease with the first day,
but, aftsr 4 nighswhich should have been
devoted TO reflection, if not refreshmcnt,
these incarnate tends as well as false
traitors arose with their hellish appctites
unglutted, and renewed the tragic scenes
Of the preceding day.
That such outrages on human feeling
and sentiment are not uncountenanced, or
in violation of the will and wishes of the
rebel powers at Richmond, we have the
right TO more than infer from more than
one fact. We have seen no word of dis
appreciation of these atrocities either by
the people and the press of the South, or
any measure or word of reproval from the
authorities under which Forrest acts
This may, therefore, be taken as l'rin'a
faeie evidence Of their approval. No at
tempt has been made to call him to any
account for what he has done, nor any
effort made to prevent a repetition Of such
scenes by the removal from command of
Forrest. Chalmers, or any other officer
who participated in that Outrage. we
have the right, then, to say il is an act
approved if not directed by the rebc'
authorities. We understand well enough
that the institution Of slavery is the cor
ner- stone on which the South has built
it, secession This war is struggle be-
tween freedom and slavery, and the feel
ing Of the Southern leaders is to have
slavery or nothing; the negro slave or
corpse the white "mudsills" as ''hewcrs
Of wood and drawers Of water" or wiped
out from their midst. Finding the ne
gro used Is an instrument to punish their
treason, 70 maintain the Union, and cs-
sablish freedom, they have declared a
var Of determination against MOI only
negro soldiers and the women and chill
sfrch who accompany them. but also the
white officers who command them. Or
,ders to this effect have been published
time and again as shown by extracts from
Southern papers, often accompanied by
original remarks encouraging As well as
endorsing this p0licy.
In the same volume we have the cv-
idepce Of their deadly hostility to the
poor white man. who. impelled by the
prcmptings Of patriotism Or the perils OF
nc times. at bis country's can, entered
che ranks Of her armies in defence ofour
national existence. His srimc is, that he
orsferred Liberty and bio country before
sarery and aristocroey. and the domina-
tlag spirit and hate Of the Southern Oh
sifarcby can be satisfied by nothing short
II his extinction. The evidence embod-
~ 10 this report. il upsabstsntiated BY
- tsstimony Of our.own eyes and ears.
lr5sl1 eouslssi~sly establish the fact OF
- deliberate and cold bleeded design on
H. rart Of Jeg. Davis ard his min