The weekly union record., 1864-05-21
Bogus VS.. Genuine Chivalry.

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been exploded by the war of rebellion. The
slave -aristocratic politicians of the South
claimed many peculiar traits of superiority for
the people of the slave States as against the
Northern people, which, had not the present
civil war been inaugurated by them, might
from their frequent repetition, have been gen.
orally received as facts 1t is scarcely necessary
to allude to their "fve-to one" theory-that is
that FIVE Northern men as soldiers were only
equal to one Southern man-as Southern Gen
erals have already confessed the supremely
ludcrous nature of the assertion, and Northern
Copperheads only claim now that one of their
Southern brethren" is equal to three "Aboli-
tiouists." Having relinquished all claim to
this physical superiority, they still arrogate
to themselves the exclusive appellation of
"Chivalry" par excellence. With this assump-
tion as leading characteristic OF the most
prominent OF the rebel leaders, the natural pre-
sumption would be that war on their part would
be distinguished from that OF inferior national
tiles by the magnanimity shown to the enemy,
when they come in subsection to their power.
Claiming to have sprung from the chivalrous
cavaliers of the Old World, with their heredi
tary chivalry more fully developed by the
civiziDg and christianizing" character of
Southern institutions. it was naturally supposed
that the conflict on their part would be char
acterized by acts of the most lofty chivalry, far
ecpsing any other people in this respect. But
alas for Southern Chivalry-the desecration
of the graves OF Union soldiers in Virginia the
scalping of the Federal wounded and dead at
Pea Ridge by the allies of the "Confederates'
the sacking of Lawrence, Kansas, by the fends
led by that arch feud, Quantrell; the butchery
and atrocities lately committed at Fort Pillow
by the command of the chiralrous Forrest the
hanging of hundreds of Union men in various
parts Of the South because they refused to join
the ranks Of the rebels-these and many other
like acts Of savage barbarity-have stamped
the Confederate Government" with such q
damning record, that it will be execrated by
future historians as the most wicked and
diabolical conspiracy of modern times.
In contradstincton to the policy inaugurated
and carried out by the rebel leaders, glance
at the course pursued by the Federal Govern
ment and its military officers towards the people
OF the South, irrespective of their loyalty or
disloyalty, reveals q magnanimity and benevo-
lence unparalleled in the history of nations.
When New Orleans came in possession of that
glorious old remnant of Jacksonian principles
upon whom the "chiyalry" bestow the epihet
of Brute Butler the people OF that great
Southern city were found to be in starving
condition under rebel misrule, and arrangements
were at once made 10 feed them at the expense
of the Government they were called upon, and
many of them desired, to destroy. At Norfolk
Virginia, after its capture the people were
found to be in n similar condition, and similar
policy was pursued towards them-they we're
fed by the Government against which they
rebelled. The same magnanimous conduct has
marked the progress of the Northern armies
throughout the entire South-a chivalrous
spirit has been displayed which, before the war,
was claimed to exist only in the bosoms of the
Southern aristocrats. In view of these facts,
it is time the term "chivalry" should cease to
be applied to the Southern conspiratOrs except
in derision, and transferred to those noble de-
tenders OF our Government who have shown
themselves to be possessed of this noble attri-
butte in its highest type. Let US hear no more
of Southern Chivalry." Henceforth, Northern
Chivalry is the only genuine article.
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