The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-19
Destroying Private Property In War.

When Gen. MCCLELLAN took command Of
the Army of the Potomac, and when he was in
command of the Army of Western Virginia,
he was in nothing more abused than for incul-
eating good order and discipline among his
men when in the enemy's country. His'poli-
cy was to conciliate, and make friends of enc
mics, and hence he forbade all systems of pub
lie plumber, and gave what protection was pos
sible to non-combatants. Republicans in Con-
gress and the Republican press all rallied at
him-but to-day, as we behold q system OF ven.
geance and wicked retaliation, we find differ
ent opinion among the old advocates of con-
fiscation, subjugation and destruction. The
N. Y. Times, pointing to the destruction of
Chambersburg, says
We have only to ask ourselves how we
should feel toward u Government whose SOL
diers had burned the roof over wife and chill
dren, and turned us out, without . penny, on
the world. We should lose henceforth all
thought OF any interest, except hate and re-
vengc. We should have passed the limit in
which man cares for anything, except to
retaliate on his enemy and every Northern
man would certainly choose 1.-the last ditch"
or eternal exile, before submission to such
cOnquerOr.
Then such barbarities strike quite as often
the disatfected, or those half in union with the
invaders, as any other, and of course they
make them enemies instead of half friends
We have no doubt that every invasion of
Maryland produces strong accession of loyal
SITS to the Union party. And 10 like manner,
levery unnecessary abuse or violence in our
raids, converts numbers to the Confederacy.
Bonaparte understood the art of invasion.
He never permitted any such bungling opera
homesteads, or plundering cities. When he
entered wealthy district or rich city, he at
once established system of exact levy and
forced contribution, in return for which he
protected the cultivatOrs and the citizens from
abuse and plumber. 1t was tins system which
enabled him SO many years to support war by
war, without burdening France beyond her
power. 1t was often, indeed, deviated FROM
but wherever violated. as in Spain, it proved a
source of endless trouble and disaster to him.
The military historian of the Peninsular War
remarks, that one of the great causes of Sir
John Moore's disaster, was the permission Civ
en- the soldiers, during a portion of the retreat
to enter private houses, which they plundered.
and where they lost all the restraints of their
officers. We believe the remarkable modera-
ton shown by the rebels in their invasion of
pennsylvania last year was due to this cause
more than any other. If Gen. Hunter did
burn the residence of the Governor of Vir-
GINA, we hold 1t an ACT unworthy of o Federal
officer, just as we expect the act OF burning
Gov. Bradford's house from ruffian like Gil
NOR.
If these views can be impressed upon both
armies, something will be gained in the cause
of decent warfare and humanity. The atroc-
ties committed on both sides in this war are q
disgrace to civilization and the causeless burn
ing OF two hundred and sixty-fve occupied
dwellings in Chambersburg, both in the man.
ner and the act, is probably without parallel