Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-05-05

y. T. EAkEAAA-
headquarters Departments q the Tsnn-ssse, ,
tieksbnrs, Jsnaafy 5i, Isa4. j
Major r. A Saryer, assistant Adju-
5 taat General, Army ef'ths Tennessee
Hgntsritie:
DEAR SAwTEE-In my former letter
have answered all your questions, save
one, and that relates'to the treatment OF
inhabitants, known or suspected to be
hostile, or secesh. This Is in truth
the most difficult business Of our army,
AZ il advances aud oecapies the South
srn country. Il il almost impossible 70
lay down rules, und I invariably leave
this whole subject to tie local command.
ers, but am willing 10 give them the ben.
eft Of my acquired knowledge and ex-
perience.
In Europe, whence W. derive our
principles OF war, as developed BY their
histories, wars are between kings or
rulers through hired armies, aud not
between peoples These remain. as Il
we're, neutral, and sell iheir produce to
whatever army il in possession
Napoleon, when al var With Prussia
Austria, and Russia, hougbt forage and
provisions II the inhabitants, and eoase-
qaently had an intereai % protect farms
and factories, which minisiered 70 biz
wants In ike mauner, lhe allied arm
les in France could buy Of the French
inhabitaats whatever they needed, the
produce OF the soil OF manala etufea Of
the country Therefass the rule was
and is, that wars are conaned 70 the
armies, ami should not visit the homes
OF families or private Interests
Bot, ia other examples, a different
rule obtained the sanction Of historical
authority | will only instance that,
when, in the reign Of William and Mary,
the English army oeeupied Ireiasd, then
in n state Of revolt, the inhabitau' we're
actually driven into foreign lands, and
we're dispossessed of their property and
new population Introduced To this
day large part Of the north Of Ireland
Is held By the descendants of the Scotch
emigrants sent there by William order
and an act Of Parliament
The war which nos prevails in our
land is essentially a war o. races The
Southern people entered into a clear
compact OF government, but still main
tanned a species OF separate interests,
history, and pTcjudiees. These latter
became stronger and stronger. till they
have led to war which have developed
fruits of the hitteress kind
We Of the North are, beyond al ones
ton, right in our lawful cause, but We
are not bound to ignore the fact that the
people Of the South have preindices,
which form a part Of their natpre, and
which they cannot throw of without an
effort Of reason or the slow process OF
natural change Now, the question aris-
es, should we treat as absolute enemies
all in the South, who differ from as in
opinion or prejudice, kill or Danish them,
or, should we give them time to think,
and gradually change their conduct so
as TO conform to the new order Of things,
which is slowly and gradually creeping
into their country7
When men take arms TO resist our
rightful authority, we are compelled to
use force, because all reason and argu-
ment fail when arms are resorted TO-
When the provisions, horses, mules, wag-
ous, etc, are used by the enemy, il j.
clearly our duty and right TO take them
because otherwise they might be used
against u.s.
In like manner, all houses left vacant
by an inimical people, are clearly OUT
right, or such as are needed as store.
houses, hospitals and quarters Bot 6
question arises ss to dwellings used by
women, children and non-combasants
SO long as non-eombatants remain ID
their homes and keep to their aecustom
ed business, their opinions aud rvejudi
? ces in TO wise influence the war, ant
therefore should not be noticed But i
any one comes out into the public streets
and creates disorder, he or she should b
punished, restrained or hanished, either
to the rear or front. as the officer 10 com
mand adjudges II the people, OF AMI
of them, keep up a correspondence with
parties in hostility. they are spies, anC
can be punished with death, or minor pun
ishment
/ These are well established principles
/ Of war. and the people Of the South hsv
! ing appealed to war are barred from ap
paaling 10 our Constitution, which they
have practically and pahlicly delied
They have appealed to war, and mus
abide its rules and laws The United
+ States, as belhgereut party claiming
right in the soil as the ultimate soveT
eign, have q right to change the popula
ton, and 1t may be and is both politi,
and just. we should DO 50 in certain dis
tricts. When the inhabitants persist too
long in hostility, it may be both polite
and right we should banish them ap'
appropriate their lands to q more loys
and useful population. No man vii de
nv that the United States would be bens
fitted by disposseSSing single, preJu
diced, hard-hs AIDED aad disloyal planter
and substitute in his place dozen o
more patient, Industrious, and gOO'
families, even il theT be Of foreign birth
think it does good 70 present this yieE
of the case 10 many Southern gentleman
who grew rich and wealthy, not by vir
tue alone OF their industry and skill, bn
BY reason Of the protection and impesu
10 prosperity given By our hitherto mod
crate and magnanimous Goverameni
1t is sll idle nonsense for these South
: ern planters to say that they made th
South. that they own 1t, and that the
can do as they please-even to break U
our Government, and to shut CD Ii
. natural avenues of trade, iutercours
: and commerce.