Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1864-07-13

iadirsa f6r bimssurh notorious infanny that
his naugis bywurd and repoac6 in,every
Hand where the events ftha war known !;
and attbe. head another Of itsarmies, q
General who publishes to the world, and in.
structs his officers, that for the loyal people
of the Southern eoufedsracy,a aDeath is
mercy, the quicker he or she is disposed Of
the BETTER" that '.Satan and the rebellious
saints Of heaven were allowed contiRu.
ancs ofsexistenee in bell, merely swell
their just punishment" and that "to such
as would rebel: against. a Government eso
mild and just: as ours was in peace,sa pun
ishment equal would not be unjust. The
officers of such q Government are precluded
from raising any question as to the ohser'
vance or nor. .observance,of' the rulesof hon.
orable warfare.
But.it is not true, that, the prisoners3of
war, now in this city, are treated with any
cruelty; They are ina; large city, not be:
sieged but partially blockadedEby land and
naval. batteries, from, Eve tosten miles, dis
tant. They are provided with commodious
and comfortable quarters, remote from all
military, and naval works, or any. other OBJ
ject on,which you may legitimatsly FIRE, and
they are treated, with all the consideration
due to prisoners ofwar. They are surround
ed by citizens of,all classes and conditions,
and it Cannot be regarded as an act of cru.
city to place .themsin the.immeaiate vicini-
ty of the houses occupied by. our wives and
children. 1 desirs;: and have 80 direct'
ed, that they be treated with all the con.
sideration and kindness due their rank and
condition, and.wiil greatly deplore any ne.
cessity you may forcs on me to direct any
change in that course of treatment. You
regard that treatmentas jdstifyihg you in
asking your Government to place in your
custody an equal number Of prisonsFs Of
like grade, to be kept by you In positions
exposed to the fire ofms guns. We direct
our fire only on your batteries, shipping and
troops If you direct your guns only on the
works you distinctly specify DIS the objects
of your ,fre,tor On any object on which an
honorable foe may legitimssely fire, the
prisoners of war, and their ueighbors, the
non n-combatants, women and children, a,
mong whom they live VIII be ID no danger
whatever from the effects Of your shots.
" If the Confederate States officers, or pris.
unersof war, shalt be placed BY you as you
indicate, I have to ask chat you wifi as
promptly and infinitely as I have done, in:
form me when and whers they are placed
and how treated"
In this connection, we think the follow:
ing article from. the Courier, is well d.
reoted. For our own part, wewese Of opin.
ion from the aSs that Charleston was the
best place sor the prisooefs,. if thoy COULD
be fed there, and properly guarded-the
Yankees are so anxious to get into the old
city, they have no right to 'gfunble attheir
situation #hsnthsy succeed injecting there;
they but shsse alike With women and chill
dren the common danger;
"The few exchanges that have given to
the Yankees cue they will readily follow
by limiting at aretaliationj" exposing pris-
oners on decks of war steamers, ETC., will
obiige very many inquirers by giving au.
thority from recognized standards as to the
rules ofxw concerning prisoners and cities;
it is desired especially to ascertain the.au-
thority for representing aud treating, as a.
garrison or fortress q city of several miles
in extent-a city not surrounded or invest.
ed by the foe-a city whose lahd approach
es and communications, including three rah
roads have never been commanded by the
enemy--a city vithsa large proportion of
women, children and patients-wby such .
city should Be deemed . &c PtsseSt for pla.
cling prisoners ina war steamer or onths
ramparts of a fortress, for retaliation, is the
question on which information is desired"