Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-07-28
THE LAW OF REPRISALS.

1t is known to our readers that on Tuesday last
resolution was passed in the Convention of the
State of Maryland, now sitting at Annapolis, re.
questing the President of the United States and the
Commandant Of the Military Department in which
Maryland is included to authorize and levy special
reprisals on "known sympathizers with the rebel
lion, residents in the State" for the purpose of
reimbursing "loyL citizens" to the amount of all
losses and spoliations sustained by them from the
late invasion of Maryland. The resolution to this
effect was offered by Mr.. SoHLEY, of Frederick,
and is in the following terms:
Ordered That this Convention representing the people
OF hereby respectfully request the President
the United States and commandant Of the military de-
partments in which Maryland included as an act Of JUS
tce and Propret to assess upon the sympahzers with
the rebeon residents in this State the total amount of
all losses and spoaton sustained by the loyal citizens of
the United States resident in this State by reason Of the
recent rebel raid, to compensate loyal sufferers.
The vote on the adoption of the resolution was
taken by yeas and nays as follows
YEAs-Msssrs Goldsboroush, President; Abbott, An.
man, Andoun Barron, Carter Gushing, Daniel Davis
Hopper, King. Larsh, Markey. McComas, Mulkin MUIR
ray, Nyman, Parker, Pugh, Ridgey, Russell. Sands.
schey Scott Stirling, stocEbridge, Wickard and Wooden
-33
NAYs-Messrs. Belt Chambers, Dali Davis Of Charles,
Dennis, Dent, Edelen, Henkle Holydsy Johnson Jones
of Somerset, Lee. Mace. Mitchell Miller. Morgan and
Smith of Dorcheser-l7.
We have placed this resolution on record with the
names of those who voted for it, as an instance Of the
extremites to which partisan bitterness and revenge
can stimulate their votaries in time of revolution,
when the passions of men get the better Of their rea
son. 1t ssafe to presume that very few among those
who have recorded theirv in favor this PROPOSE
ton will either approve defend, as individuals,
the policy it contemplates. But in time of ex-
citement when public feeling runs high, individu-
ality is destroyed and manly character degenerates
until, in the end, the will of the majority may be
the mere reflection of the few who are most ready
to play on the predominant passion of the hour
He who, under such circum stances, clings to his
Convictions as DR.. Lieber has well said in one of
his excellent treatises, "is put in ban as unna-
tional and as an enemy to the people"
It is to precisely such distemperature of the
popular mind that the present proposition owes its
conception and the degree of favor it has seemed
to find from men sitting in Convention in the name
and by the authority of State. 1t was presumed
by its authors that few would have the courage to
oppose it among those whose desire to preserve
repute for "loyaty" is stronger than their inteli-
gence their adherence to principle And the
presumption was justified by the result, as but a
single member of the Convention, Mr.. MACE, of
Baltimore county, among those elected as Union
lists" had the perspicacity or the independence to
register his vote against this iniquitous suggestion
Let that man be held in honor.
1t is charitable to suppose that some who voted
for the measure did SO from confusion of ideas
with regard to the law of special reprsas, and as
the Convention has asked the President to do what
every enlightened citizen knows it is not possible
for him to authorize it may be proper for the sake
of vindicatiDg his conduct from the aspersions to
which he may be subjected from refusing COM
panoe with this request, to state that the law of
reprisal furnishes means of redress only between
the citizens subjects of separate States and does
not nhere In the State against its own citizens
or subjects. If one portion of the people of Ma
ryland to be mulcted in the amount of the dam
ages sustained by another portion in the late inya-
sion of Maryland, it only be on the theory that
this portion of the people are citizens of the So
called Confederate States, with all the rights as
we'll as all the responsibilities of belligerents against
the United States; for allegiance and protection
are correlative terms
AS between the United States and the SO. called
Confederate States, certain begerent rights are,
pendente hte, recognised by each party to belong
to the other. Among these reciprocal rights of war
invasions of territory and levying of requisi-
tions for the support of armies. Our Generals in
wade the nsurgent States and forage on the enemy.
The Confederate Generals invade the Loyal States
and forage on the enemy. Each in SO doing ex-
ercses right Of war while the war lasts however
different may be the de jvs relations of the two
beligerents. And the insurgents, in the recent
invasion, levied their contributions alike on the
"loyap and on the "sympathisers with the rebcl-
lion." They were exercising right of war against
the United Stater, and in so doing were no re-
specters of persons for they regarded every citizen
Of Maryland citizen tf the United States
Aud now comes the Convention and petitions the
President Of the United States to give begerent
status in the courts of our military iudicature to
men whose lawful allegiance to the United States ia
recognised by the enemy.
We ought perhaps to beg the pardon of our