The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-02-03
3a.iEETGlAariSN.a1

Opr opinion of Senator EuxHER ofj1(aE
sachusetts has been materially elevated by
sne noble stand he has taken in, the Senate
against 2 bill introduced BY Mr.. HowARD
OF Michigan for retaliating upon the rebel
prisoners now in our hands for the treat
ment our soldiers received while in their
prisons. In this he has exhibited enlaroed
craftsmanship, and just appreciation Of
what the Christian civilization of the ace
demands. We, cannot afford to initiate
the barbarities of the rebels. We sbould
lose the respect of the world and gain I,
nothing but future shame and remorsa
while the wal, would degenerate into q
butchery. $1,000, '''' 20 '''7
Mr.. SUMNER introduced the following, as a,
as q, substitute for Mr.. HowARDs reaoln-
ton, and advocated its passage, QUOTING
from General WAsHNGros, Chancellor
KENT, General HALLEoK, vArrE1, and
other authorities, against inhuman retalia-
ton, which, he said, never reached the
guilty parties: = '''&s
Besoloed, That retaliation is harsh always.
even IN the simplest cases. and is permissible
only when, in the first place it NAV reasonable
be expected to effect fts object, and when. III
the second place, 1t is consistent with the r,sa.
ges 81 civilized society; and that in the alb
sence OF these essential conditions it is useless
and oarbarous having no other end than VEN
geance' which is forbidden alike to nations and
/ Resolved, That the treatment of our officers,
ana soldiers is cruel, savage and heart-rending
Deyond all precedent; and that it is shockinc
" MORALS That 1t is an offence against human
nature itself; that it adds new Guilt to the
greas crime OF rebellion, and constitutes an ex.
ample ron which history will turn with sor.
Resolved That any attempted imitation af
rebel barbarism in the treatment of prisonera
would De plainly impracticable on account of
Its inconsistency with the sentiments of In
mainly; that it would be Injurious at home.
Tor 1t would barbarize the whole communitv.
That It would be utterly useless, as itcould not
a a Ine cruel authors OF the revolving con-
quot which we seek to overcome that it would
be immoral, because it proceeded from ven.
geance alone; that it could have no other re-
suit than to degrade the national character and
the national name, and bring down upon our
country the, condemnation of history; and
that being thus impracticable, useless, i'm.
moral, and degrading, it must be rejected as a
measure of retaliation, precisely as the barbar-
ism OF roasting and eating prisoners is always
rejected by civilized powers. ~
itesosred That the United States filled with
grief and the deepest sympathy for their cher
ished citizens who, as officers and soldiers.
have become the victims of heaven defying
outrages, hereby declares their solemn deter.
mination to put an end to this great iniauity
by putting an end to the great rebellion of
which it is the natural fruit; that to secure
this humane and righteous contamination,
they pledge anew the best energies and all the
resources of the whole peoples and they call
upon all to bear witness that, in this necessary
warfare with barbarism, they renounce all ven
geance and every evil example, and plant
themselves firmly on the sacred landmarks of
Christian civilization, under the protection of
that God who is present with every prisoner,
and enables heroic souls to suffer for their
country. 'lFf
Mr.. Sumner spoke in advocacy of the above
resolutions. ~