Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-09

60
II l. sometimes aaid with mistaken reverence for
preae Justice that ighteous must always snc.
coed IN war This notion would bctray us into the afro
cious doctrine that success consecases crime There
physical well moral laws, all emasting from the
same source and 81 potential II Is enough TO know that
righteous cause, when defended by speople OF high
moral attibnes. ontweghs an immense dspropoFtion
of material strength do know that any cOnsdeia-
BILE nation which had the virtue 70 fight bravey 10
pain united und TO sacrifice everything else for ndepcn
6ence. ever conquered
Whatever may have been the origin of q war. sound
morals well Ms enlightened expedency require that
its violence shall be restrained by humanity The early
ages OF mankind consideredS state OF war; says on
Gent writer dissolution OF all moral ties, and H.
een for every kind OF disorder and Incorporate fierce
ness An enemy regarded criminal and an out
law who had forfeited his rights and whose life liberty
and property fay at the mercy Of the conqneror Every
thing done against an enemy was held 10 be lawiu
Fraud might I've employed as well ssorce and force wfh
ont any regard TO the means But these barbardus
rights of War have been questioned and checked IN the
progress of civilization. Public opinion as IL becomes
enlightened and refined condemns all cruelty and Gil
wanton distraction Of Me and property As equally nse-
less and injurious and controls the violence Of war by
| the energy and severity OF its reprosches,
The use OF poisoned arms the employment OF assas
sins violence to womeneruey 20 prisoners, wanton dep
rcdatials private property despoing the enemy ster
rory the seizure OF private property for gam the de-
sruction of public edhces OF civil character or Of
monuments of ant or temples Of religion the abduction OF
slaves the Indictment of serye nsurrection aBd oil un
necessary cruelty, oil base revenge and all mean and
ner6dous Warfae are condemned alike by the laws and
tbe morals of wsr Some OF these practices can be us
fed by no or necessity and others only ss
The incipes of morals are IN this regard upheld by
the notyesof self Interest experience has taught the
nstchs In thi. very war the hostile government "
nfe of our property and yes-by prOcaimng the eman
cipation OF slayesby arming them against us-by
infamous Instructions its commandersb refusing to
exchange prisoners and by other en2rmeshas stamp
ed the war against with general character OF aNiess
violence and has cepsedits armies 70 tample on the hn
mantie Of war Their deeds have surpassed their bloody
instructions With what effect Their crimes have bsf-
fed the policy Of their statesmen the strategy Of then
generals and the power Of their army and navy They
have made estance more solid and uaconqnetabe
II they had not would have been the meanest OF era
yens But few weeks ago their ordered
subordinate commander TO deysstae the beautiful VAL
ley Of Virginia until il should be barren waste The
atr0cous order executed with gn0ufinons Bscry.
What theni The barren waste and all the desolate
places which ruthless foe has rayaged in country
will still produce men aud steel. I.sr3- IN
sTbe products here the barrsR hills afford
1 S. Are men and steel the soldier aad his swordr'
To brave the pillage Of dis house is bounty Of
enlistment When such man Is robbed Of wealth,
which Is often rival Of our country in our aeetions
and when the embers OF ayarce remain In his heart only
to kinde revenge against the robbe his country loses
tax and gains soldier Apopulaton impoverished BY
gerous foe than the populations Of poor countries who
| are proyerbally brave. psrizg i.iEs = q. ~
aRougb, poor content ungovernably bold, IA J
War IN each breast and freedom on each brow.n "a
II Nav gracious Heaven forbid that shall reach
that extremity Of deolaton which nations have
dured for liberty and which may prove whether We
really willing to sacrifice everything for independepee
an hour perhaps when 81 our cities wl ns dss!fo{ o.
deaecrated=a our fields shsll lie waseal our DWELL
ings shall be Inhabited by owls or aliens and nothing viii
g amy at put sb s III gum ana the es
then, the spirit Ct reanant pf our race shall 'eair
ana defiant the North exhausted BY Of
extremity which have magissd so Ear Fanscends ali
that we have endured, aud al that the enemy has
2 i9is upon US tndI We sa2RSs M con-
war Tat eS between ds and ttat extremity, there are
dangers for the enemy than FOR our country and
none moro fatal than those planted by his crimes
Every airocity he has committed pledge for The sta
bty of our Independence. rft ~
Let US turn from International topics to the domestic
morals Of nation in time OF war and especially such
bonds Of law and Of social influence are relaxed Oppor
tunty and temptation stimulate some Of the vices specp
latio corruption frand enforcement md all TIE shame,
fp practices which rca ts sslhsi through NE pnnaer
Of the Government aud thepguntry become rife. Human
power may check but cannot wholly suppress Them
There are contractors agents officials extortoners and
troop of others willing to coin the blood OF pattiotc
soldery and drain it. dollar for drop into their private
Golfers There are men whc 9ch up In ther warehouses
and barns the supplies WHICH ara needed by the brave
troops who defend them in order to enhance prices which
their Government their counrymen must pay. There are
skulker towards conspator. and deseters There arc
men who evade every onerous duty exsced BIZ war All
these with those who are Indifferent or hostile to the pub
lilo oaasc and those who haunt the open or candestine
IN ne o peril omn"us Sosse
heard above the din Ofwar for they contutehe
of croakers,
comes forth from the furnace. War vich tries mems
souls when II does not subdue them eleyates them when
il does NOT corrupt puIihes them, The fiery the
ordeal the more Respondent Is the virtue which passes
through il in triumph stand tonight at the centre of
magic circle which, In four years five hundred thou
sand armed men have attempted in vain to penetrate. II
has been made crimson with carnage. Hundreds Of
thunder gans it, bat the line Is still apasssble
The chief strength Of this inyincibe barrier Invisible
Il Is principle of virtue peryang the hearts Of gallant
patriots IL aprncipe that disians fortune comfort
food rament health, life itself in comparison with inde
pendence Is principle which welcomes all prigations
all sunering all dangesbattles prisons and even the
graye-rather than surrender the right AN the virtues
Of peace grow dim before this spectacle Of war
Unless all our gary shall be qaeched IN shame by our
final submission pgnms viii travel in after years from
the arhest ends Of the earth TO the battle ed Of Viz
ginia They will come because history, eoquence, poe
try all the ats which celebrate the good aud great will
have taught them thai on these eld virtue crowned
BY victory They will come TO do homage 20 immortal
memories, ana TO rekiudle magnanimous sentments
in their own hearts. There, they may exclam tough or
20 she The knghtliest Of the knightly race
iti. Who snce.ihe days Of old, So e,
tsi Have kept the lamp Of chiyahy
40 IS Ahghtin hearts OF gold. n 80 slansadl
You have only to step from your doors to the men
who have made those fields immortal and this age heroic
They defend our Capital nnder flags inscribed with
which viii be renowned 10 the last syllable OF
recorded time" Or il some of those gallant are
gone their dust reposes where they gained double i'm
mortality Of reRown earth, aud, above the earth
felicity As they gave up their lives in the discharge of
duty il may without impety be said that death 10
gracious fof them asths baptism Of blood according 10
the faith OF the early chrstiaps was for the martyrs lie
who, from sepse duty gives his life for Others in
righteous may Join the noble army az martyrs"
II would seek in high military rank conspicuous
contrast to illustrate the virtues and vices pecaFto war
hara had form In
hostile army now before Richmond there was general
who had bean attorney and party hack BY political
prostitution he obtained command From The least re-
sinister cunning in place Of skill and swaggering In
solence which was pass fof courage His bundes and
failures raisel him 10 dsgracefa eminenee But It