The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-04-12
A Guerrilla War.

II IS argued by many and believed by
some, that since Lee has surrendered. the
remaining armies of the Confederacy will
break into guerrilla bands, and scattering
themselves all through the rebel States,
prolong the war for years, harasSing the
Federal troops, aud subsisting upon the
plumber Of the vicinity where they may be.
In support Of this opinion, we are cited to
the instance OF Spain and other countries,
where hardy mountain population have
endeavorcd TO maintain the independence
Of their country against a foreign con
queror But the cases are not exactly par
alleL We are not foreigners, but citizens
Of the United States, and so are the rebels
We are in our own country. We do not
seek 10 subdue the Southern people to the
yoke OF a foreign power, and destroy their
independence as a nation which has been
handed down to them from their ancestors
for successive ages, as was the case in
Spain. We do not insist upon their sub
lection to an absolute foreign despotism. as
the French required OF the Spaniards, but
to a conformity to the just and wise gov
eminent Of their own naive land, which
their fathers had themselves established
Submission 10 this government will not in
volve, as was the case in Spain. liability
TO be conscribed into 4 foreign army, 10
6ght the battles Of another nation, in re-
mote countries and in destructive cam
paigns. On the contrary. the Presidents
offer Of amnesty Is still extended 10 all reb-
els, except certain classes. who would not
number in all 10. 600 persons. And this
amnesty brings pardon for all past offences.
restoration Of property. citizenship. and
ample protection in the future by most
powerful government. A Spanish guerrilla
and rebel guerrilla, il will be seen. would
be hemmed in by circumstances exceeding
ly diverse from each other, and have very
different motives spread out before them
Again, look at 4 guerrilla warfare from
another point Of view. A guerrilla is not a
soldier, in the proper sense Of the word
He Is not under the command Of any CON-
missioned officer: he wears no uniform: he
Is not mustered into the service Of ANYBODY:
be IS not citizen Of any country: he re-
ceives no pay: he follows no flag: he is
subject TO no punishment: he is accountable
TO nobody. The condition Of the Southern
guerrilla, resembles more nearly that Of =
freebooter or a robber than q soldier. Ye.
this guerrilla soldier, although he receives
no pay, bounty, ratlons or medical attend
ance, must have subsistence. which he
viii receive, either willingly or ioreiblv.
from the surrounding country; and when
he helps himself 10 what he thinks he needs
rom friends and foes, We may be sure that
his cost to the people that support him.
reckoning both what he consume and what
be destroys, viii not be less than that Of q
regular soldier. But it is supposed that he
might live out Of the abundance of the low
al population Of the South whom be would
plumber and rob. This might be true to
partial extent and for a limited time. but
Soo1o not be counted on for a permanent
support As they would be hunted bv the
loyal people 1t would be only by stealth
that the guerrillas could plumber them. and
when they failed Of success and were desti-
tute and sick, they would be a tax pron