New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-02-16
Northumberland upon President Davis
FROM Ths Rtehnsoad Erasstser, Feb. -.

Observation-Disclosures upon President Davis.
Fross The RSehmosd ErasstHer, Feb. -.
On Saturday was published in The Erominer
on authority Of Capt ". II. Scbring Of Missouri. a
statement OF facts relative to the large numbers vi Con-
tolerate prisoners whom tho Yankee Government
think proper to regard aud TO treat not as prisoners OF
war; but as murdercrs horsc-ste.ers or burglars In
general IL that all MiSsOurians, heItuckians or
Maryaudcrs whom they may capture-no matter wnere
in Confederate uniform. are now subjected 10 TINS
kind OF usage Capt. Sobring was himself kept chained
M for fge months In dungeon in ST. Louis. ana es
capped on the eve Of the day appointed FOR his
execution along with e,gnt otner LoD,e ;Hs 9,
tho extent TO which ibis system is carried. and the
large number of COufederaes (maDy oil them our CON-
missioned offers and enlisted men) who arc fctered
in crsna cells at 81 Louis and at Alton Is even al
lowing for very well worthy the consid.
Grafton Of onr Governmental. indeed. the President
has osnre to attend such matters IN the midst Of his
TO sustain his own prerogaiSes aud powers
10 settle their exact definition, and To maintain hs
right 10 exercise them at his pleasure. In tfa disIc
gard Of all expression Of public opinion through Con
gress OF otherwise No 0ubt IL is quite true-et IL be
for the present adnittcd-hat In response 20 anxious
circumstances from members " Congress the puollc
press and other quarters. be has demonstrated That
vi ereas the Queen OF England "regns bat does not
govern" he both reigns end goycrns-admt that the
tenure Of Cabinet Ministers (whet5er the country
nave confidence IN them or not; IKE .as
those armies like nOt) oil IL subject to his good
pleasure and that the notion OF any amount or ext
gency Of public complaint producing any varabeness
OF shadow Of farming in bin. arises from false ANAL
ogy that most fertile source OF erioras II he were
mere british sovereign Aitsr all that is proved, ad-
mitted put Of the way II does seem reasonable hat
the Chief Mag Of this country being now ut war
should consider little whether lbs duty and his pleas
ure" Il TO allow tho enemy to treat men bearing tie
commission Of the Confederate States ns common
thieves and cut .throats On Friday last arrived two
pieces of news. The first Is that Bureigh masters
mate In the Confederate States Nary taten in Canada
the ssss S OF Es .e ss
been handed " the United States to undergo the
doom OF pirate.
Now. - M express proclamation Of TIE President,
protection Is thrown over this Buflegh by declaring
that lie acted under the authority OF this Government
and was ordered to do what be did by an acknowledged
beigerant power. The second piece OF news Is that
Major Harry i,mOr OF the Confederate States caya
who is called by the Yankee enemy "ClDor tht
thief and train robber'las been captured in Hardy
County Virg together with splendid black horse
which he stole one OF his raids into PcnnsyySuia
There can be doubt what Kind Of usage the enemy
destines for these two brave men, They are to belong
10 t1a class, Of whom five hundred pine In the GELS
ST Louis anu fifteen hundred IN the dungeons OF Alton
separated FROM tho prisoners OF war To DO treated
lons Are they fclonsf Is 1t tie Confederate Prcsi
dents pleasure also TO regard them In that character
and TO give them up 10 that doom Or II not how Is HI
10 proceed 10 yndicate their Tito 10 be used rs prison
era of war Or las no not had leisure to consider th'
nattert
/, seems TO Ms 10 deserve some attention. Remembei
that the theory OF our enemy is that all criminals
not entitled 20 any rights OF beligerents but amenlb'
! TO tie laws made against murder ana roDoory ahd
Oar renxed their theory ~ make carte! OF exchange
With us IL was With the intention OF violating that car
Eel so soon as they dared and they have since 10 fact
violated H. In the meantime their policy Ia taking al
least large class 81 the Confederate prisoners within
their ordinary criminal law; and they begin with Ken
| tuckiaus MssOurisns and Alerylanders.
| IGen Breckinride had been captured in Maryland
last summer he would now be dragging ball and chain
This new system Is doubtless to he extended by de
gree. 50 rs to supcrsede tho existing but suspended
cartel altogether and soon the enemy count upon ven
tnrp9 10 treat every captured Confederate officer anl
solder simply and distinctly Peitentiary convict
How long Is Il the pleasure II the Confederate EIecu
tive to subject 10 this outraged The Secretary q
Stnte In his eloquent Grafton OF Thursday last admitted
with an Ingenious blush that hs President had one
| fiut"-yes, he would say 1t, he had one LITTLE
weakness; It was that no was "too tender
hearted :" but II his tender heartedness be chiefly
toward tho public enemy; and II his delicate horror Al
retaliation when Morgans head was shaved in an Ohio
ponitentary and when our two recruiting officers were
shot In Kentucky and when Manhood was hanged In
! New Orleans, &C.. has been the Of innumera
bic hangings. shootngs and head.shavngs OF Confed
crate prisoners since. then Burlegh may perhap.
wish our gentle President were little more savage
and GmOr may have cause 10 lament tLat Mr.. D6yiss
charity begins abroad.
| some Indications there are, siuce the outrage al
Hampton Roads that this Confederacy s about grid
up its lons and gather together s strength for fierce
and more terrible resistance than has vet been offered
to our brutal invaders II would be very appropriate
part Of that determined military policy, TO open
new page In the matter of retaliation for outrage or
murder committed on our prisoners-thati s II such
shoud happen 10 be the sovereign pleasure OF the Ex
ocutiye. II is his province as Chief ana
be has taken care to remind that no 80 for SIX years
and if the Houses Of Congress- with all the
public at their back and the army and TIE press and
al the people, imagining that their unanlnous appeal
can change his conduct by one jot or one ti,io WY
they are guilty Of isc analogy. that fertile source
~ ihafs all