The Fairfield courier. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-03-23

70 destroy private dwellings,. s3l.}8e /
You say. that j cannot, Of fgcourse,
Question your right e, forage on the conn.
qTy. sit isa right as old as history
4 do not Sir, auestiof this fiehtS Iant
there is right older even chan this, and
one more inalienable---the right that
every man has TO defend his home, and
toprotect those who are dependent upon
him. And from my heart,I wish that
every old man and boy III my country,
who can lire a gun, would shoot down,
as he would a wild beast, the men qwho
are dssolating, their Sland, burning their
houses, and insulting their women,
You are particular h, defining and
claiming ''war rights 1fay I ask IL you
enarnsrate among them tEe right to Ere
upon q, defenceless city without notice;
to- burn that city to the ground aher,,t
had been surrendered by the authorities,
who claimed, though in vain, that protec.
'tionl which il, always accorded iii ciyiiiaed
iwaffste 10 hnonsconibatants; to FIRE the,
dwelling -housesIof citizens, afterr robbingS
them, and 70 perpstrate even darker
crimes than these--crimes too. black to,
be nentioned2 y '''A ''"' '',. ''',,'
- You have permitted, if you BaveS not,
ordered, the commission of ftheser offences
against; humanity and the ,lrules Of war.
You fred htto the. cityao Of Columbia.
without q word Of warning, After, lis
surrender by the Mayor, who, demanded
protection to private property You laid
the whole city in ashes, leaving amid its,
tpinsAt thousands ofjold men and helpless
women and, children, who are Ikely,to
perish of starvation and exposure. Your
Hne of march can Be Traced by the Idrid
light Of burning houses, and id more than
oneshonsehold there Fan agony far niors
bitter than thai Of DEATH, I,I aa,sd .,ys;t
The Indian scalped his victim regard.
less of sex or age, but with all his bar.
bafity, he always, respected the pefsoi;s,
of his female captives. Your soldiers,
more, savage than the Indian. insalt those
whose natural protectors are absent.
In conclusion, haye only to request,
that Whenever you have any Of my men
2'disposed OFF, or murdered" !" Sr tie
terms appearto be syioiiymotis with you,
yon viii let me hear ofit, in order that
L9maa know what action to take in the
matter, Inthe etneantime ] shall hold ffty-
six Of your men as hostages OF those
whom you have ordefed to be executed.
ssis Nam yours, y&cYi9 srF 5$!Q4i's
h[ [Signediail diWADEHx HxmpToN, ayg
n IA stt.,s III sgss3 Lieut. General, \,
Official. JI1o. M. OteS. A. A 1en'1.
PUTTING 0sTRd dESIN TIE ARMY.
The Senate Of 5Firginia having re-,
moved tho Injunction of secresy from
some of theirproceeaings, we are enabled
to- give che following report Of the action
taken by that body on Saturday, the
s25th February, oao the bill to- tfaiseia
volunteer force ofalayes and free Negroes.
I. The following isa copy softhe, bill asit
/ House of Delegates::g t'e3 tS'9E j 'f"
! gssBe,it teatettt By tsc General Assembly,,
sThatthe Governor ofthis Commonwealth
ibe, and. he IL hereby authorized andem.
powered to call for volunteers from among
the slaves and free NEGROES Of the State,
TO aid in defence Of the capital, and such
other points 40 are crsnay be threatened
lby the epublic enemy. q .4@,Sys;5h
q ~. That il shall be the duty! of the
Governor TO cause all slaves who may,
volunteer with the consent of their
masters aud oil free negroes who shall
teiider their services, ito De organizsd into
infantry compafiiss ofaot less than sixty,
n. =. IL e ~.