The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-04-29
Richmond Rights Of BeiIigerents.

Richmond-Rights Of .BsiIigerents.
This city, made by the rebellion to occupy
large space in the public mind, not only Of
this country, but Of Europe also, is beauIliui-
ly situated on the James River, and possesses
many advantages over some other sou herh
cities. 1t is regularly laid out ana contains
many public buildings and hne residences'-
Before the war Il contained proud arlstoc-
racy. and MANY Of the "first families" resided
here whose members looked upon the labor
ing North with contempt which mas not al
WAYS been concealed. The Capital Is splen-
did building, occupying elevated ground and
presenting one OF the most conspicuous OBJ
jects in the place. Ia an angle of Capitol
Square also stands the City Hall, asplendd
edlace in the Doric style. This was ,the fash
ionable quarter, and here the scions Of the
"iirst families of Virgins" had their mansions
and held their aristocratic sway. Qau eos
There were three banks in the city, having
an aggregate capital of s2,i14,00O But
where are these funds now? All gone, and
confederate wares, currency, valueless as rags,
ha re vainly attempted to supply their place.
There was probably some gold left. and that
may be stolen by JEFF. Davis and his coadju-
tors and transported to the Lord knows where
For some years before the rebellion Richmond
had rapidly increased In population. Tobac-
CO, flour, cotton and wooden goods, paper, ma
chinery and iron ware was fourishing. The
-four trade was very large. In 1884 the
population was 1880 Of whom 10 2S2 were
white persons, 1O,sS9 slaves and 1928 free
blacks But the number OF inhabitants had
greatly increased before the war. aAsis1
Such was Richmond before rebel guns bat
tered Fort Sumter. II made quite a respec-
table capital for the SO called Confederate
Government, but 1t ID no longer capital,
and the confederacy is on wheeisl We won
der how England feels now towards such
"belligerents"? Does she feel satisfied with
her acknowledgement Of such scattered and
insurgent population as belligerents? She
was in great hurry to give these rebels such
rights, and we think she ought to be ashamed
enough now to withdraw them. Truly 1t
would be humillatiDg to adopt such measure
and tax her pride severely, but then she
ought to do SO forthwith and at the same
time acknowledge her error. If she would
be thus just and magnanimous, it might be
some atonement for herfrstsin of commission
and somewhat change the tone of sentiment
In this country. #N eaAth ek
The loyal people of the United States In
Guiding many OF Englands best friends In the
number, were sorely tried when the British
nauf VT Cd fn noho al l,o
rights of belligerents. It seemed to us then
as 1t does now, that the great haste with which
the measure was commenced did not show
that friendly spirit to us which we had rea-
son to expect. Until some amends are offer
ed or some reasonable apology made, there
will be in the American bosom ranking that
may yet form the base of future trouble to
both nations. The American people are sem
sitive and 1t may be, too proud and boastfnl,
but the injustice of acknowledging these reb-
els as belligerents, who made war upon our
government, win not be soon forgotten. In
truth 1t Is asking too much OF humanity,
too much OF nation, to forget such wrong
30 harshly and inconsiderately committed.
1uppoeo- Pu0Pro afIsen re-
-f1t~AA0s WV A<A4StAaA 44AtA
soon after toe first gun was fired, we had &C.
knowledged them as belligerents, how would
the British statesmen have felt, and what
would they have said? And surely the people
of Ireland have always been oppressed by the
British Government thousand times more
than the people of the South have been by our
Government. A thousand times more did we
say? There is no comparison to be made be-
tween the two cases. Our Governments never
deprived the South of one single right, and
we think that cannot be said of the British
Government in its dealings toward Ireland.
Besides, England knew that the South rose
agaist our Government for the express pur-
pose Of extending the curse of human bon
dage and Of riveting more closely the chains
upon the limbs Of the poor down-tfoddsn
slave. The knowledge of this fact ought to
have operated as some restraint on proud
nation, at least, SO far as to prevent undue
and provoking haste. -
But we haven't patience to pursue the
subject further. Tho fact is as clear as a
sunbeam that the British Government did
not pursue a just course towards the United
States, and that injustice has increased the
horrors of our war and prolonged 1t. Some
Of the blood will be found in the skirts of her
garment, and, she must and will suffer the
consequence sooner or later. Justics may
sometimes beslow, but none the less sure on
that account. Il England would withdraw
the right. she extended to the rebels against
tis>s Covernner,& II might atone in some de-.