The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-24
THE WIRz TRIAL.

ment fOunu agalHst tiii' i'"' '' "
charges and specifications are certainly
sufficient. if sustained by the evidence,
to hang not only Wirz but any number
of his confederates. They detail cata-
logue of horrors, which We find it diff
cult to believe could have been perpetra-
ted in this enlightened age, in the very
heart of community claiming the high
est civilization, and by men of education
and christian training. The murder, by
starvation, torture, and every species of
cruel treatment of some fifteen thousand
young, healthy and vigorous men, mere
ly because they were Yankees, is one of
the most atrocious deeds when taken in
connection with the fact that it was
committed by those claiming to be chris
tians and civilized that has ever dark
ened the worlds prolific annals of
cruelty and crime. Every honest and
honorable Southern man should blush
with shame, for the inhumanity prac-
ticed in the name and by the authority
of the Southern Confederacy, whenever
that talismanic word--that powerful
spell which has so excited the indig-
natior Of the Northern people, and
filled all hearts with wild desire
for vengeance, or rather for retribu-
tive justice--AadersOngiHe, is men,
toned. 1t is for the people of the North
to be indignant-it is for the people of
h. h. 4 ho;, l. lie; e.,
sion and shame. Why did they do
these terrible deeds? What benefit did
they expect 70 reap from the perpetra-
ton of crimes SO black, diabolical and
degrading2 Did they suppose that the
torturing to death of few thousand
|, soldiers would sanctify their cause, and
make it more holy in the eyes of either
God or man; or that the putting out of
the way by foul means of a few thou
sand, more or less, of the millions of the
Unions defenders, would render their
success more certain? 1t is useless to
attempt to conceal that the citizens of
the South, male as we'll as female, en-
couraged these cruel and vindictive acts,
and that they justified their inhuman
conduct by the lame excuse that the
Yankees had invaded their soil, and
brought war and desolation among
them. All wars of invasion are accom-
panied by death, desolation, devasta-
tiola and multitude of other horrors.
Eu rope has repeatedly been overrun by
ar mics, and the fair fields of Italy,
G ermany and France have time and
a gain been laid waste; and yet it was
never made an excuse for the harsh |
treatment of prisoners. Washington,
in the revolutionary war, it is well
known, treated the British prisoners
that fell into his hands with the greatest |
humanity. His descendants have shown |
but few Of the God-like attributes OF |
Virginia's greatest and most cher
ished son. When we say the citizens |
of the South were responsible for these |
barbarities- mean those who skulked |
at home with exemption papers in their
pockets performing mental offices, too
coyyardly to go to the front and bravely |
breast the tide of war. They remained
at distance to insult, ill-treat and tor
ture the vanquished and helpless prison.
ers. 1t was not done by the true sol
diers of the Confederate army-they |
Were brave men, and the bravest ever
are the tenderest--they could not have
insulted fallen and defenceless foe or
ill-treated him. No; to share his only |
blanket and his last biscuit with a van
pushed enemy is soldiers duty, and |
,ne that aveteran never fails to perform.
It was not the soldiers, who in the
treets of every Southern town through
which they passed, crowded around,
nd hoo led, and stoned the Yankee pri-
oners; but to their honor be it said,
hat th ~ always did their best to pro-
ect theTn from the cowardly and gra-
uitous insults heaped upon them by
ne NAL ignant old men and women and
Fouthf' Il faltering towards whose nerves
We're OF proof against the whistling of
minnie, balls at the front. The barbarity
:, the' se acts will stain the history of
JUS W ar, and consign its authors to de-
'efseo lnfamy till the last syllable of re-
corde'd time. ss .a7 i sTs.t.s.. |,
W.. 49, p r.. s5---a AlI I,
nz seems to have been simply de-
:, au gu and barbarous Prussian butcher.
beionging to that race which is most
llo'ea IN Europe for cruelty, and as !
wanting in the ex ercise of those ameni-
Ties which render war even pleasant he
was chosen by a greater butcher than j
.mself, General Winder, the leader of f.
die Baltimore blood-tubs and Ming ~
uglies, to be the jailor, Judge, and exc
cutioner Of the Union prisoners. and :
how well he fulfilled the duties Of his
cruel office, let the graves of his victims
near Andersonville, or the vacant stare
Of the idiot survivors scattered all over{,
he land, speak and tell. Murder can
peak with most miraculous voice. The
Indictment is a strong one, and although
is particularly directed against Wirz,
We all know tn at a whole people will be
N trial. Therefore it becomes that peo-
lie to bring fol ward all the evidence
hey can to rebut the charges and save