Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-06-16
THE RECOGNITION OF TIE sOUTHERNERS
AS BELLIGERBNf5 DIES rRUCrlvE OF THE
CHARGE OF ThBAS0N-P0LAND AND We.
NETIA-DAflS EXECUTED WOULD BE
DAVIS THE MARTYR OF LIBERTY.
From the London Post.

40 bE1LlDEhbNTS DIES EOF TIL b
CHARGE OF THBAS0N-POLAND AND VIZ
NETIA-DAVls EXECUTED WOULD BE
DAVIS THE MARTYR % LIBERTY.
From the London Post.
Jurists and historians agree that civil war il
not TO be coniounded with ordinary treason,
and that the yanquished ought to be treated ac-
c0rding 10 the rulel, not OF municipal, but of
International law. Hallam and Macaulay have
botn alphabetically laid down this principle in
references to our own civil war; and, at least dur
ing the last ttty years il has been acted upon by
almost every European Power. When Venice
capitulated the Austiians allowed MANN to de-
part in French steamer, aud although the move
ment which was repressed at Aspromonte
clio tly came within the ope of municipal law,
Garlbaldl ia residing in security and honor under
the dominion Of the Sovereign whose authority
he indis;reetly disputed. Mr.. Lncolu's theory,
that ali communities, as SUCH possessed the in
alienlb right OF determining their own form OF
government, Eeed not be discussed. IL 10
mDre than couotful, if, according TO the
strict letter OF the law, width municipal
or International, Mr.. Davis has violated
the Constitution OF the United htates, How.
ever, for the argument, Il may be conceded that
the secession o. tie Southern States was, up to .
certain point, technically an act Of insuuection
that is 70 say that until The Contedelates in the
field were recognized as the army of belligerent
power By the exchange oil prisoners and the like
they might be regarded as rebels and on this
head as also with respect 10 the cIaims made in
England tor the losses sustained BY the Alaba-
ma, it Is important that Captain Semmes has been
nlroled. Ind ed, the proclamatioas issued by the
Northern Generals In the south, since the surren-
der OF Lee and Johnston, sufficiently admit the
position OF Mr.. Davis Government held in sta.
ting that persons now taken pIis Jners ia arms
viii ne longer be dealt with as seliigereats; and
il must be reme:ahered too, that Mr. Lincoln
NJ Satuarl naTannallv m into
tons with accredited representatives of the South
ern President There cII, therefore, be very lit.
tie, if any, question ABOUT the law of the case,
aud none whatever as TO the obvious require.
ments OF policy.
1t is, no doubt, true In the main, as Burke
said, that Governments will be tyrannical from
policy when their subjects are rebels on princi.
pie. That is the situation in Poland and Vene,
tia, and the Washington Government may at.
tempt to impose II Npon ths sutju ated states
Of the RepIllio. 1t is costly system even to
Russia, and to Austria a source OF weakness and
exhaustion; but that which is just possible to
those Powers would be found 10 be wholly i'm.
practicable in America, Coercon and confs-
cation might answer their purpose for time,
but il il prepOsterOus TO suppose that ak
millions of people can be permanently gov.
erned by brute gaTce. The Northern fanatics
who d6spise what they ignorantly describe as
the hunbug chiyalry OF the south" are, of
course incapable Of exercising any nolti.
cal judgment. BIT there are oth6rs who
should know that the Ex.president would
be pOGefless in exile. In France or
England he could scarcely be t. his own
state what Kossuth was 10 Hungary
Lee is unquestionably the Garabaldi Of the
SOUTH but on the scatiold Jefferson Davis
would become It's martyr. The heroic women
OF Virginia WGuld teach their children TO hold
his name in reverence, and on thousands OF desc
late Southern heaTths, and in thousands Of be.
Ieayed hearts VOWS would be made for another
generation to observe and fulfill. 1t is most idle
10 ignore the fact that all through the South the
exc utiOn OF the extreme penalty Of the law on
Mr. Davis would he considered as judicial muir
der. The sentence passed upon him would in
clude a nation, and in dying he wOuld breathe
new life into the cause il tell 10 his lot TO support
and to suffer for. ScOrn and loaihing and hitter
hatred might be controlled for while, and at
the same time strengthened by subsection TO cir
cumstances. But the reconstruction of the Union
under the shade OF the glllows is u wild and
CHASTITY Illusion,
GA tha ground Of humanity there is nothing
to be said. II justice and eXpediency are not
considered, mercy certainly will not be enter.
tanned.