The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-10
The toaq@cyor end the Conquered.


We propose 10 inquire what, by the
practices OF ancient and modern nations,
and by Che laws Of nations. q expound-
ed by the WiSeSt statesmen and publ
eists, has been the treatment and the
rights accorded to a conquered people.
and we believe il will be seen that the
spirit, both il ancient and IN modern
times, which has pervaded the usages
and the laws of enlightened nations, has
been in the direction OF mercy, and not
in that temper of cruelty and revenge
which seems now to animate the hearts
of the party leaders Who afenoW shaping
the legislation of this country.
Those who are famil ar With the his
tory Of the I.acedamonians and Atheni-
ans know very well that in the wars
Waged by those nations, the policy OF
the most distinguished OF their rulers
was to subject their conquered provinces
10 20 more rigOr than Was deemed es-
sential to assimilate the conquered to
their own forms, and to secure support
in foreign wars Thucydides bears dis
tinct evidence to this fact, as does also
Demosthenes in one Of his orations
which has come down to Us. Other
writer's of antiquity corroborate their
statements. 1t is hardly appropriate,
perhaps, to mention the barbarous prac-
tees of the Athenians in the early and
rude period of their history, of dividing
the land of the conquered people into
lots or freehold estates among the con-
querofs. This cruel system OF eolonizing
has never been justified. only on the
ground that it was inflicted on bar
barians who were only fit for slavery.
In the Tooth Olympiad, however, the
odium incurred by this method o. colo
nizatlon became SO great that these colo
nists We're recalled. Subsequently new
colonies Of the same kind We're estab-
lishcd, though not without the disap-
probation, says Aristotle, of those who
were under the influence Of better prin-
ciples. These facts show that the violent
men who are now assuming to control
the destinies Of this country, and who
delight in expatiating upon the elevated
civilization Of the Anglo-SaXon race,
Of an alleged higher civilization. are
willing to impose upon the conquered
Southern people-their own race and
kindfed-l system which was reputcd
to be odious among barbarians thousands
Of Years ago. 1t may be further added,
that even the wild and ferocious Goths
conceded milder terms to their captiVcs
when they overran the Roman empire,
than are suggested by Radical party
leaders TO the conquered White people of
the South. Those who will take the
trouble to read theninth chapter, second
book, of "Grotius concerning Peace and
War; will find fall authority for this
statement.
Classical history and classical authors
abound in facts on these matters. Memo
phon informs us in his Cyroppdia, that
| Cyrus, when he had overthroWn the
Assyrians, was careful to assure them
that his sway over them would be mild
and merciful. He stimulated their cour-
age and assured their obedience, by
guaranteeing to them that their dearest
rights and privileges should be con-
tinued to them, and that he would
defend them from injustice. Sallust, in
his history of "The Conspiracy of Cata-
line, Cap. XII, has the following re-
mark Neque rictis quidquam praete'
Gjuvae Hcentiana eripie6ant"- ancient
Romans were wont to deprive those
whom they conquered of nothing except
provocation you have given us by your
frequent revolts, to treat you rigOrously,'
says an orator in Tacitus, addressing a
conquered tribe in behalf of the Romans,
"all we have sought to do in right OF
victory is to cause you to keepth peace. "
Such is the temper which pervades the
pages OF antiquity on this subject, and
volumes could be filed with similar
testimony from that source.
in more modern history the authority
is much more explicit Grotius devotes
an entire chapter to this specific subject
ana urges with the most solemn argu.
ments, moderation and mercy to the
conquered. However absolute and
despotic may be the power acquired owe,
the conquered" he says, q it is neces-
sary to treat them gently, and in such a
manner that their interests may be con-
fined with those of the conqueror. Even
in those cases in which the vanquished
have 30 be despoileG OF their Sc sereignty
il is best to allow them to manage theil
own private business, and in their less
important public affairs to, let them
retain tAeir own laws, customs and
magistrates" This, it is added, Will bs
i new and a higher triumph iii ghe con-
queror's crown. punenourg, vino wrote
Ills excellent treatise, g Dc i,ufuras q
Ge,at;ssa," in the tine Of Groti,is, is
equally clear and explicit on this subject
Of -, oaf