The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-01-24
The Case of Admiral Senln1es

| line arrest OF ltHphdet S5eiDmeS,! anu Als
trial by military court, for the offences o
4 which he is accused, is a transaction fol
which We confess our. inability to suggest
any plausible apology. This man was ar
| Admiral in the Confederate nary, and on
THE tall of Richmond was in command o.
4 the Confederate 6otilla in the James. He
destroyed his boats, and with the pea'sonne
of his feet joined General Johnston, by
whom he was made Brigadier General, and
assigned o command commensurate with
his rank. On the capitulation ofJohnston
Sen,mes surrendered, and received parole
by which he was permitted to return home
and was guaranteed personal security so
long as he conducted himself as q law
abiding citizen. Though of all enterprising
and adventurous disposition, Admiral
semmes quietly required to the pursuits Of
civil life III Mobile. 1t is not pretended
that he has violated the conditions of his
parole, or has exhibited himselfin aty 9th
er character than that of decent well-be-
haved member Of the community. Never
theless, ON sudden he is arrested by Or
der Of the Federal Executive, and is sent to
Washington for trial on charges prepared
in the Navy Department, and alleging acts
committed during the war. Will auy hon
est man say this is not a violation Of the
national faith? Ii the Government inten-
ded to exact retribution of Admiral Sumnes
for offences previous to his surrender, he
should have been refused the privilege of
Ia parole, and been Immediately taken into
Icustody. That was not done. Tn the
contrary, he was paroled. permitted to go
lat latge, and furnished paper sanctioned
by General Sherman, which pledged the
honor Of the United States to his protec-
ton, while he demeaned himself as law
abiding citi ca. On the faith of this pro.
lection, he declined to avail himself OF OPP
portunities of escape, and remained within
reach Of the Federal power. Who will
venture to deny that, under these eircum-
stances, his arrest is fragrant infraction
of the plighted word of the nation? If his
parole did not operate an absoluticn Of cy-
cry offense committed fagrante 5ello, 1t i'll
.H.isputably suspended every proceeding
aeaia-.t him for such time as he observed
the condi,ians of the parole. In express
words, that paear stipulated that, so long
as Admiral Senimss conformed toits terms,
be should be under tile safeguard OF the
American Government ano sEauld be free
rom any and all molestation. j. 10 not
he has failed to redeel.o his
,ledge-in what manner the Government
has fulfilled its engagement, his arrest is a
jignal Illustration. In large view,
wrong to solitary individual, is matter
If trivial moment; but the credit of the
country is involved in all. .infraction of the
rational faith. Every respectable citizen !
hould feel the stigma OF public disgrace as !
personal infamy, and should resent an act =
f national perfdy with the spirit impaired |
y q sense Of individual outrage, 1t signi- n
es nothing what may have been the crimes a
t Raphael Semmes lie was protected by '
he plighted word Of the Government he 5
as covered with the panopoly ofthe ma '
ional honor; and with that safeguard he +
hould be as exempt from injury as if shell Q
cred by the wings of an angel But, by d
he action Of the Government itself, he is a
cquitted Of all crime. ether than that Of h
reason against the United States. The s.
'rocity of party journalism brands him as a
pirate" but the Federal authorities C
yer and over again recognized the legiti- 0
lacy Of the warfare in which be was en- Il
aged. In the commencement Of the ire Il
ellion Confederate privateers were loaded G.
18th irons and subjected to trial as Cpl d
Ites;" but either threat Of retaliation or h
J accurate apprehension Of the rules of s
ablic law, persuaded the Executive to ex- II
lange them as prisoners OF war. Yet Ad- o
iral Semmcs was not privateer. He "
us a duly commissioned officer Of the Con- L
derate Navy; he was in command ola Ir
lip of war, and he sustained precisely the lei
ation to the United States Government Ea'
which stood General Lee and every 9TH b
officer Of the Confederate Army. No k
after though his exploits be stigmatized re
"depredations = they were operations
hich international law recognizes as lcgit- 70
,ate, and which the United States Gov II
nment refused to make contraband as W
opposed in the Treaty Of Paris. a,
But, it is not for the ravages he commit II,
d on American commerce that Admiral +
smmes is arraigned berore military tri- ~
NAL in Washington. This is the sub ..
ance of the charge against him That, in III
e fight with the Kearsarge, he displayed W W
flag Of truce, by which signal he procured ~
Of hostilities, and that under vi
elter of the cessation of fire so induced, -
escaped capitulation to his successful q
versary. And these acts are ayerred to r. =:
an infraction of the usages of war. "
ow, the fact is, that in the progress of the sls
tile Admiral Semnles discovered his ship al
be in a sinking condition that he did Il,
en- hoist white flag; that Immediately :"
g Alabama went down !, that he was cast las
% the ocean, and was so picked up by y ~
at from neutral vessel. Such is the y! VII
ltement of the English officer who rescued Ill
n; and its truth is abundantly confirm ~ ~
by other representations. Do these cir gu
instances justify the charge of violation we
the usage of war? What was Admiral wa
mines to do in his 'situation---was he to eni
cline that preferred aid of the English or'
N, and go to the bottom Of the sea; or c q!
8 he, after his deliyerance, to insist on 9 y,
ng transferred to the custody of the ae'
of the Kearsarge? Ifhe had al an
le either Of these things he would have wll
N simply sneered ut for his Quixotic Ter .
" He acted as a man of sense, and in oe'
,dience to the obligation which makes any "a,
he duty of every prisoner of war to es- ~