The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-05-31

Tho following article, on editorial leader in tho
Now York Tribune Of Monday last, cyidontly writ
ton by Mr. GREELEY. will be perused with interest
by our readors:
TREASON N cIvu. VAR.
Can Government which, after a long and ardu-
ous struggle, has put down an organized and formi-
foated adversarios as traitors? II
This question is readily answered in the afirma.
two by ignorance and palaion-perhaps also by
wisdom and calm Judgment Let us inquire and
consider.
Internationally, Government may retuso from
gerents, engaged IN lawful war. Il may say TO
them, as Macmillan did to his Mexican adver-
saries, You are not warriors, but banditti-
armies, shall treat arrested felons." But this
ie two.edged sword, as Max. Ia very likely to dig
cover; The Government which treats it's enemies
as felons must expect to have it's adharenta 30
treated by those adversaries-to have it's aoldiers
shot or hung when captured il it shoots and hangs
thoae W, whom y captures. Whatever rule it acts
On the main question, tho doctrine generally
heid by american Statesmen and publietsta prior
Webster, in his address on lnyine the corDerstona
OF Bunker Hill! Monument {Juno II, 1S2j), where
In h9 says OF tho consequences OF TINT memorable
'"rhe battle OF Bunker Hill was attended with
| the most important effects beyond it's Immediate
result ns a military engagement. It created at
no longer Question Of Proceeding usainst s9a s
dividuals, as guilty Of treason IT rebellion. That
fearful crisis was past. The appeal now lay to the
spirit and tho resources OF the people would hold
out till the object should be accomplished"
| Bear in mind that our fathers had not even de-
IT'S, when they fought at Bunker Hili-nay, they
hnd not aefnitiyelY resolved on separation from
| tho mother cou try. In the eye Of British law
we're simply rebels. resisting: tho authority and
tho army OK thelr legitimate king. Yot Mr. Web
ted local authorities proauded any OWL proceed
inga against them as individuals guilty Of trea.
OF course, Mr.. Webster did not originate thia
that. 10. found It lntertused throughout the en-.
Chief Justice MarahaII, in his Lie Of Washington
Kings ioroes In Boston, arrested several eminent i
onr captured officers and soldiers TO bo deal
With as traitors, Washington demonstrated
nveIy s%srioansiy against thus rnjustilablf
mS1s7 Shs s ssSsIs
roated them ash great nntionsl rosiases sos.s
as ths act Of few darpg and tuf5uions indiSid
uals, )" and, as such, wrote Gage; "prsoners whose
cord" Warrington at onco instituted measures
for retaliation, sonld this violation Of public Law
and Of tho laws Of war be carried into effect ant
ton OF tho Just principles Of civilized Earfsre a.
cnunoiatod BY yattei and other writer's on pabii'
law. Ii.'.-,-.- - ~
Revolution, Alexander Hamilton un the Feder
alist), and all our Revolutionary publiosts OF an
authority, refer to and quote from Vattel's Law O
ized world N accordance with the doctrines Q
!, Webster and Warrington above cited. YattoI, II
bus chapter on Civil War, says: ~
toward tho insurgents answer, in general
such conduct as Bpall at tho Bapao tino be tn
mos S soneSnsnt to JUSTICE sainst the most aalaa
their prinoe without cause deserve severe punish
. ment: yet, efen in his case, OIL account Of th
number q tho delinquonts, clssmenSy becomes
b5esks the bonds Of society and government, o.
al least, eusponds their forco aud effect;
produces In tho nation two independent parties
Sss ~ sosa and
, siderod. aa thoaoeiOrsard constituting, .
0f sooeas o TSUpss o t.
Of tho State and resisting the Lawful authorit!
!hoy are not shs lsss dsdsd f. sot gesdes Us
in precisely the Same predl lament as two nations
g who engaged in contest and, being unable
Ia como & tS an Il Hssreonent' have recourse e ARM
common ssa Of sss ought 70 50 observe Observed ' BY bot o.
! partea In every civil war. For the came reason
Which render s5 the g. those sms
;. becomes equally, and esen moro necessary In II
4 unhappy circumstances Of two .incenaed parti'
o laeerating their common country" ''T:,,ls the,
eKtst In this State LtFo soparate bodies, who pr
Q tepd to absolute Independence, aud between who
2 there is no Judge. ihey dee,do their quarrel q
o nations would do, The obligation to obsorve u
y common laws OF war toward each othor Ii thor
n! fofe sbsolnte>indispensably binding on .bo
l. parties, and tho name which tho Law OF nature II
o poges on all nations In transactions between Sta
and StAte,H