--This Federal General seems anxious to emulate the ferocity and barbarism of
Lyon, the predecessor of
Fremont, in command of the
Federal army in
Missouri.
He has threatened to shoot summarily all persons engaged in tearing up railroads, and it is said that he has already set Confederate prisoners at work upon the fortifications about
Missouri.
If these acts of barbarity are not retaliated, we might as well give up this contest.
It is the extremity of tyranny and barbarism to the
Southern people not to demand an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a life for a life, in this contest.--The war thus far has been too civil on our side by half, and has conveyed an impression to our enemies that we have not faith in the justice and success of our own cause.
We would not advocate any departure from the rules of humane and regular warfare towards an enemy by whom they are observed, but when the wretches with whom we have to deal begin by producing a war of rapine and extermination, and give proof of their purpose by such acts of oppression and barbarity as they have already committed, it is suicidal weakness to hesitate in paying them back the debt of vengeance with compound interest.
Nothing but the prompt determination of the Confederate Government to hold the
Federal prisoners as hostages for the lives of our privateers has saved the lives of those gallant and patriotic men. Let
Halleck be dealt with as he proposes to deal with others, shooting as many Federal prisoners as he shoots Confederate, putting as many Federals to work on Confederate steamboats as they put Confederates on Federal entrenchments, and gibbeting like a dog
Halleck himself, and every other violator of the laws of honorable warfare who may fall into Confederate hands.
