An Unpatrolled atrocity contemplated by Lincoln.
The spy,
Webster, who was executed near this city a few weeks ago, was tried by a court- martial, and convicted upon the clearest testimony.
According to the laws of war, as understood and acted upon by every nation on earth, his sentence was just, and he but suffered the penalty due to his crime.
We learn from the
Enquirer that
Lincoln has determined to retaliate by hanging
Mr. Smithson, of
Washington, a banker in high repute, who has not even been charged with any offence in violation of the law of nations, and who was arrested only for furnishing relief to Confederate prisoners.
It is difficult to conceive the meditation even of such a crime, and almost impossible to believe that it is seriously designed to perpetrate it. And yet we have seen enough of
Lincoln, and the foul brood that surround him, to feel assured that he would stop short of no atrocity less horrible than this, which we conceive to be the most horrible of all.
It is easy to understand what
Lincoln expects to gain by the contemplated crime.
He hopes to secure immunity for spies to come and go, into and from our lines without moderation.
He will be deceived in his calculations.
Every Federal spy taken within our lines will be hung, be the consequences what they may. He will not be able to intimidate our Government, and he can only inaugurate a war of indiscriminate slaughter.
Should he hang
Smithson, the deed will meet with instant retaliation.
Painful as it may be, such must be the inevitable result.
On his shoulders will rest the guilt of cold-blooded murder, with all its tremendous consequences.
The
Confederate States can wash their hands of both.
