The War of rapine.
The war waged by the
Northern hordes against the
South is one of rapine.
No war ever waged by savages was more completely one of robbery and spoliation.
There is a general appropriation by the soldiery in the pay of
Lincoln of everything moveable that comes in their way. Under the protection of the
Federal army, the neighboring populations of
Pennsylvania and
Ohio, and some of the viler sort of
Unionists from the western counties of
Maryland, have made incursions into the border counties of
Virginia for thieving purposes, and borne off every description of valuable thing they could conveniently carry across the border.
No such war has ever been waged in modern times.
Our people are everywhere robbed and despoiled of their private property.
There is no redress.
Generals and
Colonels are deaf to remonstrances, and at best make only a promise, that is never redeemed, that they will see that restitution is made.
Even they themselves are in some localities guilty of a fraud worse than stealing.
They take a man's property, and give a receipt with an endorsement that the property taken in this way is to be paid for ‘"after the war."’
When the
Mexican war was pending, these people of the
North were loud in their approbation of the conduct of
General Scott and of
General Taylor, both of whom most rigorously enforced the policy of the
Government as well as the dictate of civilization and humanity, that private property should not be taken without full compensation.
In the whole campaign of both
Generals, the citizens were paid in gold for every dollar's worth that was obtained from them.
Both the
Generals issued orders of the most emphatic character, and Old Zack publicly denounced a regiment from
Indiana as chicken stealers and hen-roost robbers.
The same regiment ran away at
Buena Vista.
It is not surprising that they did run. Roguery and cowardice are twin brothers.
Yet the same race who so emphatically approved the policy of the
Government in its
Mexican invasion, are now pursuing the very reverse of that policy.
The Government itself has given a general license to plundering, and our citizens who happen to be in the line of march of the enemy are ruthlessly despoiled of their property.
No voice is raised at the
North against this system of rapine.
Nobody says anything in rebuke of this outrage on private rights, and the press, terror-stricken, dares not say a word in denunciation of it. The people of the
South are not, in the opinion of these Northern humanitarians, entitled to the consideration meted out to Mexicans, or even savages, by the
Government now waging war against them.
Perhaps it is better for us that the unscrupulous invader should practice the system of unlimited plundering.
It may help to arouse the indignation and stimulate the spirit of our people.
A people who could not be animated to deeds of daring and peril to average the outrages of such an enemy, are unfit to be free, and ought indeed to become the vassals of such a power as the
Lincoln Government.
Every fresh robbery should give birth to a new partisan corps, and they should, like wolves on the track, pursue with undying and unflagging hate the despoilers and invaders of their land.
