The law of retaliation.
--There can be little doubt that, if the Federal Government proceed to execute the Southern privateers as pirates, the war will assume an aspect of ferocity such as the world has not lately witnessed. An equal number of Federal prisoners will, of course, be hung to atone for the privateers. Then the Yankees will retaliate for this just punishment, which will ensure instant retaliation on our side, and the war will ultimately become one of extermination, and ‘"no quarter asked or given."’ This is what it ought to have been from the first. The war on the part of the Lincolnites was proclaimed in advance one of robbery, rapine, murder, and hanging, beginning with our President and Cabinet, whom they would hang tomorrow if they were in their power. Such enemies should have been met precisely as other robbers, ravishers, murderers, and wild beasts are met, and it is because we have not met them in such a spirit that they believe we fear them, and are encouraged to continue their cruel and blood-thirsty career.
