7438. RETALIATION, On prisoners of war.—[continued].
Should you think proper
in these days to revive ancient barbarism and
again disgrace our nature with the sacrifice,
the fortune of war has put into our power subjects
for multiplied retaliation. To them, to
you, and to the world we declare they shall not
be wretched unless their imprudence or your
example shall oblige us to make them so; but we
declare that their lives shall teach our enemies
to respect the rights of nations.
Report to Congress.
Ford ed., i, 494.
(Dec. 1775)
