Weekly standard., 1861-03-27
That Letter,

without wishing to impugn the motives Of any
gentleman, and without the slightest disposition to
be troublesome, we must again insist or the publi
cation OF that letter. twas letter. ellow-ctzens,
addressed by the Hon. L. OBJ. Branch to Augustus
NJ Lewis, Esq, Of this County, and read by the lat
ter to an expectant audience at Green Level the day
before the late election. We think it was addressed
to My dear Leuis" And if our memory serves US
correctly it contains two points worthy of attention.
First It endorsed the disunion ticket in this County
for the Convention, and expressed the wish that
said ticket might be successful; and secondly it
pressed the apprehension that the Standard and the
Union men generally were tending to uncondtion-
al submission to the black Republicans .
But the letter itself will furnish the best evidence
of what the letter contains Let us have the letter!
When people who are members of Congress write
to their constituents desiring certain things to be
done, or intimating that if their constituents would
or would not do certain things they would be more
patriotic OR prosperous it is proper that such people
who are members Of Congress should have full
and fair hearing Therefore, the letter. Mr.. Lewis!
If you had authority to read it you certainly have
authority to publish it.
Mr.. Clingman was kind enough to telegraph fire.
quently to his constituents that they "must" either
secede from the Union at once or become instruments
in the hands of Lincoln to subjugate their Southern
brethren. Well, Mr.. Clingman's constituents have
done neither. "Vot peeples!" Mr.. Branch wrote
to Mr. Lewis that he thought it would be a good
thing to elec. Mr.. Lewis, Mr. Rand, and Mr.. Wilder
to the Convention; yet the people did not think So
and SO they elected others. As the Dutch,nan
would say, "Mein Got vot peeples!"
We have heard it suggested that some members
Of Congress- and some professional politicians who
have been for long while successful and who have
been accustomed to have things their own way,
come at last to believe that the people belong to
them, and that when they issue their edict they
must be obeyed. This is only suggestion, how
ever. 1t may or it may not be true But of one
thing are sure the people are the source of all
power in this State; public are their servants,
not their masters; and those public men who at
tempt to dictate to the people will be held to strict
accountability.
The letter the letter!-the letter!! w&swtf
Messrs. Douglas aud johnson.
Judge Douglas and Andrew johnson, of Tennes-
see, were serenaded few evenings since in WASH
ington City, and responded follows Judge D. said:
My friends and fellow-citizens of Washington:
am exceedingly grateful for the compliment
which this visit implies. / infer from note in the
evening paper that you have been paying your
spects to that distinguished and patriotic man, John
j. Crttenden. No man deserves much credit as he
In this struggle he has been in the front of the bat
tle All his best energies have been spent in the
service of his country, and now, when old age has
come upon him, he has struggled manfully 10 pre-
serve the old Union. believe the clouds are pass
ing away, and trust that truant brethren may
yet return and join us once more IN raternal love.
The Constitution is higher than any party or plat
form, and when men abandon the principles of the
Constitution for the principle of party the people
will rise up and repudate those principles and put
down the party. So long as the Constitution is in
danger, long will forget party, and planting my
self upon the Constitution will oppose any assaults
| upon the Union, come from what source they may.
| [Cheers. l will not detain you any longer. am
sorry there are so many as wish I could take you
into my house; but as no house in the city could
| accommodate your numbers must content myself
with acknowledging my obligations to you for this
compliment and bid you good evening. [Cheers.]
The procession then formed and, passing down
Third street, called out Senator Johnson of Tennes
see, who also briefly addressed the multitude.
! Mr.. johnson commenced by expressing his graft
tudc for sucha manifestation Of their appreciation of
| his efforts to save the Union. He did not believe
that there was the least shadow of reason justify
| ing secession. The South had majority in Con-
| gress and could withhold money and cripple the
Administration, if they had been SO disposed But
they had gone out Of the Union simply because they
could, without either consulting their own or the
nations interest They had gained nothing and
lost ALL The people had been hurried and dragged
into secession by disappointed politicians who
aspiring after office and the emoluments of place,
| and when these men found that they must go down
they made this desperate struggle to elevate them
selves at home. He pited- the people who had to
submit to such rulers. He had met with them daily
for many months; he had known them intimately
for years. and was perfectly acquainted with their
ideas Of Government and for himself he would rath
be subject to the autocrat of Russia than citi-
zen Of the Southern Confederacy He felt confident
that Tennessee would remain firm and true to the
Union. She had fought the battles of the South on
many field, ard she felt that she had been wrong
ed by them He believed that the South could get
more in the Union than they would ever obtain out
Of it, and he willing to remain and battle with
fanatics for the Union. He confident that Ten
could get all her rights secured to her by the
North, and she would not yet sacrifice herself for
abstraction If she could not get her just dues
/ from the North, she would never join Southern
oligarchy, but would unite with the other Border
States AMI set up government of their own.
OUTRAGEs ON AMERIcANs.-The London American
Of the 9th inst says: We learn that an outrage has
been committed in Palestine on two American trav-
ellers, the Rev. DR.. Leyburn and Mr.. Low. These
gentlemen, being their way to the Dead Sea across
the wilderness Of Engedi, had halted, for refresh
ment on the 26th ut, on the shores Of the Jordan,
when suddenly a party Of Arabs, one Of whom had
been having conference with their guide, an Arab
sheikh, rushed upon them from an ambush with
pointed spears and at full gallop, demanding their
money. Mr. Low presented his revolver, but it
missed fire. whereupon the Arabs took their watches,
jewelry and clothes and disappeared across the rv
err taking two of their horses which were afterwards
found The sheikh galloped off to Jericho for help.
Mr. Low was fortunate enough to discover an Arab
cloak, and be and his companions, scantiy clothed
made the best of their way to Jerusalem. Mr.. Page,
United States CONSUL, took immediate steps for the
discovery Of the robbers and the restitution Of the
spoils. He demanded Of the Pacha that the Arab
sheikh should be kept as hostage which was done,