Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-08-29
From the A1bany E0ening Journal.
Is it a Real or Mimic War?

! Senator Breckenridge, who as is alleged
and believed, was concerned in conspiracy
to seizs the capital, in February, and become
the head OF a provisional government, after
doing what mischief be could at Washington
attempted to execute the people of Baltimore
to renewal of violence. And dats aoas per-
mtedi The presence of five or six regi-
ments is required to preserve the peace of
Baltimore. And yet a known and ayowed
enemy, in time Of war, is allowed to go there
and in public harangue endeayor to stir up
rebellion
Popular sentiments, fortunately, was di-
vided, and few Union men were enabled to
drown the voice Of the traitor. But why was
he not arrested? Where and when, in the
history Of rebellions. where arch-traitors thus
tolerated Hcw many noblemen have been
hurried " to the tower" for offenses venal
compared with those of Breckenridge How
long would Louis Napoleon have reigned if
he bad dealt thus senderly with his enemies !?
What would be the fate of Senator Wilson if
nc SuUdlQ hlpb " dQOA CSo O cOCCoolOH
audience, or even venture into secession
territory? A halter, and the first tree l"-
Indeed Uniou citizens of secession states are
hung, or hunted away from their burning
mansions and conascated estates.
But here the order of things is reversed
We have been forced into an unnatural war,
all the horrors of which fall upon loyal citi-
zens, without provoking retaliation. Rapa-
city and ferocity-fre and rapine-the Jail
and the gibbet. distinguishing one side, while
magnanimlty and forbearance characterize
the other! The skulking miscreants around
Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, &c., &c.,
who shoot our sentinels, when brought in as
prisoners are released on taking the oath of
allegiance! Kissing traitors who keep the
enemy informed of all our movements, reside
unmo lested, in Washington and until very
recently, if not now. occupy desks, in some of
the departments receiving pay from the
government for betraying its secrets!
Il is needless to say that this illjudged
and i'll deserved forbearance emboldens trail
tors and disheartens loyal citizens. But it
may not be improbable to say--and we say
it with emphasis-ttat this condition Of things
IS uaenama5le, and acM not be endured This
turning of the other cheek to the smiter must
cease. More then enough for these humil-
ialions were endured before the war existed
We must now have an eye for an eye, a
tooth for tooth" blow for blow, and blood
| for blood.
Actual war, all the seventies of which have
been visited upon Union men. has existed for
a third of a year, costing us more than three
thousand liues and more than an hundred
million dollars. The prosecution of the war
calls for still greater sacrifices. Meanwhile
business is paralized, property deprecated,
and labor unrequited. The suferings and
penalties of war must not, therefore, be all
on our side. When such men as Breckin-
ridge come among US, stirring up rebellion,
if the government does not deal with them
the people viii.
The enemy strikes wherever he finds a
weak or detenseess point. If Union visor
is up, javelin is thrust by it; if a seam is
found iu our armor, its wearer is pierced
Privateers, to our great shame and great an
noyance, cruise with safety, capturing our
commercial cities, We held Fort Sunpter,
bat allowed rebels, in reach of its guns, to
construct the forttications and batteries to
" Which it was surrendered. We hold Fort
2ickens, bat in reach of its guns permit the
enemy to iutrench and fortiiy.
We have a NAyY-a navy which in other
wars was not cnly our means of defense, our
pride and glory, but the terror of our enc
mics. What has that navy done or what is
it doing, with effect, in this war? Has it
rendered the blockade efficient? Has il
achieved glory or won laurels? Where,
along the extended and exposed coast of re-
bellion, has the navy made its mark? Where
and in what way has it an noyed and harass-
ed an enemy who is constantly annoying
and harrassing us2
Is it not time, we ask earnestly, that this
war should assume all the features and in
fict all the penalties of war? Can the gov,
ernment afford, any longer, to invent mitiga.
tions or indulge sympathies? Lite and spirit
must be impaired to the war, and zeal and
confidence restored, by radical reform in
this respect The enemy mus. be struck at
wherever he can be hurt. Exposed places
invite attack all along the coast The Caro-.
linas, Georgia, Florida, &c., either or all of
which states have harbors, villages and cot
ton fields at our mercy, are not even mena>
ced: and, instead of beirg required to de-
fend themselves, they send their regiments
to beard US almost in sight OF the capital
We cannot close this desultory but earnest
article better than by subjoining the follow
ing extract from letter from an eminent
American, just received, and dated
LONDON, July 81
/ hope soon to hear of vigorous action in the
field and vigorous action out of it, upon all trai-
tsrs. People with whom converse on these top
les, on both sides of the channel, don't know
1 what to make of us in these respects and inquire
if this business is serious or only boys play. If
the Savannah pirates not hanged / hope the
/ judge will be. There is mischief brewing here in
the way of privateering. and I am anxious that