Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-06-15
Letter from Washington.

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publish the following letter, from a
friend at the national capitol:
WASHINGTON, April %, 1861.
Ny DEAR DIZZY the New York pa
pers, with which the denizens of Wash
ington City have not been favored for
the past week, you will learn the gene.
raj detail of current events.
Secession, the legitimate offspring Of
nullification and States rights Democ-
racy, the cry of which you had only
heard when left, has for the time be-
ing practically severed the government,
and the grandest opportunity has been
given to test the loyalty of the people
to the institutions of freedom. The
long rule of Democracy, virtually the
head and front of secession, had sue
ceedcd in filling every branch of the
public service with Southern chivalry,
who could draw their sustenance from
the Government in time of peace and
sap the foundations OF our social fabric,
and turn traitors in time of war.
The open and deliberate treason Of
Twiggs and others of his ilk, the num-
erous designations in both the army
and navy within the past month, the
seizure and plumber of public property
in the Southern States, the declaration
of allegiance alone to the State in which
they were born, the flat refusal to take
an oath of allegiance to the United
States, fully attest the allegation that
the last spark of honor and patriotism,
has expired in the bosom of every one
now in arms against the Government.
For time the capital of the country
seemed in danger of falling into the
hands of traitors. The successful at
tack upon Fort Sumter. the attack up
on the Massachusetts, regiment at Bal
timore, and the interccption of commu-
nication with the free States by rail-
road, really led the chivalry to believe
they had the capital as prize already
within their grasp; but when the das-
tard boldness of the attempt opened
the eyes of the North, the sentiment of
Unionism became universal, and the
legions of the Northern sons of toll
poured forth upon Washington thick
as the leaves of Valombrosa. The IA
nous 7th New York regiment, and
one of the Massachusetts regiments,
soon reached here by way of Annapo-
lis, laying tie rail track as they came,
wherever it had been torn up, and put
ting together engines the rebels had
dissected.
One instance will serve to illustrate
the superiority of our " Northrn greasy
mechanics" so often publicly sncered
at by Southern chivalrous paupers.-l
On arriving at Annapolis, the Massa-
chusetts regiment found the engine of
the railroad dissected, and locked up
under guard of the enemy, who de-
clincd to stand and deliver until the
presentation of q sword-bayonct en-
lightencd his bcnighted vision. The
keys were delivered. On the Colonel's
calling to know if there any engineers
or machinists in his corps who could
properly adjust the scattered fragments,
several stepped forward, one Of whom
observed that he ought to know how
to put the engine together, as on exam
ing the plate he found his own name
engraved thereon as the maker. In
three hours, the engine was on the
road under steam.
There are now in the city not far
from twelve thousand troops, and at
least fifty thousand more in motion.
Baltimore must soon open a way for
peaceable passage through her streets,
when she has, as she surely will have,
an army of twenty thousand men each
side and Fort McHenry in front, or
she will be laid in ashes. Already che
begins to feel the grasp of Federal pow
er, and will soon gasp in despair. Sc
cession, which rose to fever heat in two
hours, tearing the Stars and Stripes and
raising the Palmetto, begins to droop
its head in Baltimore.
There is strange sentiment preva-
lent among the more ignorant mon
South, leading them to believe, or least
to boast, that one Southern man in this
contest is equal to any ten Northern
men. 1t is easy to see that whisky is
the foundation Of all such enthusiasm.
Now, while whisky may be very de-
lightful as an occasional beverage in
time Of peace, it will not suffice a. the
only article with which to ration IN
army in time Of war. Could the sup
ply of this essential element of Confed-
erate-S tates-of. America-enthusia be
cut off in any way by the General Gov.
eminent, the war would be at an end
in one month. It is hard to see how
"Jeff." can run his new machine to
any great extent in any event. This
sO-Callcd Confederacv haa NO money.