Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-05-16
Union Sentiment at the South.

Benz. j. Losing, the historian of the
revolution, just returned from New Or
leans, writes as follows of what he saw
at the st. Charles Hotel.
| heard the freing of cannon at the
city-seven discharges es-whioh proved
to be t"u de joic because of the surren-
der of Fort Sumter. When returned
to the st. Charles, in the evening, the
excitement was intense; and all the next
day (SuhdayJ throngs of men we're seen
in all public places and on the streets,
greeting each other. Martial music was
heard, and volunteer soldiers were seen
on all sides. The surface of society ex
hbited a feeling of unbounded joy. This
nas suddenly reversed on Monday, mhen
tie telegraph brought a copy ofhe Pres
ielent's proclamation. | never saw
more marked change of feeling from that
of great delight to great depression than
was exhibited within iorty-eight hours.
lhe jubilant men of Sunday were
thoughtful men on Monday; while lead
ing 'secessionists' laughed at the proc
lamation as powerless to accomplish its
intended purposes.
They were in ignorance of the true
State Of the case; vast numbers of Union
men, for thcre.ar vast numbers of them
in the South, )who are daily becoming
less and less active, under the pressure
Of an increasing terrorism. were disar-
med of all effective argument and render
ed silent.
1t will be seen and felt by all candid
men IN the South that the traitors now
ruling the Gulf States with a rod of iron,
deceived by the assurances Of Northern
dewagogues that vast numbers in the
free States would be found fighting un.
der their banner, and multitudes there
would sympathise with them, had deter.
mined in any event t, humble the fed
eral government and to degrade its flag
hoping thereby, and the shedding of hu-
name blood, to fire the Southern heart
and dismember the North.
My intercourse with the aged men.
afforded me good opportunity to
learn the true state of feeling in the
South, and particularly in New Orleans.
whose population is cosmopolitan, and
whose commercial life depends upon the
perpetuity of the Union. feel that |
ain fully justified in saying that the dis
union sentiment, seen on the surface has
no considerable depth-that the people,
by the reckless boldness, unscrupulou:
falsehoods and violent menaces of dema
gogues. using the press, with its vast
power, for their base purposes, are in the
hands of the politicians, and at present
powerless.
A gentleman of wealth and high so.
cial position, who has lived in New Or
leans fifty years. assured me on the day
after the Presidents proclamation Wa.
received, that if the loyal States would
respond to i: patriotically. by giving ;
strong arm and full purse wherewith tc
estabsish the federal authority every.
where within the borders of the repub
lie, there would 90 up from Southern
lips such shout for the Union and thu
Constitution G as would silence every trai
tor instantly and forever. New Orleans
he said, Indignantly, is sound to the
core.
Impudence and the fear Of brute fore
have cheated us of our liberties; but le
| the people once sec the accursed tripl
striped flag of the rebels hauled dow
t from the Mint and Custom Housd, an
!, the Unioa banner PLACED :herc ty han