Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-05-16
A.~D.S 80 -
yV.ashtngiO,t Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 10, 1861.

washington COTf'esPU'e~'''
WASHINGTON, d. c., May IS, 1861.
My DEAR E.-Amid the excitement OF the
past two weeks really forgot the letters
mean, 10 have written for the Civilian. But
really it is hardly possible to give mnch that
il new in letter when the daiIies and the tel
egraph and madame rumor are all as busy as
thew can be. From this centre of our nation,
might write enough to fill the whole paper,
and then not tell you half that is passing, and
much of it would be stale before you would
get my letter. Nothing day old is news
now. We are living in such an age of law
lessncss. and revolution and tyrany, that we
don't know what is to come next.
1t is but four weeks since our President
called for seventy. FIVE thousand troops to de-
fend the Capitol and TO sustain him in adj
ministering the laws, and the whole country
is full, not of fight but of loyalty. Nearly the
whole North country and little Maryland
above all noble Allegany, and doubt not
tens Of thousands South of Maryland are in
heart as loyal to-day as they ever were to the
Stars and Stripes the noble flag under which
our fathers lived and ded--under which we
have grown up and might be happy to the
end of our days, were there no fat offices and
disappointed politicians. Depend upon 1t
sir tbe cause of this terrible rebellion in the
Southis not slavery or freedom, but the South
ern democratic party has lost the power which
they have had for years, OF controlling the
government, and they now say, rule or rum.
But there are good many people in this
glorious country Of ours who are not after
political power--who love their country
who will defend the flag of the country and
who in their majesty say to the rebels, yon
shall neither rule nor ruin. Said Trend the
other day to leading sympathizcr in this
citv, with the rebellon-"What does the
South want-what does she mean?' She
wants her rights-what rights Why that
jeff. Davis should be in the White House IN
Washington. When he gets into the White
House dear +. / will at once LETT you know
that you and your sturdy mountaineers may
helm to get him out and ride him upon one
of Abraham's rails, if one can be found.
The attack upon Sumter has not only inn
mortalized the gallant Anderson, but has
made the loyalty of the country unit-ready
| to vindicato the honor Of our nations flag, II
need be by blood
Our city is full of soldicrs--from twenty
| FIVE to thirty thousand are here, besides sew
eral formidable batteries. All around us are
tented fields whilst thousands are quartered
In different parts of the city And the char
acter of these men carries us back to the
times of the revolution when in obedience to
their country's call, men of every class flew
to arms. They are not mercenary men-Lin-
coin : hir.lings, as the rebels of the South are
pleased to call them. but leading men in pro-
fassional, mercantile, agricultural and mcchan-
ical pursuits. Thousands of them came with
their Bibles in their hands and their Chap
lain at the head of their regments--not only is
service held daily in the regiments, but
preaching is regularly attended to upon the
sabbath whilst the men during the week con
duct PRAYER meetings and Bible classes among
themselves. These men have not come here
encouraged by angry passions, anxious TO
fight. but with pure and cool determination
to vindicate the honor of their country ana
uphold its government, cost what 1t may
An immense company of Cavalry passes oy
nv window now as l write, and at every step
YOU meet soldiers.
The Administration very wisely keeps Its
own counsel as to its future policy. Certain
" no one can charge it with lack OF for
oearance. The rebels are crying out inva-
zion, aggre ssion, oppression, but let me ask,
what government on the face of the earth
would have forborne as has this? Indeed no
,thcr than a republican government could
tand in the midst of such revolt. But the
I'D shin of state has outridden many storm
md will outride this. The end has not come
ret. but Of this, feel certain, when it does
ome, Constitutional liberty will be more
rmly established thai, ever in the hearts of
ur people, and the glory Of our country
realty increased. This is sitting time
he right will triumph, and woe be to the
raitors and deserters, who have waxed fat
nd kicked under the patronage OF our gov
and have resigned tdea erfedl in the
me Of their country's peril. J.