New-York daily tribune., 1861-09-04
IMPORTANT FROM TIE SOUTH.
Need Of Immediate Government Action,
THE PEACE MOVEMENT UlSHtARTENINs
CHANGE IN CONFEDERATE PLANS.
,,em oDr sr,cl. Nor,l c,rolIna Correspondent.

spondenee was subjected, purpose 10 O'i''
SESAME, 60 embOdy some observations oi my Vod1
,bus far unused. and 10 mako available the resi-
due of such guerrilla nOt;ngs as seem worthy
che dignity Of the printed column. lhey VIII oe'
of necessity, rather desultory haVing only sucu
sonnee.jon az belongs 10 facts, which, however,
viii range Themselves in a certain order, though
mt in n somewhat prOmiscuOus JuxtapOsltioa.
The strong unlercurrent Of UniOnism pervad-
Sns the popular Southern continent hss been
several times spoken of in my letters. 1t is sur
prising that there should bo so much Of the loyal
spirit still alive Ia the seeded States considering
the iron rigor which represses its expression,
md the manifold discouragements it meets with.
The amount of aid from among the people Of
North Carolina which can be made of practical
avail to put down the Rebellion, in cooperation
with the Federal forces cannot be precisely esti-
mated but there are thousands who would will
Snply fpht under the old banner. The detection
Of many UniOnists at ono time prominent as
leaders, has done the cause an immense injury,
and the standards Of loyalty must DO borne hence
forth in the hands mainly Of new aud ambitious
men, whose shields are yet uninscribeG, and
whose knigbtly spurs are still to De won. This
detection is probably net sincere and per-
manent in some cases, but il has the
came disastrous effect as if it were ever so
hearty and determined. Men of whom better
things might have been expected have succumbed
70 the tide Of treason, and disavOwed their a.
legance to the country. 1t may be some ex-
suse for them that, in this submitting to what
they could not openly Withstand, except at grave
risks, they acted in obedience TO that primary
law of nature which makes one shrink In
stinctiyey from suicide and take counsel of pru-
dent fears. The longer the Government fails IN
striking vigorous and decisive blow at the
backbone of the conspiracy, the more the mass
Sf those who are at heart loyal become IN
eliped TO submit in sullen acquescence TO the re-
sishess despotism of their tyrants. There is
danger that the still lingering affection for the
Union in the South will lapse at length into
. mere tradition, and the hope Of a restoration
"a its blessings and its glOries be deemed as chi
nerich as of the revival of the Golden Age.
In all governments based upon the Democratic
theory, the will Of the majority, or Of what
appears to be such, assumes kind of authority
To which those who regard it as mistaken
and unfortunate are nevertheless likely to yield
consent. Especially is this true when all the ap-
pEaDees of intimidation and temptation, and
every agency Of force on the one hand and ca.
iOery on the other, are brought to bear upon
tbe hesitAtiEg and reluctant. To say that /
have seen but little Of the heroism of active
and Outspoken dissent is needless, for the laws
If human nature would Of themselves cOntrOyert
sD opposite testimony. Yet there are thousands
hoping almost against hope, and clinging to ex-
Dectations of speedy deliverance with tenacity
well nigh miraculous. To abandon these men to
their oppressOrs would be anact Of national cow
aTdice without parallel in history
The Union men Of the South are much dis
tesrtened by the exaggerated accounts current
there Of "peace" movements at the North They
look upon Northern overtures for compromise,
Cn any other basis than that of the complete sup.
preston of the usurpation which now grnds
them 10 the DUST as in the last degree cruel and
treacherous TO them, and blasting to their hopes
long cherished under the most adverse circum-
stances. These white flag demonstrations have
also greatly contributed to revive the disappointed
rebel dream Of active and effective aid from
Northern dirt-eaters and doughfaees in their un-
holy crusade against the Union. Insignificant |
and feeble as these demonstrations in the North |
doubtless are, they are having most potent in
huence for evil at the South. The disuniouists |
look upon them as the "beginning of the end
they have all along prOphesied-the final reeOg.
milton Of their independence and an agreement
by the body OF the Northern people to terms Of
pacific separation. 1t is the rainbow Of promise
20 rebellion, but an omen Of despair and death
&c Unionism.
Patriotism has always been the political re.
hgiOn Of tho North CaTOlinians, and the peoole
OF no State have looked with more venerat1n
and love upon the star-spaDgled emblem of cur
nationality. The memories Of the Revolution,
the gallant deeds of the war Of 1872, and She
yalor aud victories which shed luster upon our
arms during the Mexican campaign have baen
ever successfully appealed to by popular orators
in arOusiDg the enthusiasm and cOncliating ,he
favor Of the masses. The Declaration of Ipie.
pendeDce and the Constitution of the United
States have had with them the authority of It.,ly
Writ Loyalty is the instinct Of the people, and
not the fine theory of the scholar. Their ,9p-
tented conservatism, ayerse to any radical chag2e
or innovation, least of all sympathzed with .he
bold plans Of the cOnspirators. The heresies Of
Modification and sovereign State Rights nr3or
received acceptance or applause, but were alReys
reprobated with adherence. In no State .sas
the Disunion movement more emphstcally 10.
nouDced than when more than tEO-thirds Of sle
roters Of North Carolina recorded their o9ss.