The southern aegis., 1861-08-24
SATURDAYS Y -. X-N

and correct representative Of tie aeiue uefMe
people, such soas the cote of Tennessee on
the Sth of June. O.
That we have correctly represented the
state Of the case may be fairly taken as
confirmed by the course Of the Federal
Government in calling for 100000 men
and 100000, 900; in blcckading our ports;
in cutting off our provisions; and in pro-
hibiting even the introduction Of medicines
for the relief of the sick. Are these mea-
sures consistent with sincere belief that
a large portion of the Southern people are
still advocates of the Union Is this the
way the Federal Government treats its
friends in order to damage its foes?
1t appears to be generally believed at
the North that " reign of terror" exists
at the South. We desire to bear our dis
tinct and pointed testimony to the contra
ry. We have heard of mobs attacking
unpopular journals-we understand that
the New York Herald was converted in
this way-but no such things have occur
red among us, nor any where at the South,
so far as our knowledge extends. The
public journals report the suppression of OBJ
noxious papers by military authority-the
Wheeling Union was suppressed by Captain
Fordyce, U. s. A, and the State journal
of st. Louis recently by order of General
Lyon-but no such case has occurred in
the Confederate States. We hear of nu-
merous military arrests for opinions sake;
they have occurred by thousands in Mis-
souri,, Maryland, Virginia, and other States
occupied by Federal troops, but such things
do not occur among us. We have various
military encampments in our midst but
our troops are better employed than in ar
resting unarmed Union men, and compell-
ing them to take an oath against the Fed
eral Government Wesdesirel4o boar our
testtmony emphatically to the effect that
the alleged terrorism" does not ecist among
us. We are aware that individuals of
Northern birth and Northern .sympathies,
who have obtruded their obnoxious senti-
ments upon the public, have suffered an
noyance, and at the period of highest pop
ular excitement, some such were warned
OFT by self-constituted vigilance committees,
(though the number of these cases has
been greatly exaggeratod.) But we deny
that Union men amongst us-and there
are o few such still-are prosecuted or
harmed in any way. We are personally
acquainted with such, and know that their
rights are respected. We take the liberty
Of suggesting palliation for irregular acts
Of popular excitement, which ought to be
kept in mind in judging Of the course of
things at the South. We are largely
in the minority, and we are threatened
with invasion. Gases Of disaffection, or
even hostility, might be safely tolerated
at the North, from their obvious harmless
ness. But if you Eere the weaker party,
and if you were about to be invaded, would
you SO readily tolerate among you those
who would sympathizc with the invaders?
1t is only a strong conviction of the tyran-
nous character Of penalties for opinions
sake that has kept the Southern people
from military arrests and forced oaths, and
acts Of violence against disloyal citizens in
our midst We desire to record our united
and most positive testimony that Union men
among as are treated Nth Jorbeara,.ce, and
need no protection from Federal Jayo,ets.
That 1t is the purpose Of the Federal
government to wage war ofspoliation and
snbjugation against U.S.. we cannot doubt.
Else why these huge preparations? The
telegraph informs us that Congress, out
stripping the demands Of the Executive,
has voted SOC, 900 men and $500, ,000, 600