The national Republican., 1861-12-17
THE SPIRIT OF THE REBELS.


The following letter from Tyrone (Tennes-
see) was addressed by George Mason Grah am
well known citizsn of this city, to Mrs. Gov.
ington Smith. It is little out Of date, but
gives most interesting information as to both
the condition and temper of the rebels. They
are suffering privstions, but are sustained, ns
yet, by that malignity which had ratherSeign
in He'll than serve in Heaven.
This man Mascn, gloating over the prospect
of blood and feeding his imagination with
pictures of "old Blair " and others strung
up" is a fair specimen Of those "orring South.
ern brethren " of whom we read in fancy
speeches, and whom we are taught to treat
with such Christian meekness and forbearance,
TYRONE, Wednesday, NigM,>
Aug. IA, 1861.
NV DEAR MOTHER finished, this afternoon,
a letter to Mary Ann, and now l must try and
write you note tonight if my eyes will hold
out, to go in the same packet with hers.
In my last letter 70 Mr., Smith Il cannot now
recollect the tate-f inclo,ed check, with re,
quest that you would draw whatever, if any,
balance there might be iu bank to my credit
to save it from Massa Abraham's clutches If
that letter sot through, and there was anything
| to my credit, and you drew 1t, must now beg
the favor Of you, y Il subjects you to no tncon.
uenience, to give II to Mary Ann, from whose
letters infer that they are getting into ne
cessi.ous condition in the convent; and, in.
deed, except that VIC eau make our own bread
and meat and clothes we are not much better
off here. We have no money, aud shall have
none until your Internal Federal ships, now in.
| Testing our coasts, are blown sky-high or sunk
| to the bottom, which Heaven grant may be
the case rery shortly. have been greatly dis
| appointed 10 my calculations on the officers OF
the Federal army and navy. texpected, with
great confidence, inat they would, in body
! have TOLD the Infamous occupant of the Whit
House, when called on to do so, that they were
| commissioned for. no such purpose as cutting
| the throats of their own people, aud to0ud ~
do IT, What coHld the miserable, hypocritical
puritanical. cavalier killing, witch burning
deuAs have done then! Their utmost would
but have been to have chafed like some tooth
less, clawless old beast-and ! suppose they
are pretty much Ii that condition now. What
glorious ro,d that was at Manassas l love
| to read "Byron's Destruction OF Senacberib,
and apply it to these inflated heroes. My only
| regret is that one single officer, from Scott
down, escaped punishment not that ] would
have them killed tbat would be too good for
them but would have every one so badly
1 uuitucu anu CIIppicu a W ue uDlc W w HOtl
ing, but be prey TO consci nee the balance OF
their miserable lives.
wish every scoundrel of that cold J,Ooded
dinner party at Centreville had been caught
fends gloating in exultant anticipation on q
feast Of blood! And they got il It ,oas teas
Of blood, in which would to God that theirs
had mingled-the he and he devils both
They'd revel in the halls Of Richmond, would
they. How would like to have seen theil
be draggled condition on reaching the city
which trust they are not to disgrace another
year-within which time | hope every wanda
hoot of them that Is not manuring southern
soil will be swept hack across the Delaware
there to howl at the moon their impotent rage
am glad our p ople caught Arnold Harrit
and Magraw, the mean, sneaking, merCenorl
traitors! II | could only see old Blair and hi
two cubs strung up in front Of the Globe office
with Seward, Bates, Chase, Cameron, Welles
Dix, Banks, Butler, and Wilson dangling a,
their heels, l should die happy.
We bave made throughout our country her,
a most abundant crop of coru, and a fine on.
Of cotton. | think the sweet potatoes are going
to yield very well too; so that, fOra year lon
ger at least, we shall not be starved ont
What cold-blooded fendish calculation! r
stdrre whole nation of people into submission
or death! But the spirit of 20 il alive in II
Yet. We fight now for what we fought then
the right to choose our own form Of govern
ment, our own rulers, aud TO make our ow
laws and we will do H.
With our warmest love to Mr.. s., and all III
tamily, | am yours most afiec,ionately,
G. NJ. G.