Daily national Democrat., 1861-06-09

already been given in this communication.
In Philadelphia and Greenvlle, in East Ten
nessee the latter the home Of Andrew John
son, | saw, and iu Knoxville was told the
llag of our Government was still waited by
the mountain breeze but this was prior to
the secession of that State. | was also in
| formed that in some of the north western
counties of Virginia the Union sentiment was
largely in the ascendant, but as was not in
that portion of the State, give it on what
conceive to be good authority.
Having finished what had to say of affairs
South of the Potomac | will briefly narrate
something of what | saw North of that river.
| say briefly, because the information received
here from that section Of the county has
been more fully represented and of course
better understood, than from that portion of
which have been speaking.
In Washington, saw thousands of troops
in every direction, generally well armed.
equipped and uniformed They were quiet
and well behaved on the streets, and many
Of them iine.looking and efficient men; but
they were not all so, regret to say, for |
witnessed scenes in the Senate Chamber that
! but for the truth Of my story, | would gladly
| pass over | had heard in the South that
troops were quartered in the Capitol build
! ings and that nails had been driven into the
beautiful succeed walls, and that pieces of
bacon and pork were hung upon them. This
was not the case in any portion of the build
ing that saw, nor did | expect to find it so.
! Troops were quartered there it is true, and /
saw them with their feet cooked upon the
desks of grave and dignifed senators whom
| | had seen sitting there in solemn conclave
but few weeks previously, debating serious
| " the momentous questions then agitating
! the country, and that have since burst forth
in startling and gigantic proportions One
sat quietly smoking his pipe in the chair
had last seen occupied by our Vice President,
Mr. IIamln, and dirty overalls and blouses
hung promiscuously upon the beautiful col
umns that support the galleries, while others
loungel upon seats of the lobby and the au-
{ ditory. Much delacement had necessarily
taken place in both the Senate Chamber and
| Representative Hail. as well as other por-
tion5 OF that magnificent structure | had
seen soldiers for Il month, and had grieved
that there was one in America, but when |
saw them occupying the seats that had been
flied hy the honored and departed dead, and
that felt then, ought to be filled by men of
sound discretion and true patriotism who
could, and would settle ihe difficulties by
which we are surrounded, in a wise and iu-
N'Nl'u9 lH'HntI, NY HCdfu Sink NIiulu me,
and made me sad indeed. The ter. or of the
times was indelibly impressed upon my mind
| was sick at heart, and left for other scenes.
In Annapolis were several thousand troops
also, and quiet reigned as if the stiffness of
death was upon them with its blighing
touch. | could not however resist the temp
tation to visit the Senate Chamber there, to
look at the beautiful picture Of Washingtons
resignation There | was upon the very spot
upon which he stood at that ploudest period
OF his lite and looked at the full sized por-
traits of himself and all the great men and
great patriots who surrounded him. and
listened with breathless silence to every
word of fervcnt patriotism that fell from his
lips. "Look on this picture and then on
this" My feelings at that moment can never
be described He had just conquered peace,
which we, alas. his degenerate SONS, have
just broken
But it was in Baltimore, the heart and
pride of Maryland, that witnessed the most
painful state of feeling that | saw. The pco-
Pile were silent, awfully silent, and very
moody. When they spoke, it was in low,
suppressed tones as if they feared they were
watched and might be overheard When
one approached they ceased to converse and
looked as if they knew not their friends from
their enemies This was the neutrality of
Maryland; tut rc-cmbled more the slunbers
Of a volcano than the peaceful quietude Of
happy and coutcuted people.
From this time ON, through Pennsylvania,
New Jersey and New York, saw soldiers,
soldiers, soldiers, and heard of naught but
war aud rumors of war; and listened to in
Discriminate abuse of the South, as violent,
a1 viudictiye and unjust, as had heard ut
tered anywhere i'll the South against the
North. | saw 0t once that the people were
aroused, united and determined, as had left
them south Of the Potomac | saw, or felt
that war with all it horrors was inevitable,
and believed then as | do now, that it would
be one Of the most bloody, most useless and
fru,lcss contests that was ever waged by man
against his fellow man. was tired OF these
scenes, and oppressed with the prospects of
my country and its people. rcioiced when
the time arrived for my departure to my
family and my home on the Pacific shore
whore hoped to find peace and good feel
ing rciguiug supreme throughout the land
1t is true that ! have found the people here
more quiet than elsewhere, more rational
even where they disagree, and trust in God
that California will assume the part of the
good Samaritan, and will occupy the proud
and amiahle position of mediator in this con-
test; that She viii pour oil upon the troubled
waters and that she will be unceasing in her
efforts to stay the upliited haud of brother
against brother, at least they strike not in
anger; and finally, if we cannot prevail upon
our southern brethren to live with Us in
peace and good fcllowshp-to share with US
our happiness aud prosperty--in the name
of God, say, let them go in peace.
do not believe, even if it felt SO disposed,
that the Administration has it in its power to
prevent war 1t is demanded by the almost
unanimous voice of the Northern people and
doubt not, that it will be prosecuted far be-
yond the expectations, or wishes, of many
now eagerly demanding It's Inauguration
but | will ask il, in your opinion, there is one
man among us who would be willing, if we
had the South in our power, to hold it as a
conquered province, as England holds Ire
land? Believing that such is not the wish
of our people, and believing in my conscience
that they can never he subdued, | wish to
see peace party established, and am from
these convictions, heart and soul opposed to
this war; believing as do in my conscience
that if prosecuted as many desire it to be-
that but little good and untold evils will be
the diretul consequences.
Very truly your friend and ob't servt,
E. 7. WILKINS.
Arrivals at the u, ;. Hotel.