New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-08-19
The Strong Union Sentiment
in the State.
The Reaction Against the Jed, Davis
Clique
HOPEFUL INDICATIONS.
From Our Special Correspondent.

here-sOme ten miles--is mostly over sand hills,
your horse wading through oiiicous dust about a
foot deep, and with no small labor and preparation
on a warm day. Land travel is mainly accom-.
plshed in this country by night. The last three or
four miles Of my way, approaching the CbOwan
River, lay through swamp, the water Of an omber
hue, and averaging two feet in depth. The hotel,
way from the Court House and Jal--a pleasant
prospect for guests, and well adapted TO impress
them with the austere dignity of justice. The jail
ia crazy, wooden structure, which looks as II hall
dozen stout men might tear ii down in no time.
My host is a pOrtly gentleman, good-naturod and
communicative, who shakes his head Ominousy,
believes the country in bad fix, and that the news
papers have ruined it. | met here an intelligent
German, named Strn, connected with Southern
Piano Mandatory" at Norfolk, from whom /
obtained considerable local information. He gave
me an amusing account Of his experience in fox
hunting astride treacherOus mule. There are few
residents here, aud no churches. The principal
man in the place, Mr.. j. A. Anderson, the post
master, who has anassed handsome fortune by
bookkeeping still stands up for Lincoln, and thinks
he would have made one Of the "best of Presi-
dents, if he had been left alone" Murfreesboro,
twelve miles from here, is the principal village in
the county; il has two Female Colleges, under the
auspices respectively of the Baptist and Methodist
denominations Mr.. Smith, the member of the
Confederate Congress for this District resides
there.
Great discOrd exists among the officers of the
Confederate army in Virginia, and the most
alarming INSTRUMENTATION among the rank aud
file. So chaotic and anarchical is the condition
Of affairs that the whole organization may ex-
plode spontaneously at any moment. One of the
chief causes of this lack Of that military rapport
and unity 80 essential to success lies in the entire
want of that homogeneOusncss and sympathy
which distinguish prominently the armies of the
North, where, from the practical Obliteration of
State lines and the intimate association aud inter-
mingling of the people, no such thing as pro-
vincal peculiarities and jealousies exists. This
is an element of Southern weakness, for the pur-
pose of compact, cooperative action in armed
masses, which have never seen noticed in any
Free-State journal, but which is a most salient
feature to an observer here. The extent and in
tersity of local prejudces and antipahes is sur
prisng, and renders the effective concert which
comes from mutual acquaintance and understand
ing essentially impossible. The distrust and
hatred in which the Kentucky troops enlisted
under the Rebel banner arc held by the forces
of other Southern States, and of which you have
been apprised, is not an isolated instance. The
great moss OF the Southern population are sta
tionary aud stay.at-hOme in their habits, many
Of them never in their whole lives going lar
beyond the smoke Of the homestead chimney; 1t
ia only a few of the more wealthy whom travel
has made in the least cosmopolitan. This, by
the by, is one reason why Northerners have often
Jared 80 badly in Southern communities.
The North CaroliDians are especially unlike the
Virpnians and South CarOlinians, AID cannot
tolerate either their officers or men. notable
case occurred as the forces of this State were on
the eve of returning from Virginia. Roger A.
Pryor a military peacock, who is held in parti-
cular dislike and contempt by them, having east
some indiscreet reflections upon their courage
and discipline came upon the ground as they
were about leaving. lie was sauted with groans,
together with cries of "Potter." Pryor shook
his long locks, and looked all his ocular daggers
at them, and commenced gestculaiiug in violent
manner, when shower Of discarded rations
which the indignant North Carolinians let fly,
caused him to beat hasty and uDdignifed re-
trent. The returned troops are loud in their
complaints of ll.usage, no pay, hard work,
miserable and scanty rations, and bad whisky,
and the majority disguised with their experiences
in soldering, declare they will never leave tie
State again. They express their willingness to
defend their own homes against invasion or insur-
recton, but have no desire to make further
sacrifices in behalf Of JEFF. Davis and his inn
practicable Confederaey. This, together with the
heavy losses they sustained, has discouraged them
with the whole movement. position of neutrality,
similar 10 that which has spared Kentucky the
horrors of civil war, is beginning to be openly
advocated, and that, too, by many who have been
hitherto regarded as strong Secessionists. Ihis
is but the first step in the direction OF iorlniaa'
BILE reaction. The heart Of North Carolina has
never been in this rebellion.
There are fierce discussions among the leaders
Of Southern opinion, which cannot be disguised,
and will ere long break out virulently' PRIDE
alone restrains them for the present. predict
a secession of one or more States from the new
Confederaey, or a complete disruption Of It,
within six months. 1t ia hardly possible to lore
see the organization of two political parliea
equally loyal TO Dsvisdom, particularly on the
issue Of admitting or not admitting Non-slaVe-
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