Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-07-17
VIEWS OF ArENNEssEEAN. A

The subjoined was written, several days pre-
vious to the assembling of Congress, by DR..
Hurley, late editor of Nashville (Tennessee)
Democrat, in what light the loyal citizens of
the South view the present rebel movement to
destroy the Union:
Editor Of the National Republican
DEAR SIR: have been looking over the
list OF members to the Congress to assemble
this week, and fear that few members that
will be in attendance will attempt to Introduce
discord into that body. We will probably
have some plan of adjustment proposed, by
which the Southern Union men would be sac
rifced and forever ruined. The Union men Of
the South have more at stake in this struggle
than any other class of men. think l speak
the sentiments of every Union man South,
when declare that we would not be satisfied
with any adjustment, other than uncondi-
tional surrender Of ulLfhc Government property,
aud an acknowledgment of the supremacyof The
iaws Of the United States. Suppose that some
sort OF patchwork compromise were made
with these rebels, what will be the condition
OF the Union men? Why, sir, these wicked
rebels will taunt us with cowardice and trea-
son to the South. They will tell us that the
North only granted us what we wanted at the
point of the bayonet, and that if are had joined
them, the North would have granted it much
sooner. They say that s'loyaity to the Union rs
treason 10 the South" The Union men, then,
of the South would be punished to the third
generation by these wicked men, should any
adjustment be entered into hat does not i'm
ply unconditional admission TO the Federal a~-
hority.
Many of the Union men South have given
up everything for the sake of the Union, ex-
cept their honor. They have trusted to the
strong arm OF the Federal Government to re-
store them to honors again as freemen. They
still hope to be relieved from the yoke of the
ruthless tyrants before long. 1t is true, that
many who are good Union men, having lost
confidence in the po,cer of the Government to
put down rebellion, have Joined the secession
lists; yet, have no doubt but that in every
State of the cottonocracy there is still large
majority in favor of the Union. They are only
| waiting to see the old stars and stripes once
more thrown to the breeze, to rally in their
might and put down the traitors. We want
but small body of men, as a nucleus OF a
! Southern Union army but we want arms and
munitions of war in abundance. We of the
| South can and will do our own fighting, and
Will put down these uSurperS much more effec-
| tually than the North alone would. We have
| felt the sting of this vile monster of secession
much more acutely than any Northern man can
conceive Of Northern men feel that they are
still freemen they do not feel that they are
| in any danger of losing that freedom, but the
| Union men of the South are not freemen the
| old flag of our fathers has been ruthesSly torn
| down, and its protection denied us. We
would be glad to sing the national airs which
in times past filled our hearts with gratitude
| to God for the rich boon of freedom. But
now, alas for us, like one of old, we can but
| exclaim, ssHow can we sing the songs OF Zion
| in strange land 2'' We love our native
South; we love her genial climate We cling
| to all its hallowed memories with deep anC.
| ardent love. 1t was once free and prosperous,
but the blight Of secession has fallen upon ii
and enslaUed q noble race Of phite men, and ut
| ter ruin threatens to overspread all its former
greatness and glory. l have had an extensive
correspondence with the Union men of the
entire South, and / assure you, sir, that thou
sands upon thousands of loyal Union men are
signing for relief. They expect it from the
authorities at Washington; and If they could
have some assurance of an early relief from
their present tyrants, million of voices would
join the shout for joy. They are impatient,
and it is natural that they should be. 1t is but
natural that men who have exercised all the
| rights of freemen, when suddenly deprived of
that freedom, should be impatient to be reliev-
ed from the yoke of tyranny.
| These Union men must be free, not nominal
ly, but really. once asked prominent poll
tician in Tennessee to attend Union meetings.
He replied, 81 uant the North 10 see that we in
tend 10 fight" and he was professed Union
man. He contended that when the n orth saw
that the South would fight, that the South
could get anything they wanted. They have
now convinced the y Orth that they intended to
fight. The North will now be expected to
grant them ss,chat they Uant." l doubt very
much whether any one of the leaders of the
rebellion could tell what they do want. These
rebel leaders must have office, nothing else
will satisfy them /; they want the power to
crush the Union men Of the South and still re-
tain power. The Union men of tho South, on
the other hand, are anxious to hang the rebel
leaders, and if they had the power, would make
short work of it. TENNESSEE EDITOR.