Worcester daily spy., 1861-11-01
wORCE 8 TER:
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER /. 1851.

The Providence Journal says = 1t is the
opinion of well informed men IN Washington,
that treason turks in the army, ana that on
every important occasion men have been iouhd
eating the bread of the government aud wear
ing the uniform Of its service, and yet base
enough TO betray its couusels and TO furnish
information to its enemies. This seems hard
ly credible, yet il is believed by men who
ought not to be mistaken.--The cOrrespon-
dent Of the London Times asserts that he mas
couversed with many officers of the army VINO
have no heart for the contest, but whose sy'h-
palhies are On the other side. oucU ''e"
should be detected and exposed, Their ePau'
lets should be stripped from their shouIuerS'
and honest meu put III their places
Col Forney writes from Washington CON
corning the affair at Balls Bluff, and suggests
that "treason contributed to the sad result
Whatever may be thought of this suggestion
:, now we'll known that the rebels at Lees
burg knew what Gen. Stone intended 10 40
two or three days before the battle frohi
nent citizens of Poolesville, who have always
had close acquaintance with the people across
the river, say this is true. This, however,
may BE- The result of some bunder in the
management Of Gen. Stones secret, OF which
advantage was taken by the rebel sympathizers
and spies on The Maryland side. Col. Forneys
suspicons point to some regular army officer,
aud he says
"It is generally believed that, on two recent
ocnasions. important movements OF the army
were known to the enemy before they were
made My own conviction is that these tral-
tors are not confined to persons holding clVli
position under the administration, nor TO many
quietly living here, and all through the loyal
states but that not fer Of them continue TO wedr
The AmericaA uniform. This uniform has been
used for the double purpose of receiving the
bounty OF the government and of assisting to
destroy il"
Il is very likely that there are men connect.
ed with the regular army, who are more or
less Influenced by a lurking sentiment OF dis
loyalty. For years the organization of the
army has been regulated by the slavery ex-
tremists-the men who have made this rebel
lion JEFF DAVIS himself was secretary OF war
under Pierce, and Floyd under Buchanan. Ot
course they did everything in their power to
turn the sympathies OF the army to them
selves, and fill it with their own creatures.
Mcclellan, RosencranZ, and some others now
in the service, were not in the regular army
when the war began. They had resign and
sought other occupation. They came back at
the call of their country, when the rabid Sc
cessionists were resigning
1t was doubtless owing to sympathies grow
ing out Of association with the secessionists
that principal clerk in the war department
kept up communication with them, and regu
larly betrayed the secrets OF the government
until the danger of discovery compelled him Il
flight. Others connected with the army hav
unquestionably CHERISHED sympathy with trai
tors and held communication with them. /
cabals against loyal officers than to III dFas III
rebels, and that theS 4lhaYe not hestated, no,
and then, to hold tRefsooA6e communication
with the enemy
There is prevalent too much Difference to-
wards regular army officers" too much tait
in their superior capacity and efficiency" a
military education is an excellent thing in
itself. We do not underyalue its importance
But there are other things quite as important
such as loyalty, earnestness against treason
character bright with honor and integrity
brains, good judgment, and the like No
Irregular army officer of CromwelPs time
could have done what he did, and yet he was
merely farmer when called to the war against
Charles l. He contrived to get military
education before the war was ended. Unde
nlably, 1t would have been great advantage
if he could have had every military accom-
plishment at the outset In our last war with
England, the "old army officers" from Hull
to Wilkinson, failed to accomplish much.
Most of the heroic deeds of that war were
done by volunteers, led by volunteer officers
The moderation of the federal government
towards traitors and spies has not been very
effective in checking the disloyal tendencies
Of those army officers to whom Mr.. Forney
refers. 1t seems 10 US that more severity
would have a very wholesome influence on all
concerned. The sarcasm about swearing q
rattlesnake and letting him go could not have
been sarcasm if the moderation of the gov.
ernment had not been so great. We do not
mean to assert that this policy of the govern.
ment has not been justified by satisfactory
reasons, for those in power are honest and
loyal, and they see more of "the situation"
than we can. II they have overrated the value
of moderation, experience will correct the
error.