Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-08-23
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Muscatine Journal
Nv &SuJNcToN Anr ii 1871

w NohAN'Aof$, mug. IL, Aoo1.
If should unfortunately get into quarrel
with an old friend whom l had ever treated
with more consideration than his real merits
justified, and the quarrel should go on from
high words to downright blows, l should, no
doubt, feel some little consolation if, the fellow
getting me Gin chancery," he should knock
me down as gently as possible. But, per con-
ira, if l should get the upper hand of him,
should certainly, the thing having gone so far,
feel justifiablc in planting such blow between
his eyes as would have tendency to make
the top Of his head pillow hole in the pavement,
and his feet describe innumerable circles, par
abolas and hyperbolas, in the circumambent
air, before dropping into the cold and motion
less attitude of insensibility. In word there
being no way of getting out of the fight except
by turning tail and running, l should consider
it a christian duty to whale the man within an
inch of his life
1t took this government some time to dis
cover that we were at war with an old friend,
whose animosity was heightened by the recol-
lection of thousand benefits conferred with
ungrudging generosity. Nor is that discovery
even yet fully made. Perhaps another Els
worth, another Cameron, another Winthrop,
another Ward, and another Lyon, will serve
a purpose under Providence, and reposc in
the narrow house before the government has
fully realized the fact that grim visaged war
is doing something worse than grinning in our
faces. But let me not be misunderstood
The government deserves, as it receives, the
confidence Of the country. If it has erred it
has erred on the side of humanity-by reason
of that elevated civilization which will not take
up the "last argument till after long and
patient continuance in well doing. The meek
Friend, who being smitten on one check,
turned the other, and being smitten again,
then quietly knocked his antagonist into the
gutter, obeyed the scriptural injunction to the
letter, and, | think, in the spirit. wish the
government would now proclaim that forbear-
| ance is no longer virtue.
Martial law ought to be proclaimed in this
city, There are hundreds of secessionists
here who daily and hourly blurt their treason
in your faces, and, what is more, who con
stanty inform the rebels of what the patriotic
North are deprived Of by reason of the sur
veillance over the press In Tennessee, Par
son Brownlow's Wing is suppressed, while
johnson, Ethcridge and Maynard are exilcs
and Nelson a prisoner. But here is daily cir
culated the Baltimore San, Exchange, and
Republican, by the thousand-vile, traitorous
sheets, which pollute the very atmosphere
Not true paper is permitted to live in Seces-
STA. Retaliation is a rule of war. Why not
adopt it now? Now, while Gen. Mcclellan
is performing wonders in the army, is good
time to show that the government is in terri
bic earnest. And believe that the govern
ment will very soon show it in a way not to
he mi Staien 70 not surprised, therefore, to
hear of energetic movements of all kinds be-
fore long.
The city is not particularly animated just
now. Troops are constantly coming in, but
are kept in their quarters-both officers and
men-and do not make the day obstreperous
and the night hdeous, as before Mcclellan
came. He is soldier in whom the country
can rely with the utmost confidence. He is
both able and willing to do what the condition
of the country demands, and, whether he
moves sooner or later, depend upon it, he will
will crush out rebellion wherever he goes. AS
for the immediate effect his presence has had
upon the Army, it is sufficient to say that the
conduct Of christian family is not more diff.
ferent from a brothel of prostitutes, than is the
conduct of troops under the present manage
ment from the conduct of troops month ago
Nomore drunkenness, no more ARRAYS, no more
riots, no more arson. All goes on in decent,
well ordered way.
Hon. Horace Maynard, of Tennessee, reach
ed this city yesterday, and is stopping at the
Kirkwood House Gov kilkwood and wife
are also there The Governor is attending to
war matters, and will no doubt soon succeed
in his errand.
Secretary Chase is in New York, whilst the
head of "the Department of Indiana" Mr.
Smith, is in his own State. Secretary Blair
is also out of town. Under Mr.. Chase's able
assistant, Mr. Harrington, the Treasury De-
partment goes on as usual, and 1 reckon the
others, also, under Mr.. Smith, Jr, and Mr..
Kasson.
Closing these personal matters with the in
telligence that Mr.. Smeed, late of the Waverly
Qowa) Republican, has first class clerkship
in the Sixth Auditors Office, am, as ever,
Iowa.