The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-12-27
CHESTNUT HILL,
Near Philadelphia, Nov. 5th, 1862.


CHESTNUT HILL, !
Near Philadelphia, Nov. 9Th, 1862. {
Gentlemen Nothing would give me
more pleasure than to unite in the testi,
val in honor Of the recent victory in
Pennsylvania, but the short notice, and
some personal considerations with which
need not trouble you, prevent it. Let me
hope that before long, l may congratulate
you on the fruit of the political success in
the restoration of the functions Of Cousti
tutional Government at the North, and an
honorable peace. 1t is my belief that
the paramount wish of the masses Of the
North is for peace-though timidity, OF
considerations--mistaken in my opinion
Of expedieDcy, prevent them from saying
SO. 1t has been part OF the policy Of the
Administration to crush out this craving
Of q common humanity-and to denounce
as traitors those who think as [ do, that
blood enough has been shed already
This has been acquiesced in too long
There are thousands who think with me,
whose property is endangered-whose in-
dustry is paral yzed-fathers and mothers
who are praying anxious y for the return
of their children from the battle field, or
waiting for the stern doom that takes
from them those who are left at home
This prayer will soon find utterance-an
the community, weary of war and blood
shed-weary Of debt and taxation, of the
tax collector and the recruiting sergeant
weary Of the ambulance of the wounded
and the hearse Of the dead-will hail with
ecstacy beyond control the hour when
flags Of permanent truce shall be display
ed at Washington and Richmond 1 am
old enough to remember the peace of
1915, and the joy it excited; but it was
as nothing in comparison with what ours
will be when this brothers war is over.
When peace comes-or before it comes
If the madness Of those in power pro-.
longs the dreary conflict will come the
day Of responsibility and part of the
duty OF the Democratic party will be to
enforce this stern account. The House of
Representatives at Harrisburg will be
strictly the Grand Inquest of this Com
monwoalth, and it will have work enough
on hand. On it will devolye the duty to
inquire into the conduct of this war so far
as Pennsylvania is concorned-and to
know if her authorities have been faithful
to their local trust. The bitter cry of the
Roman Emperor for his lost legions> lis
echoed by Pennsylvania asking why her
gallant Reserves were sacrificed and cut
to pieces on distant battle felds-and her
own frontier left open to invasion and in
suit. Gen. Stuarts unresisted raid
through two of the most populous and
loyal counties of Pennsylvania, circling as
he did in defiance near the capital of the
State, is to the authorities the most dis
graceful incident of this war. 1t was
boodless by mere accident. 1t was not
the less discreditable because it was blood
less.
But another outrage on the dignity and
the sovereignty of tie State demands in
quiry and redress. On the 9th of Au-
gust last, Federal Military Officer, Gen
eral James Wadswortb, claiming to be
Military Governor of the District of CO.
lumbia, came with guard to the capital
of this State, and without authority of
law, in the middle of the night, seized and
dragged from their beds, directly under
the eye of the Governor and his Cabinet,
four respectable, and as the event proved,
innocent citizens of Pennsylvania They
were incarcerated in distant prison, and
finally discharged without an accusation
or an accuser; and for them, our own i'm
mediate fellow-citizens, no words of re-
monstrance or even intercession were ut.
tered by the Executive or bis advisers.
Had | no other cause for rejoicing at
the restoration of Democracy to legislative
power in this State, | find it in the pros