Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-09-11
LETTER FROM OCCASIONAL y
WAsHrEeroE. Sept. 3. 1859,

WAsHTEeTos. Sept. 3, 1859.
The capture OF Washington by the
rebels would probsbIy enable them to
dictate terms to the regular Govern
ment of the United States. They
knew the cost OF the venture when they
made it, and they are risking all upon
it. They are also lighting for the
shadow Of foreign recognition. These
temptations have stimulated them In sll
their late movements, as well in this
important department as on the other
military theatres. Although the Fede-
raj capital is to-day more impregnabls
than it has ever been, its seizure by
the traitors would make it one vast ru-
in. aud would convert every loyal, and
every one who is half-loyal man to-
day in the free State into q fierce and
fan atical soldier. You, Of Philadel-
phia and New York, would then begin
to realize the horrors which have 50
long been familiar to the deluded people
OF the South. Your idle men about
town would find new opportunity to
consume their leisure. Your stores and
places Of amusement would be closed,
and every interest and svocation would
be absorbed by and enlisted In the
great warlike duties Of the hour. tits
this spirit, coupled with the desperas
ton that springs from slavery, and
with the earnest longing for foreign aid,
that has enabled the rebels against the
United States to conduct so fearful a
war upon its authority. With them
the war has been reality; with US q
pastime. They put their substance in
to the fight at once; we only those who
have gone forward for occupation, or
volunteered from patriotism. They
have put nearly their whole fortune up
on single card; we risking moyety
Of our opulence. trusting TO the COM
Portable theory that victory must be
ours, because they we're eight and we
were twenty millions. The hour of
service and Of sacrifice is coming. TO egs-
~ mon and every woRdn of the loyal
States in the United States. dsdain
the taunt that I may be writing as an
alarmiSL. / am not. Seventeen months
ago. when, in these very letters, l
called upon the civil authorities Of
Pennsylvania to put the State in con-
dition OF military preparation. / was
so accused. And yet. though nv tone
was changed in Difference TO this opinion,
even then the traitors were organizing
for the results over which they are now
rejoicing. Cincinnati was as comfort
able and complacent as Philadelphia
three weeks ago. and yet. to-day. she
is vigilantly awaiting an attack from the
rebels. Her men Of peace are now
men Of war; her politicians. patriots;
her candidates for Office, IN the ranks
Of the army. Pennsylvania is. in fact,
nearer to the most formidable army of
the rebellion than Ohio, and with no
such dividing line as the Ohio river
Covington. opposite Cincinnati. COM
manded bv the batteries of Kirby Smith
and John G. Breckinridge, might fall,
but how long would Franklin. York, or
Adams counties be able to hold out
against the advancing hordes Of Stone
wall Jackson, with no intervening river
to protect them?
The people of the free States must
be accustomed to war. The men who
have discussed among themselves the
possibility Of avoiding draft must vol
unteer. Our gentlemen must abandon
the practice Of invoking the workmen
to go into the army. Among the very
first to encounter the hazards Of the
battle in the South were the politicians;
and il you read over the lists Of killed
and wounded, you will find that those
who advised Secession and advocated
Disunion, fought and bled and died for
both. 1t is very true, that in the slave
States the desperation Of the Secession
cause forced the party leaders to take
the lead; but we OF the free States must
borrow something from this example,
in order to secure the victory we de-
serve. Tie peril of WashiHSton-evsD
HE loss Of Washington-moy Be the
1rsotest blessing of The american people,
md tie sdlv0tioD Of tie Republic. 1t
cannot give, for we have them now,
columns and a self-sacrii-
ting people; but it may create great
military genius. and contribute to the
Government chieftains who will fight
ior the Government. because they be-
ieve in it and would die for it.
OCCASIONAL.