Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-07-08


We are permitted to publish, from the cotrcs
poHdencc Of the Fost once Department, the fol-
lowing very slgnisesnt extract from letter from
one of the nrst intelligent and widely known
residents and Union men Of New Orleans. Ills
statements are worthy Of thoughtful consideration
by The people as well as by public men,
Extract from letter Of Sd June 1921
The appointments to ofsce under the admin
ak,Iation of Mr. Buchanan had been made with
careful eye TO reoellion, and the materials were
sH ready before the presidential election of lsen
When that event took place. 10 Is certain there
was large M JCritv of Union men I'm New Or.
leans, the sngar planting pari shea were known to
hs strongly opposed TO secession, and the Gov
ernoT OF the State was avowedly reluctant and
wss with d 6iculty induced to call an extra ses
sion OF the Legislature for the purpose Of passing
q convention bill.
Uader these circumstances, had the General
Government been In the bands Of men disnosed
to WELD legitimate Rover In an energetic man-
Her In support OF the Union and the Constitution
Louisiana might have been saved from the erro,
into which she subsequently, fell. But, unfortu
ndtely, toces who bad been accustomed 10 sneak
1oI M, buchanan, and were known as his inti-
Hla'e friends and advisers, proclaimed him dis
posed tO acquese In secessIonS GVerreS he wonId
never use force TO put II down, and that he was
vlttIsly pledged to recognise a Few Confed-
c'scy 80 soen as ak or seven States could be in.
duc,d TO fosm one. Coupled with this coEs,sn,
and assdnous efforts were made witt prpst snc
cess, to Pervert the public mind with req ard 10
lxIn MI
people were persuaded to believe that the Chief
Magistrate would fll all the on ces v.ith fanat-
ical aboiitonists; tnat their domestic Institutions
would be aSsdiled by every means his admins.
traticn could employ, end that, In a short time.
should the election be submitted to, Corsfess
would proclsin emancipation.
" "hie tue popular mind was allied with tbese
false notions the people saw evefy vesiiTs ~ ths
POWER and presence OF the United Ststes aban-
don: and sweps away By the United States Office
bolders themselves, and new Government n
f1cfO rFCrntZed. which 10
shield against the sudden overthrow of their
domestic system. IL Is net diScult to conceive
teat tnaS Were deeply impressed with the appa-
rent necessity OF sustaining such a government
nen the war arcse- The excitement Of military
ardor carried away the young men; these drew
with them the sympathies ana affeciions Of their
sisters, wives and mothers; the fathers then gave
way: and the community, with apparent ma
ninity, yielded to the excitement ard pressure of
Dissent, where IL exis.cti was only tolerated n,
account Of respsctshIiity Of position, or when
sustained by the hand OF friendship: but no omen
opposition would have produced any other rpsnlt
rhan inc cesiucGon or de- nditiCn Ofthe offepds,
VIA; toe numerical strength Of the Union msn
IN thlS city really was during the last etghteen
IuOpihs u Is impossible to say, for there existed
h'; organization or concert of action amouc them
The secession leaders and presses would one ddy
declare the city full Of spies and tfaitors-by
" hich terms they designated Union men-end on
the next would maintain that no nppCnent Of Sc
CeSsion could be found here A Powerful ana
secret vigilance committee broug ht every mans
conduct and language under censurr; and at last
martial law with its concomi,ant Rigorous Iness
ures, deemed necessary 10 stfte t6e Ia.t insnI
zhticns OF dissent; and tae pressure laid on every
doubtful man was tremeni icus
Tue banks Of New Orleans suspendIng specie
payments and converting CcRtederata Treasurv
Notes into bankable fuRds, gave great credit 10
'he paper and indispensable aid 10 the r richmond
S.overnment, causing marked imitation Of the
prices OF property, and enabling debtors TO dis
ChSge their obligations In that currescy 10
Eredter advantage. Business transactions were
multiplied and effected by this startling proceed.
fng on the part OF the banks in open violation Of
tue state constitution and Of their charterR The
Legislature OF the State followed in the wake of
this, and openly counenanced and aided the
banks la the1e unconstitutional acts Tae faint
complaints Of the observers of law and of inteI
hgent men were overw helmed In the ebuIitions
OF enthusiasm, and by the secessioniss vociferat
fng this can make no difference, for ali private
property will be confsca,ed by the Washington
prove a f4Ilure.n
We deem 1t safe to say that the leading capital
1sts, merC na1ts, traders, and prominent men of
the city, We're actively engaged in promoting the
secession cause, and gave 1t, apparently warm
support, while the friends Of the Union were to
be found mainly in humble and less influential
circles, were silent and passive
IN addition 10 all this, the vigorous blockade
wnIcn sealed our port, threw large numbers OF
men out OF the path business, and their minds
were mus lsft TO De Inverted to the discussion of
inc war, and to occt patton with its measures.
Then the sudden reduction OF the CITY by the
forces Of the United States took all the ponus,ion
by surprise. Few had looked forward TO this re-
suit the miIortty believed IL impossible. IL
ioand tne cllzens accustomed TO the action OF a
ale Jaeto government, complete In its parts and
working with regularity; IL found them with
their whole banking and monetary system in
VoiTed In lhe confederate movement, and with
nliions OF their private property invested In its
bonds and treasury notes IL found them with
their sons and brothers, their relatives ana dear
Isl fiends In the armies at Corinth and in Vir-
glnla, and with the hopes and affections Of their
families turned towards these fields. Such men
could not and do not vet look upon the fall of
New orleans az the concluding event Of the war
Ehey see that BeauTegaTd still maintains him
self at Corintb, and that the Confederate armies
are unsubdued In Virginia. They see that the
defcnces on the river above have delayed the
fleets OF the United states so that the Mississippi
Is not vet opened 10 commerce with the West IL
seems to most OF them, IL they should now and
at once give an active Adhesion to the re-estab-
Hshed Ord-r, they would be deserting their rela-
tives and friends In the hour Of peril and abap-
SOning with unmanly precipitation cause they
had long proclaimed 70 be just II would be too
much 70 expect so sudden q change
The causes which will, as we think produce a
development and manifestations OF public opih-
Ion here Ia favor Of the Union, have not vet been
the opening Of the Mississippi 10 the Western
trade, the dispersion Of the army at Corintb. and
the success OF the United States In Virginia
and effect, as 10 viii enable men 70 resume Their
Old pursuib TO occupy their minds with thoug b q
OF business and peace, and soon to forget o. re-
:ne % osr only with deep regret the name and his-
tory OF the revolution.
The present state Of public opinion, then, In the
cltY-and II 10 more marked In the country-is
as In all seasons OF transition, extremely painful
ana uneertiini and more time is REQ uired that
sucn events may be brought forward az will show
further struggle 20 be impossible and the contest
really at an end. The sooner these events occur
tns sooner Will men Of integrity, Intelligence and
lLnuenee De found who will accept ONCE #ss
u Henry Ward Beechef says many good ,
sensible secular things well as abolition fool.
1Sh ones. Talking of nPyVsnaners hsre "a xvh.