Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-21
LETTER FROM WILLIAM PENN
NUMBER TWENTY.
WAsnlNeroN. February 20, Is62

WASHINGTON, February 90, 1862.
The recent victories on the Tennessee
and Cumberland rivers, if rapidly followed
up-as they undoubtedly will be-by other
harder and yet more damaging blows Ivy our
armies, will bring the glorious old Onion Of
'7G solid and compact again by the Fourth
of July next. Secession is staggered, nay it
is prostrated, by the hard knocks it has al
ready received and cannot again rear aloit
It's bloody head, except by the most cruel
and stupid laundering or inactivity on the
part of those at the head Of affairs.
Itmay not be possible for McCLElLAN to
move on the Potomac, while the rains CON
tinue to soften the roads as they now do,
but HAlLEcK and BuRNsipE and SHERMAN are
not so hampered, and hence have not the
same reasons for delay that the army before
Washington has. They have already done
great work for the country, but much yet
remains to be done and will be done by
them, before the leading traitors of the
South will feel willing to take up their march
of exile, as outcasts and oulprits from u
country they tried To destroy to some
strange land away from home and friends to
sink, uuheralded, in traitors graves But
where will they go so that the finger Of
scorn shall not point at them, or whittier
will they flee in order to shnn the denuncia-
tions of honorable men of all nations, creeds
aud tongues? The TO them not distant lu
ture will soon answer the question,
Let the gallant BURNslpEs motto-"Moyt
| on men, move on''-inspire with fresh ener
gy every arm of the national service, ant
moved by the glorious results alread!
achieved let them strike quick and deep an,
strong at the heart Of treason, so that i
shall henceforth and forever repent its folly
and acknowledge obediently the majesty o
the law it has trampled under foot, these
past twelve months. 1t will not do to Civ
the wicked monster breathing time. ii
must be pressed hard and hunted from hi
hiding places and severely punished as h
runs before the "cold steel" of his injure,
and victorious pursuersi and for those VIII
escape the ball and bayonet, let the jibbe
be erected. A good time is coming lu
hemp growers and rope-makers. Let then
see to it that the supply shall be equal to th
demand.
Fort Donelson is captured.' llo'
those words fell upon the ears Of a patienc,
exhausted people Gloomily enough til
nation sat, painting for some thunder-clap ,
victory to roll along and purify the dull at
mosphere of an almost obscured hope
Doubling and fearing, the people day ]
day witnessed the apparent growth of rebe
: lion, while the cause Of the Union seemed
, droop before the daring front of treaso
and they came well nigh unto despair. Bl
the gallant FooTE suddenly opens and
= suddenly closes again the hoarse throat
= Fort Henry, and 10 the now deprcsst
/ popular heart begins to pulsate more quc
= ly. Then Burnside lashes the air with Il
u terrible noise Of battle for while, and Il
starry emblem of Liberty and Union kiss
q the breeze in which it jauntily floats oy
. Roanoke and joy overtakes the peop
q everywhere public misgiyings give pla
to enthusiasm and the bow Of national pr
mise is relumed in the political heave
z Anon, in widest glee, come dancing ov
/, the lightning track, the words, Fort Dc
elson is taken !" and the spell is broken.
+ The star of the nations glory and power
y risen again to meridian height, aud jubil
= of joy runs riot in the land. The crisis
! the countrys tribulAtion has been reache
r and yet she is unshorn Of her strength, al
, her greatness is attested before the powe
of the earth In their festivals of gladne
and in their prayers Of gratitude, the pc
pie, acknowledging the presence of the
, vine hand in the affairs of the Republ
thank God that we yet have Governmel
capable Of vindcating the sacred and inht
ent rights of man, no matter how formid
bly, opposed or from what source soever tn
may be assailed. WILLIAM PENN.