Newbern weekly progress., 1862-08-30
DANIEL DICKINSON ON THE WAR.

Daniel S. Dickinson sent the following stir
ring letter to the mecti lg held at Erie, Pa,
on the 4th instant.
" BlNGHANPToN, Aug. l, 1862.
"Gentlemen | have this moment received
| your esteemed favor of the 3Oth ultim0. inyit-
| ing me to attend and address mass meeting
at Erie, Pensy lvania, the 4th instant called
for the purpose of promoting enlistments, and
to arouse the people to sense of the danger
which thrl atens our Constitution and national
existence. l regret my inability to comply
with yeur request, for | have like engage,
ment in this section for Saturday, the I'd, and
after this cannot conveniently reach you in
time for the gathering.
My views are to-day what they were when
| this hell born rebellion assaulted the glorious
flag of our conntrys pride snd hope at Sump-
ter-that 1t must be put down without regard
to cost or treasure: put down by the strong arm
of the government, sustained by the material
power and cheered by the moral energy of a
great, free people, put down upon the theatre
1t selected for the inauguration of its diaboli-
cal treason, the field of blood; and put down,
too, by severing the head of the loathsome
serpent from its body. 1t is not mere re-
bellion or ou,b eak. 1t is the result of a dark
and mallgn conspiracy, conceived and prose,
cuted by worse combination of evil spirit
than assembled at Miltons Internal Confer
| y
has overthrowE the government or been crushed
into the earth beyond hope or prospect of re-
sure ton and not only 20 its overthrow, but
lis humiliation, should We, as people, address
ourselves.
There can be, there should be, but two
parties to this contest in the loyal States.-
The first, embracing those who, regardless of
ali other considerations consequences will
prosecute the war and sustain the AdminIstra
tion for the Furnishing treason and vindcatng
the supremacy of the constitution and the
other, those who sympathiZe with rebellion,
and either justify 1t by open advocacy, or lend
! it aid and comfort and encoura cement by mods
and winks, and stolen glances of appreciation :;
by ll-cOncealed apologies tor its course, and by
assaults upon the government for prosecuting
a war against it. And in the second division
should be classed all OF any and every political
party, sect or faction, who cannot at such a
tme rise above President-making or Office
hunting machinery Of every descriptions abstain
from partaking OF the unclean drippings Of the
contract department, or withstand the odor OF
the suffers stew pans.
The rebellion has only had greater power
of endurance than was expected because it has
! received moral and material aid from abroad,
which we did not believe would be extended
to it. This has enabled It to keep upon its
feet Longer, and to stagger little further than
we supposed 1t could but the satisfaction of
terminating its existence will be all the greater
when 1t is done, and the means of our people
to strangle 1t are as ample as their will is res
olIte. The war is not and should not be waged
to advance any cause Oh earth but that of the
Constitution and the laws 1t is not and should
not be prosecuted to dts.roy any interest but
tAose ui conspiracy and treason. Its aim and
end and chief avowal should be the protection
, OF loyalty and the destruction of rebellion.
But III the pursuit of its purpose the gov
e"nment must rise to the dignity OF the respon-
sibility, and while it extends the protection of
the Constitution to those VITO acknoW ledge its
obligations, should, i'll dealing with revolt, lay
its handy iron rigor upon every interest
which will give 1t strength weaken It's law
| SIS adversary, and should strike hard est where
it will be felt most should, for the purpose of
conquerlng an early peace, in obedience TO the
first instincts of selfpleservation and the holies
dictates Of humanity, whenever it will contTi
butte to these results, Immediately or remotely
condemn and contiscate to its use everv species
OF property OF every name and kind, whether
animate or inanluate-On two legs or on four.
This will give an earnest of the realities of
war.
" We have not now, nor have ever had
over about one-haif men enough in the field to
TO conquer and hold so vast an area Of reb l.
lion !; and the occasion is now presented for US
to rectify the error. and to embody a force
which can practically assert the strength and
dignity of the government can crush the
vehom out ef this pestlential curse, and ex-
hlbit to the envious, meddlesome nonarchs of
the old world the vlndication Of free self
governed people, against the Vaccinations of
conspiracy ard the sympathleS of king craft
" In raising such force the President should
understand that Tar as taxation becomes
necessary to a vigorous and successful prose
cuuon OF the war, and SO long as its fruits are
G., ,l,C. III
will not hesitate at any amount, for they
mean this rebellion shall be destroyed and the
Constitution ustained, cost what it Will or
come what may, and in comparison with these
results they will disregard the dangers, and
bloodshcd and expenses OF war.
" Governments are conStltutlenally tinid,
and politicians are always behind the people,
aud both should understand that the popular
demand of to-day is not only for the raising OF
three hundred thousand men already ordered,
but for Il further order for equal number,
with a recommendation II a every able bodied
man, between the ages of eighteen and torty-
tive, should prepare to take the field IN case OF
necessity. Let this be recommended, and so
much OF it as may be necessary carried into
effect, even to the whole, and conspiracy will
find its reward. and rebellion go where 1t be-
longs. Let the people demand this, and our
good President proclaim it. and little more will
be wanted than an act Of amnesty for the
masses, and halters for the leaders, to restore
law and order and peace.
Let every one who loves the institutions of
his country now come forward to defend them.
Let every one who has patriotic heart make
proffcr OF it before the people. Let every one
who has faith in free government show his
faith by his works. Let every one who has
ability to shoulder a ire-lock come forward to
do so, and help rescue this land our fathers
loved from the hands of traitorous despoiers
Sincerely yours. D, S. Dickinson.
Messrs. A. Scott, B. T. Sloan, Jos. NJ. Sterrett,
Committee
The following telegraphic dispatch was sub
received from Mr.. Dickinson:
Sent letter. | say million of men, and
make tie end Of tie rebellion sure! quick i!