The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-08-29
The Voice of the Returned Prisoners.

1t is a significant fact that all of the return.
ed Union prisoners, who have had peculia,
privileges Of learning something of the tenn
per and strength of the rebellion, unite in
demanding more vigorous prosecution Of
the war on an enlarged scale. This is the
sentiment of Mr.. Ely, of Gen Mccall. of Coils
Corcoran and Wilcox, of Lieut. Col Bowman
and Major Eodges, and of all others, so far
as We have seen, who have put their impress
sions on record. This result cannot be des-
cribed to feelings of personal resentment in
consequence of the hardships of ;mprison-
ment, for the men We speak of are above al
lowing their convictions on public matters to
be controlled by private grievances, however
well founded. Besides, some of them make
no complaints on this score, while others
seem disposed to refer the indignities they
may have suffered wholly to the natural and
consistent propensities of the rebels, not re-
garding it as a matter of complaint, but sim
ply as Illustrative of the rebel character.
But the real state of the case is, the return
ed prisoners understand what the rebellion is
better than the majority of their loyal fellow
citizens. They have seen it at home, in its
true colors-and they know what it aims at
Col. Corcoran plainly calls it the worst des-
potism on earth" Col Wilcox SAYS it is L" a
monster which has arisen to swallow up our
liberties" No wonder, therefore, the former
was glad to believe the country was at last
"alive to the struggle and ready to devote
two millions Of men and every dollar in its
possession" to the great work of the hour ;
and the latter said "he would like to see
every man, woman and child engaged in this
war" Col Wilcox succinctly put the WI ole
case when he added: I'VE must arise and
put down this rebellion oritwill put tdown US. 4
The truth of this sharp alternative is con-
firmed by every word of reliable intelligence
that comes up from the South. The impu-
dence of the rebel government has embodied
in Gen Lees correspondence with Gen Hal
leck-the malignant boastings of the Rich
mOnd press-and the movements of the rebel
army under Jackson and Stuart-all exhibit
the same audacious and ruthless spirit. When
Roger Pryor said that the South would not
quietly submit lis terms of peaceable separa-
ton, even if the Nol III rendered blank sheet
of paper on which TO write them, he spoke
the atrocious feeling of his fellow-traitors.
The North must be humbled-that's the idea
The mudsilS must be taught their place, so
not only that the terms of the naughty sece-
ders may be granted TO the full, but their su-
periority acknowledged, and their claims as
the arbiters of this continent, hereafter defer
entially submitted to. To this extent has
reached the Internal spirit Of rebellion. Ii is
the pride which goes before fall. Ii was
doubtless necessary, in the scheme of things,
that the national conspirators should take on
and act this presumpiuous wickedness, in Or
der that the peaceful and unsuspecting mil
lions of the North should be aroused to a
proper sense of their peril, and should meet
it with the promptitude and power now so
absolutely necessary. The day for decisive
action Las at length come. Through thou
sand channels We are warned of the reckless
designs of the rebels, and of their too great
power to effect them, unless We throw all our
resources into the scale. Let US do it. Ii is
the course Of simple wisdom, of ordinary eau
tion-whiie it is the indispensable duty OF
the crisis. Every individual among US is vir-
tually concerned in the issue, and should
hasten 10 act accordingly before it is too late
-BoStoR Journal.