Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-04-03
SOUTHERN UNIONISM-AND A
SPEEDY PEACEl


There are very many among us who have
predicted, and looked forward, with great
degree Of confidence, to an early termination
of the present civil war IN our land, on the
strength of their belief in the stern and in
flexible love for the Union, and the patriot
ie sentiment still existing in the South. But
our armies having now penetrated somewhat
into the heart Of Dixie Land, and having as
yet made no discovery of the rich pldcers in
the mines Of patriotism, there supposed to ex-
exist so bountfully, we are led to fear that |
the Peace regarded as so near at hand, and
so confidently predicted will be indefinitely |
postponed.
That there was an active, energetic patrl-
otism existing in most of the present rebel
States previous, and up to the act of seces-
sion, we hsye no reason to doubt; and that
there is a lukewarm and "latent loyalty
still existing there, is quite apparent. But
the heart, the life, the soul Of this patriotism
has been crushed out; its spirit is broken
and with only few exceptions, as in the case
Of Brownlow, Bolts, Andy johnson, Ethe-
ridge and few others of like character
who have feared martyrdom less than disloy-
alty-the loyal feeling of the South has evil
IDENTIFY become a weak sentiment that will
require deal of nursing-of one kind or
another--to give it vitality, value, or charac-
ter. The telegraph informs us-and very
many take fresh hope in the announcement
that the people Of Nashville, and other
towns in Tennessee opened to the world
again by our troops. are "glad to enjoy the
mail facilities once more" W" have no
doubt of it. They are doubtless glad TO " en-
JOY " the re-opening of their trade, land in
fact all the blessings and benefits of the
Union.-And we fear that their loyalty hath
I" that extent--no more" AS a late letter
from Nashville we'll expresses it, this loyalty
" is of a subdued and polite nature--of the
kind which is little wont to express itself in
the raising Of flags, or in loud clamoring'
in the street. Like too many others in the
North, in the earlier stages of the rebellion
they are extremely fearful of hurting some
body's feelings" And this too, in the pres
ence, and under the protection of $4,000 10y
al federal troops.
Now, while we are IN the main averse to tn
"noise and confusion which attends bolster
GUS demonstrations generally, wo are free Il
confess that we do not like the type, or style
of this subdued patriotism that dares no
give itself utterancc under the circumstance
in which the Nashville people we're the
placed. They had been living for week AM
months, as admitted by themselves in state c
strife and turmoilbordering upon anarchy
business of almost every kind was suspended
specie had become myth, and the meanes
kind of shin-plasters had become the onl
semblance of money left to them. On th
approach of the federal army the Governo
Of the State, and the Legislature-bag an
baggage-and with the archives of the con
monwealth, incontinently fed and left thel
to their fate-and yet we hear of this entir
lack of enthusiasm on the arrival of GU
troops. This, certainly, is not in accordanc
with that spirit Of patriotism which arou Sc
to action the men of the Revolution it
not in accordance with the sentiment Of th
elder Adams when he signed the Declaratio
of Independence; nor was it in conformit
with the notable declaration Of Patric
Henry =" Give me liberty, or give m
death !" for it would seem that they wer
too cowardly either to receive liberty undo
the flag OF the Union, or to stake death
their opposition to it.
This is certainly Latent" and yer
subdued loyalty,'-and yet we do not pr
tend to say that something may not be mad
out OF it. But that it requires nursing
evident and the only question now arisin
is, what that nursing shall be 2 The cours
of treatment in a like case in Missouri,
inaugurated by Gems. Lyon and Fremon
and carried out, in the main, by Gen. Ha
leck, has been attended with the happie
results and we hope that the Hon. And
! johnson will prove as successful an a.
ooucheur in giving birth to new and lie
subdued loyalty to Tennessee.
SuIcIDE.-Green Darius De Mara, SO