, 1863-04-18

NO. 1S.
The Union as it Was.

/ .. ~ - WV AAASob NAOHuClL eD6eCleS OF
the past session of Congress was that of
Horace Maynard of Tennessee, delivered in
the House on the 9TH of February:
But "the Union as it was" is the watch
word OF the hour. The Union as it was
achen When Washington, to SUPPRESS
rebellion, sent into Western PENNSYLVANIA
fifteen thousand men, under the command
of his neighbor and friend, General Lee
who, could he leave the abodes of glory
would smite and confound his traitor son
When Webster and Clay rallied to the sup
port OF Jackson and sent treason whipped
and abashed to its lair When MiIlard
Fillmore, called to account for the dispos;-
ton OF his fleets in the harbor of Charles
ton, replied that he was not responsible for
his official conduct to the Governor of
South Carolinaa Or as it was in the wax
ing and waning days of later Administra-
ton, when treason sat
-Squat like toad
at the senile ear of executive power. and
Matching its mischevous plot in the verv
corridors of the Presidential mansion? AS
1t was in the day of its glory or might. or
as 1T was in the night of its weakness and
shame AS it was when strong. honest
men gave direction to its councils, or when
turpitude claimed and took precedence Of
decrepitude in the conduct of its affairs ,
For upon this inquiry must largely depend
the real significance of this rallying cry
whether 1t means a re-estabishment of the
flag and reassertion of the national au-
thorlty over every rood Of our domains. or
is but an empty formula, to be interpreted
to suit any occasion
The Union as it was Say, rather, the
Union as it will be, when, the Constitution
maintained in all its spirit and vigor-even
Its very forms preserved inviolate peace
restored upon the basis of our indivisibii-
ty; the self protecting power of popular
government asserted-our multiplied mil
hons shall present to mankind an example
OF government mightier, freer and happier
than the world has ever seen. Then will
be realized the conviction of great Eng
llsh statesman, who, rising above the mists
OF prejudice and traditional enmity which
have beclouded so many of bis country
men, has asserted the justice and hopeful
ness of our cause, in words CONTRASTING
most gratefully with the ribaldry and cyn.
icism by which we have been so constantly
assailed
81 cannot myself believe in such fate
Detailing that fair land stricken though it
now be by the hand of war, | cannot be-
lieve that civilization, in its journey with
the sun, will sink into endless night to
crafty the ambition Of the leaders Of this
revolt, who seek 'to wade through slaugh
ter to throne, and shut the gates of mer-
cy on mankind | have another and far
brighter vision before my gaze 1t may be
but vision, but | will cherish it. I see
one vast confederation stretching from the
frozen North, in one unbroken line. to the
Vi Vn5 SlasISlO ~, l. .fs----4l- --.;il L:u,.-
Pecifc main, and see one people and one
law and one language and one faith, and
over all that wide continent the home Of
freedom and refuge for the oppressed of
every race.
DEATH OF REBEL PR1soNBRs.-The
(Vt.) Free Press, has letter
from member of the Ninth Vermont reg
ment who is employed in the hospital at
Camp Douglas, Chicago, where the rebel
prisoners captured at Arkansas Post are
kept, which says:
suppose that you would be much sur
prised if you should see the loads of dead
bodies go out of camp. The rebels are dy-
ing very fast: the most that have died in
one day is fifteen. | have sent twelve off
to-day, and there is still the same number
in the dead house. 1t seems as if they
we're all doomed to die, for as soon as a
dead one is taken out of the hospital,
sick one takes his place; and it has been
so ever since they came here. l think it is
the cold climate that kills them off so fast;
they die mostly Of pneumonia. l find among
the rebels great many fine and intelligent
fellows; there are six privates that are law
yers, and smart fellows they are, too. The
most of them seem to be very intelligent.
They are mostly from Missouri Tennessee
and Arkansas; few arc Virginians.
THE NATIONAL. DRAFr.-The New
York Herald, speaking of the Conscription
bill, says:
The Conscription bill, which has passed
both houses of Congress, and which may
now be considered law of the land, is a
sweeping measure. 1t embraces men of all
,olors, and parties, all creeds, all profess
sions, all -Congressmen, Assem-
olymen, Aldermen, Clergymen, Shakers,
Quakers, Indians, niggers and all Thad-
deus Stevens tried to get off the QCakers,
on conscientious scruples but he failed
The able bodied Quakers, like the rest of
heir fellow citizens between twenty and
'orty-fve years Of age, if called upon, must
pocket their conscientious scruples and go
orth to fight, or fork out $500 each for a
substitute. 1t is nonsense to talk of resist
lnce. The laws must be obeyed. The
Quakers and Shakers, we know, will not
'esist; the Indians are always ready for war
purposes, and the niggers like white men,
ave no choice