The weekly Butte record., 1863-03-28
LETTER FROM THE EAST.
[EDIroR1AL cORREspoxDExoz.
Tzrzz RIvEas, (NIich-l Feb. q, 1913.

vicinity Is TO Be prosecuted with Yigor." This
would be an extremely old fashioned report but
for the fact, feeble as it is. that accompanies it.
to the efect that Gen. Weitzel is to make
campaign against the rebels in the Lafourcbe
district.
VIZ have little or no reliable intelligence
from the Army Of the Potomac: but it seems
to be the fact that, the grand army organized
by Mcclellan, has been broken up and dissipa-
ted. The authorities-too partisan in feelings
to allow Mcclellan to command it, could do
nothing with il themselves, and have dispatch
ed portions Of it to various positions on the
Southern coast, to assist in colonizing the ne
gro, as other expeditions have attempted to do
before them. OF course, sufficient of it has
been left to leave Washington entirely safe -
while the radicals continue to legislate in
Washington against the institutions of the
States in rebellion. They are determined to
make slavery Illegal if the Union shall be dis
solved.
The committee on military affairs in the {.
5. Senate, have reported adversely to the
House bill for raising a negro army of 150,-
600 At first blush, in Republican parlance
this report looks ike the work of those who
desire to aid the rebels, and is rank treason 10
the Union but when it is understood that the
classical Sumner, will press his bill introduced
some days ago, for similar purpose, it be
comes policy only Sumner will pass bis bill,
or. in classical language, hurl the Administra-
ton from the Tarpian Rock" 8" You better
bet" OF course it will be pressed to pas
sage before the adjournment of Congress on
the 4th of March So will, also, the conscrip-
tion bill Of Senator Wilson. The Massachu-
sets Senators are running the Government
now. although that State lacks 7aineteea thou
sand of having filed her quota of troops.
hope she can get no more from California for
the draft is too much for Massachusetts, pa
triotism,' although it has been enforced in
other States. Gov. Andrew had authority to
raise negro troops, but reports that they won't
volunteer and no Massachusetts negro or white
man must be drafted no, sir. !, But her Sen
ators are making up by legislation. whatever
their State may lack in patriotism, and Sena-
tor Wilson's conscripton bill IS designed to
furnish all the troops required, whether Massa-
chusetts shall comply with its provisions or
not. It provides for calling into the army
service every able bodied citizen. if they shall
be required, over Is and under Is years of age.
1t divides those liable to military duty INTO
two classes, and first calls into the service all
those under 30 years of age, and then calls for
the reserve guard of silver greys. If the radi-
cal policy continues, the silver greys will have
an opportunity of being in " at the death" 1t
does one good thing, however, for it makes the
preachers, lawyers and nearly every ybody, liable
to be called into the field. That is right, and
is bat exact justice, for as the law now stands,
those who have done the most to bring on our
present difficulties are exempt from fighting
the country's battles There will be less bloody
political preaching in our churches. and minis
tiers will fiud, probably, what they ought to
have known long since, that the salvation of
souls is not to be obtained through Abraham
Lincoln or jeff Davis If this bill becomes 4
law, there viii be some truth and sense, if not
SO much fun, in the Republican saying" We
are coming, Father Abraham three hundred
thousand morer' It IS bat right to make those
who have done 50 much as have our preachers
to bring on this war fight its battles 1t is
proper, however, to add that the Massachu-
sets Senators favored the exemption of minis
tiers, but other Senators would not stand it.
JOIN Van BrREy has recently made
speech before the Democratic Union Conven-
ton in New York, 50 rep!ete with good na-
ture and capital hits that had determined at
one time to forward it to you, but fearing it
would be little too much for a weekly ia
these stirring times of news, have reconsidered
and enclose an extract only. He said there
were some things the President might do. If
he felt Inclined. To unite the North, be
must entirely abolish his party organization.
l read every day in the Republican papers
that it IS necessary the North should be uni
ted. But the President of the United States
cannot tell Us to put down party when be is
entirely partisan himself The ostrich, who
sticks his head in the ground, with all the rest
of him exposed, makes a much more effectual
concealment Of himself than the President of
the United States, who tells you you must not
have any party aud yet appoints several thou
sand tax assessors and commissioners all over
the United States, exclusively of one political
party; who finds it necessary to arrest and iu-
careerate Democrats. Tremendous cheers
If he does not want any party, let him put one
Republican in prison by way of showing his
impaTtiaiity. Laughter and applause The
President Of the United States cannot rescue
himself from the imputation Of party politics
who removes from the command Of the army