, 1863-05-25
FROM HlGSI:C5k.ANS. xtusygY.
a Capital R.ctter from IN ssDr.
derby Sergeant.
Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Tribune,
CAsr scnATrhR, MCnFREEsBono, Tenn.

CANT SeaArfhR, MCHFREEtBoRo. Tenn,
May 10, 1853. !
TuH TRIBUNE,
Twas exceedingly glad when the tribune
came, today. Yesterday I received from
tome unknown but over zealous fricad,a copy
OF your cotemporary, the Times the pcstif-
crous treason and maleyolcnt diabotism Of
which Was so unspeakably nnuseous, that
needed tan ounce Of civet, good apothecary,
to aweeten my imagination" It came, in
the shape Of your paper; and really do
want to thank you, heartily and earnestly,
for tho spiri. and fcope Of your editorials
upon our representative men, and upon the de-
yelopment of current events. Without coin-
Gliding in all your views, or agreeing with all
your deductions, do certainly believe that
you deserve the thanks Of all thoughtful and
reflective men, for the stout service ron are
rendering our country, in stripping all ex-
traneous issues from the vital questions Of
the time, Thus building firm ground for future
history. wish to God II do not mean to be
profanel 1t were possible to infuse larger
comprehensisenees into the brains, and deep
er earnestnees into the hearts Of our leading
writers and Journalists. There exists, 1t ap-
pears to mt, wofn1 dearth Of these desira-
BILE qualities. We get splendid di:ieeta naaa-
ira; occasional fragments magnificent in
breadth and grasp; but alas! this is nearly
all; and I am almost led to the bitter conclu-
sion that philoeoIhic insight comes In spasms,
and that in the quickest spirits tho dumb
rense rules. It is written, you know, that
"Peace has her victories no less renowned
than war;" and gentlemen Of the fourth
estate possess, in the issues which confront US
all, tremendous opportunities for good such
as never offer to the soldier, in the exercise Of
bis profession, simply.
james Russell Lowell somewhere eays that
"men in earnest hare no time to waste in
weaving fig leaves for the naked truth.'' This
profound truth, expressed with such felicitous
daring, is most peculiarly opposite to our own
wants and necessities. Here is the time, ripe
and rotten-ripe for change; here is a lush rank
growth Of fnl6c ideas, low ldo1atry for prece-
dtnts, unworthy fears about disturbing "the
order Of things u which it is your business Il
use the word III the Sense Of duty and that OF
Sour contemporaries, to now down close to the
roots and fling into he'll to be burnt. I am
sick Of hchalfleartedness of the time, lam
sick Of its perpetual trucking to old SAVE. I
all sick Ut its absurd and lnonstTous fashion
Of looking over its shoulder, discerning only
the pabt- am sick of its herculean enueayors
10 sssm; wish to God it would make an effort
to 1e. am hot as 6angIinc lis used to be-
do not hold mere sutce!sS to be very great
thing; it Is quitcpossihlc that, whilst VIC are
achieving military SUCCESSES, the country may
die nf nsphxia, or strangalation, OF any Of the
moral diseases WHICH nnye proved so fatal to
upon defeat, disaster upon disaster, than the
most brilliant triumph uf arms, should the lat
Ter l,e ilnI,olent to teach us {tkat which the
former may do) that, in the end, those only
conquer who are ut one with Truth and God,
Says GERMAN ,proyesb, Tho the mills Of
es,aEg ssd g,"d s'Sry fs5 bs they eyr sn& sx
do our people think sufficiently of
this: For now, assuredly, upon the
tL1c-ling- floor If the Most High, ilailed by
His brandi=hing thunder, this nation lies,
that 1t may appear whether, underall The chatf
and ll4sks of our outward seeming and show,
there lc some true flour and grain of man
swulds, cnnnon-all the implements and touls
uf war. But more than and beyond ihvsc We
nted onl. conscience, truth. high and aroused
:tirit. For tlelaud, having drunken Of DEVILS
a1odyne, sSe1ns lapt III lethar.ic sloth.
ranno bear to think Of it; cannot brar to
know 10" near the insidluus ruin comes; /
etEnut hear to remember how few Of all our
s'a'e>Men and Generals SCENT To be aware with
What indissoinble bonds the social and moral,
rs well as the political issues Of the time, are
linked md bound up with the military ques-
tieu. Q tEat We had leader worthy Of the
maize! q man the country; us have Rose
cranE, and are well supplied j a man in wl!n:e
brain shall be the cube Of all faculties, whose
l.art shall hold tho result Of ali pure
sympathits, and who shall crystalizc
1hc sum Of each into heroic conquer
ing deeds. For such an one We lnust
wait, suppose. Yet at least the country
could be in more grim and bloody earnest.
For here. to day, IN our own land, cnlmiHate
The ahtegnnlsn,s of tho centuries; the tiger
before the feiarh at bay. And yet men hest
tate, and FARLEY, and awdle, aud pick dainty
their insignificant ways, as If thera were no
such matters at stake as i,npcrillcd honor,
ls.yasty to the future as to the present, with
great interests that reach through million
years, determining the character of thu world
unborn.
Something Of all these things VIC soldiers
feel aud willie We Want Isare We want Purity
flrst. ! do moi think there arc many in the
SSH who would care to reverse this order
For when VIC east our lives into this dread
art na We did it III that spirit of r,nunci;ltiou
which marks the highest planes IF existence;
aid we hnve nut forgotten what one Of the
Turest OF those wise singcrs-the Poets
song
"For whether on the mountains high,
Or in tile battles van;
The 1ttcst place for man to die,
1a where he dies for man.