Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-06-27
e.zg- FnrrpoM or srErcn.-The Harris.


nv" FREEDOM OF SpEEcH.-The Harris
burg Patriot and Union having stated that
the ammunition from the arsenal had been
removed to Washington, makes a correction
by stating its exact locality, about two
miles from Harrisburg. AS this exposition
was made about the time the rebels were ad-
vancing on that place, the information was,
no. doubt, as acceptable as if it had been
privately made. This is the kind Of 'frec
speech" advocated by the peace and tory
organs of the Breckenridge school, namely
the "Patriot" and the small fry, such as the
Northumberland County Democrat, Solins-
grove Times, &c, who defend the traitorous
opinions of Vallandigham and abuse Gen.
Butler, Dickinson, Holt, and the democrats
who support the government in suppressing
the rebellion, while they never uttera word of
disrespcct of jeff. Davis and his thieving
associates in rebellion.
The Pittsburg Dispatch (ncutral in poll
tics) publishes the following, viz:
While the advance guard of the rebel
troops is within easy striking distance of
the State capital, the tory organ of that city
thus sneers at the military authorities en-
trusted with the defence of the borders:
"WHo is OUR MILITARY MASTER I've
should like to know which of President
Lincoln's military commanders is our mas
ter. Are we subject to arrest by Schcnck.
Couch or Brooks, or all Of them, and are we
in the Department of Maryland, "thc Sus-
quehanna," or "tbc Monongahela 2" We
may, perhaps, serve one satrap in all single
hcartcdness and humility; but we are as
sured by the scriptures that no man can
serve two masters. Give us light"
If few of our military commanders had
little Jacksonian firmness Of character, the
publishers of the "Trator organ" in Harris
risburg would not at this late date be under
the necessity of asking light upon such.
familiar subject. The expected incursion
of its Southern friends is imminent and
may &c irresistible, but the we trust the
loyal population of Harrisburg is not so de-
moralized as to tolerate the application of
such language to the military commandant
of the district. 1t is not alleged that active
preparations for defence of the borders are
unnecessary, or that in his movement thus
far any one of the gentlemen referred to has
exceeded the limits of his plain duty, or in
any way intcrfered with the civil authori
ties of Harrisburg. The covert attack on
the commandant ia, therefore, simply gratui.
tous exhibition Of malice on the part of the
Tory Organ" which hopes by familariz-
ing its readers with the application of such
terms as ''satrap' to the military authori-
ties, to destroy the respect and confidence of
the people, and, so far as it can be safely
done, to aid the cause of its rebel friends.
The same paper publishes distorted and
untrue account of the causes which led to
the expulsion Of Rev. Lcacock from New
Orleans, last summer, and the arrest of the
clerical spy in Harrisburg, day or two
since. Having defied the authority of Gen.
Butler in New Orleans, that officer. who
knew we'll theimportancc of securing prompt
obedience from all classes, banished him
from New Orleans, or, as the Harrisburg
traitor tells it,
"This did not satisfy the tvranSjcol by,ts
Butler, and Mr.. Leacock was b,nishcd nv
the degenerate son of his Puritan fathers
who fled from England TO an nhospitable
shore, Tor the purpose of escaping religion
persecution and enjoying the right to wor-
snip God in any manner they pleased"
When Butler was superseded by Banks.
Leacock, trusting to the more enicnt system
OF government then inauguratcd, ventured
back to New Orleans He soon managed to
attract attention, however, was arrested by
order of General Banks, and on REFUSING TO
take the oath of allegiance, was again ban
lshed. He returned to the vicinity of Har
risburg, and has no doubt been since busilv
employed in furnishing such information
to his Southern masters as lac could collect
having been arrested last week by order of
General Schcnck. Yet the arrest of tbis
sancnmonious traitor and spy is made the
PreteAt OF an outrageously distorted state
ment in the Patriot and Onion, under the
caption Cruelty Him Cruelty Him g"-in-
tlmating that the Government is dealing
with Leacock as the Jews of old with the
fedeemer. For such base wrctches as
the authors of this sentiment hanging istoo
good.
Loyal men, whether Democrats or Rcpub
hcans, cannot cousea again to support a
party on platform so vague as to admit of
any after Interpretation Of such vile sheets
as those referred to.