The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-04-23
THE STARVING UNiOEIST.

"Why do you follow me ? Fear cannot
change me. | was born in days of Tever-
ence and love for the American Union,
and have grown up with increasing admit
ration for It's benefits to mankind and
while | see no argument against it, be
sure that violence menaced against me
will have no effect. L laugh at your at
tempts, and scorn the motives of your
leaders, of whom [, at least, will never be
one of the catspaws. Let me pass.
"Mr. Gamault, VIC thought better of
YOU
Thought you had more public spirit" !"
"Ie's Yankee sympathizer."
"a turncoat Southerner, and ought to
be sent to the halter"
"Born in o.d Tennessee, and yet refu-
ses to side with her people. Hes worse
than Yank 90"
disgrace to the State. Should be
mobbed wherever he goes, or ridden out
of the State on an Abe Lincoln rail-
"Curse you. You've got influence, or
did have, and try to use it against the
known wishes of all true Southerners.-
But you've hollow heart and milk
| and water mind, after all. We know you !;
we see through you; and SO you can't do
much harm"
l"Then why do you follow me, here, in
the streets z" said Mr.. Gamault. "Why
| modest me for my opinions Poor, blind,
| would be destruyers of tho grandest Re-
| public of all time. You are aiming at
rcsults which would rivet the chains OF
tyranny upon you and your children,
and"
~ on If on
like, away about your business. We don't
want to hear any OF your sanctimonious
speeches. Let him go, boys. Let the
old milksop 60"
And the insulted Unionist walked on
AID away from the angry crowd, who had
waylaid him in open day tn reproach him
Cor his fearless and avowcd loyalty to the
| Government and institutions OF his coun
| try.
John Gamault was one of those South
ern born men who have so nobly borne
and still bear that social and politica
niartyrtlom which has forever s,ained the
character OF Its trcasonablc inflicters. In
the midst o. .armcd persecution, whlci
sbrinks from no enormity which will eli
force its plans, he had, from the day GU
flag was fired upon at Fort Sumter, bee,
free In deuouncing the palricidal worl
devised by Davis and his confederatcs.
| Seeing through their hypocritical so
pl,istrv, and abhorring the atrocity o
their ambition, though surrounded b.
treason, and having the lives of his tamil.,
and much wealth at stake, he could no
reprcss his manly sentiments. yheneve
the great topic of the day was discussed
among his acquaintances. a man o
wealth aud intelligence, he had possessed
| much influence in society, thoush not
professional politician. His aid was cour
ted and indi ignantly refused to secession
lists; and they finding hlm firm, by degrees
ne became an object of suspicion ant
persecution, now rapidly approaching ;
climax. e n6 =
The justly-incurred dangers and priva
tions of the disloyal South had made TIL.
traitors desperate; and their cruel treat
men. of all who opposed them in speech
or sentiment, though often instanccd il
the public prints, has yet to be fully de
scribcd, IN all the damning colors due i
-more vivid aud horrifying than any
which gave such luridness to the Frenct
Revolution. i9s
Gamault foresaw that his own turr
would soon come But be disdained 4
Hy. and he could not deny his country
till, finally, he had neglected the counse
of his friends until removal was iinpos
J siblc.