Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-02-20
Secession Women

The brutalized coMluct of Southern wo.
men during this rebellion has been often
commented on, and innumerabe instances
oil indecent outrage and insult to Union cit
izens been given. Many good hearted peo-
pie are inclined to disbelieve these state
ments, say that they are overdrawn or
positive falsehoods. But such persons are
mistaken. However incredible it may seem
That those who have been uniformly esteem.
ed ladies of refinement, should descend SO
low as to use abusive and even indecent
language, and commit ncts which would
disgrace lost woman, yet such is the fact
and it is all to be explained on the simple
ground of the inherent wickedness of seces
sion. When once the virus of this wicked
ness has gone through the mind, the whole
character is changed, and where once was
refinement and gentility you shall see
coarseness, impoliteness, violence and inde.
ceneyi good-breeding seems all lost and
whatever was lady-like is thrown aside.
Parson Brownlow says, al do not know
how secession affects the women of the
North, but it is just five minutes by the
watch, after Southern woman becomes a
secessionist, all the devils in the Internal
regions get into her." That is probably ex.
aggerated some, yet it conveys the idea
Secession demoralizes a woman. like all
other crimes
10 mark these results one need not yo far
South The effect is seen palpably enough
at the North. Secession is the same every.
where and everywhere bears the same bad
iruIt' a curious and marked, one of the
most marked instances of this, occurred a
short time since in town in this State
Ihe occasion for the developement of the
true spirit of secession was found in n publie
and for the place, large Church meeting
called for the purpose of dissolving the con.
nection of the Pastor of the church with
his people He had offended by one of his
prayers the rebel element of the church and
they were determined to oust him from hi,
positlon' During the progress of the debate
which sprung naturally up, the wife of one
oil the prominent officers of the church. one
of the elite of the town, after having dis
turoed the comfort of all near her h,
her excited, contemptuous and insultine
remarks, saw Union man explaining
some point to another who had an
preached him for the purpose she TOLD
MN to cease, using not at all complimentar,
epithets, and when he did not obey. she ros,
ana strldlng over two or three intervening
'SuleS struck him Jloio wiM such force a.
to feave The print Of her fingers om his cheek
THIS was done in church meeting. bv in,
who was before this one of the first ladie,
OF refined circle. At any former perio,
OF her life, the mere thought Of such
transaction would no doubt have giyen he
pant needed only the spirit of secession
to enter in, then all the rest was easy. w,
give 1T as perhaps the most striking illustra-
ton within our knowledge of the demon
like spirit of rebellion. Few understand o.
are willing to believe what or how fell d
thing it is.
Hef there are people living among us who
symp@thize with it, and would aid it if the,
Jared 1t is the spirit transforms gentle
man INTO foul-mouthed and lying black
guard and gentle woman into an incarna.
uon OF violence and hate which would max
these streets run with blood, had it tn
power