Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-08-24

MATTERS AT CHARLEsToS-PRoeREss OF THE
CONSUMPTION - PRoeRrss OF rHK REvoLU
rloS-How TO SroP RErALIArIoS-THE Evils
OF MICRO SOLDIERS
fTElwFfF 49, aa 10Fat
Especial Correspondence OF the Chicago TimeSl
WASHINGTON, August 5.
From all that / can learn, il seems more than
likely that Gen. Lee is preparing for another
campaign against Washington. The facts ascer.
tanned by the reconnaissance made by our cavalry
on the LIST inst. indicate this if they indicate any
thing at all, although those facts are not gener-
ally known The reconnaissance was sent OUT
from Warronton. IL crossed the Rappahannock
above where the railrOnd crosses that stream, at
a point four miles above Kelly's Ford, and ad-
vanced toward Culpepper. Ii did not advance
halt a mile south of the river, however, before
the enemy was encountered in such strong force
that our troops were obliged to retreat. 1t was
ascertained by this reconnaissance that Gen. Lees
whole army is massed on the south side Of the
Rappahannock river. in precisely the same posi-
ton which it occupied two weeks after the bat
tie Of Chancellorville, and when Gen Lee was
beginning his preparations for his recent cam
paign, namely: from Culpepper on the left to
Fredericksburg on the right; that he has been
reinforced. not by any new regiments, but by
new recruits who have been sent 10 bin tn fill up
his old regiments and to mount the $4,000 fresh
horses which be obtained in Pennsylvania; and
that the endorsements which he has thus re
ceived, added to the troops which he had already,
makes his present strength $50, 900 men. With
these, including a BODY of cavalry 25, 900 strong,
he expects to move on Washington again ia a
few weeks-this time, it is said, by the direct
route from Fredericksburg to Centerville. am
persuaded, however. that be will first seek to de-
feat Meade's army; and. if he thinks he can DO
that best by a feigned retreat still farther toward
Richmond. in order TO get Meade's army nearer
the rebel capital-say in the neighborhood of the
head waters of the Pamunky river--that, you
may depend upon IL. will be the tactics be will
adopt. And it is more likely that the Admins
tration will order Gen. Meade TO indulge him 10
this respect. If so. look out for a defeat Of our
army. 1s. csi sssn
There is a feeling of great uneasiness here in
regard to Charleston. IL is felt that matters
there have been wretchedly mismanaged, and
that our brave troops have been as recklessly and
needlessly slaughtered before Fort Wagner as
they were by the butcher of Fredericksburg in
December last. However, within the last few
weeks large numbers of troops have been sent
down to reinforce Gen. Gilmore The Admins
tration Is determined that Charleston shall be
taken this time. il hard fighting can take il. If
30 1000 or so. 900 lives are sacrificed in the at
tempt. what does that matter to "the Govern
mentf' Ii costs 1.-The Government" nothing now
to procure soldiers. The conscription is being
ruthlessly enforced every where, except in the
States where the people have determined TO re
sist the unconstitutional and illegal measure.
Gangs of convicts (I mean conscripts. but the
mistake is natural, they look so much alike,) are
arriving here by hundreds every dav. As they
arrive, they are sent 10 fill up the depleted ranks
of the old regiments. And when a division of
three brigades. which. owing to the ravages IF
battle and the encouragement of the War De
partmeDt, has become reduced to 3. 600 men, has.
by this means. been raised to the full quota of
1000 men. one of its brigades. A 900 strong, can
well be spared for service elsewhere. The RE
publican" papers exultingly proclaim that it is
settled at last that 1.-THE Government has the right
to compel the military service of its subjects {"
True, that is very good doctrine for a monarchy
or a military despotism; but il is nowhere so writ
ten in our Constitution. Perhaps. however, the
form ofour government has been alreadyehanged.
IL is certainly so in point of fact. The habeas
corpus, the trial by Jury, the right of being sc.
cured in ones own house against unreasonable
searches. the right of personal liberty, freedom
Of the press, even the freedom of elections-all
these have been swept away. and no longer ex-
ist in many of the States; and in nearly all they
only exist at the will and pleasure of Abraham
Lincoln, for. with a breath. he can take them
away. And it is now actually asserted in the
Administration organs here that so determined is
1.-THE Government" TO raise an immense army
Immediately that a draft will be made without
delay upon the second class as soon as the daft
upon the first class shall have been exhausted.
What is the purpose of thisf Can any man doubt
il for a moment? Look at Maryland and Ken
lucky. Let your readers contemplate in those
two States an illustration Of the despotism to
which all the States are fastening. Behold how
elections are conducted in those two States, no
man daring to vote a Democratic ticket because
he has been ''spotted" by the contemplate spies
Of the Royal League, and denounced as a
ORATOR, " or "disloyal." In the two States that
/ have named. no man so denounced is allowed
to vote. the polls being guarded by soldiers. OF
course, the candidates named by che Govern
ment' will be elected, and none others. 1t is in
this manner that the Administration intends to
have the next Presidential election conducted. If
| that election Ia allowed to be held at all.
The administration is involved in a very awk-
ward dilemma in the matter Of retaliation and Of
negro soldiers. The infamous Butler and the
almost rs Infamous Mcneil bad the honor, or
rather the infamy, of iRaugurating the 6endish
practice of hanging prisoners. in which they have
been followed by Mr.. Lincoln's satrap in Ohio.
The consequence is. that. after long forbearance.
the Confederate Government, simply in order to
put an end TO the practice, feels bound to hang
two OF our officers who are now IN confinement
at Richmond. II they carry their determination
into effect. and the dreadful practice is continued,
history will point with unerring finger 10 Abra
ham Lincoln as the murderer of all the officers
so executed. The hanging of the ten men by
Mcneil. and of the two Confederate officers by
Burnside. were acts so clearly contrary to the
laws Of war as to demand from Mr.. Lincoln the
instant dismissal from the service of the two
offending officers. and an order from the Presi-
dent forbidding such practices in the future.
| IKE q -hat NJ Iinooln ehould haya dona. mhaf
he ought to do now. If he does this. be not only
spares the lives of Capt. Sawyer and Capt. Flynn,
but he also puts a stop forever to the inhumsn
practice. If he does not do this, the blood of all
the victims that will be hung in retaliation will
rest upon his head. Will this be a comfortable
reflection for his declining years.
He is equally in the wrong, too. in regard to
negro soldiers. The Administr alton was warned
when the subject was first proposed, that the en-
ployment of negro soldiers would cause the war
to assume features Of atrocity which would other
wise be avoided The warning was unheeded.
The Administration determined to employ negro
troops in spite OF, or perhaps even because Of, the
above fact. The consequences which calm and
dispassionate observers foresaw are now upon US.
II were folly to suppose that the South can recog
nize negroes as soldiers. Self defense. the secu
rity of their homes. the preservation Of their do
mestic tranquility. require that they should refuse
to accord TO negroes taken In arms against them
the same rights which they accord to legitimate
belligerents. The pompous order Of Mr.. Lin.
coin. Of July 80, that the United States uniform
must protect equally all who wear il. of whatever
color. will not save the unfortunate darkeys who
fall into the hands of the enemy. A negro is not
equal to a white soldier. and Mr.. Lincoln cannot
change the law of nature so that the negro will
become so. The fippant language OF his order
aud bis virtual assertion therein that every worth
less darkey is as good in every respect as the