Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-11


1t is stated that the rebel legislature of
Virginia is painfully stirred by npprehen-
sions of revival of courage in the over
awed Union men of the sold Dominion" 1t
is proposed in that body to make it penal
offence for any Virginian to express desire
for a restoration of the Union; and the
measure will probably be adopted. 1t
would be unreasonable to doubt that the
representatives of treason, in session at the
capitol of Virginia, see among the people of
that state sufficient cause for such enact
ments against Unionsm. There are Union
men in Virginia, now silent under the reign
of terror that forced secession ordinance
through a Union state convention, and which
now does not scruple to exterminate Union
men with fire and sword; and the rebels fear
that circumstances may yet enable the Union
sentiment to assume control of the common
wealth. Such menacing legislation would not
be undertaken if there were not this reason
for it.
There is throughout the south more of this
silent, waiting Union sentiment than the reb-
els like to admit. Sometimes it startes the
traitorous terrorists by suddenly speaking out,
and then they hasten to crush the offender
The other day little country newspaper in
Georgia shocked and maddened the rebels by
expressing desire for restoration of the
Union. This created a sensation and the
daring editor will probably be shot or hung.
The Atlanta Confederacy, speaking for rebel
terrorists and at the same time making very
important admission, takes him in hand as
follows =
''We advise the editor, Mr.. Murray, to 20
to New England, believing him to be I'M
friendly to the country in which he lives, and
that Massachusetts is the only suitable place
for him. He is unworthy of a residence in
the confederacy. The sooner lie goes, the
better for him. Better leave at once and be
consistent, before being invited to go. In
Massachusetts he will be welcomed by great
numbers of people of his own way of think
ing, and be made a hero of. He will be feted
and Toasted and find out his real consequence.
The conservatives whom he loves, and not
the 'abotionists,' whom he affects to despise,
will do all this for him. There are terer abo-
litioniStS in Massachusetts than reconstruction
iStS an Georgia. Massachusetts is the very
place for him-tar more congenial than any
cotton state"
''Fewer abolitionsts in Massachusetts than
reconstructionists in Georgian Very likely;
and could the armed and murderous terrorism
of secession treason be exterminated in that
state, the Unionists would undoubtedly be-
come the controlling power in its politics.
The purpose of the war is to crush the armed
conspiracy that stands between the govern
ment and these powerless dissenters from the
rebellion. Northern copperheads denounce
the war, and seek to embarraSs the
government, because they desire to es-
tablish Il political alliance with the south
ern leaders, and give them triumph over
the federal government; and they have
neither friendship nor sympathy for the ear
nest Union men of the SOUTH who see their
devotion to the rebel leaders, recognize them
as enemies, and brand them as they deserve.
The Union sentiment Of Baltimore will not
hear or tolerate Vallandigham and why
should it? If he were an honest friend of
the Union he would talk and act as the friend
of southern Union men, and not as the friend
of their enemies and oppressors.