The Portland daily press., 1864-11-29
The Richmond Sentinel.

1U6 hlCuNuOuu NoubIAOAs
This journal is quite severe on the people IN
the Gulf States because they do not show more
pluck and fight, especially since Sherman has
commenced his march through Georgia. 1t
saws Virginia was slow TO join the seeded
states. and tried all it could to bring about
reconciliation, knowing that being border
state. she must suffer more than many others
the ravages of war. Complaint is made be-
cause the confederates Gin some quarters" do
not display so much self-sacrifce as the crisis
oftheir affairs now demands. There was great
rejoicing in the seeded States by ringing Of
bells, bonfires, &c. when Virginia was foolish
enough to take herself out of the Union and
away from the protection of the old flag And
now the same States don't show pluck enough
to suit the another of Presidents"
The Sentinel says, 'sWhat Virginia expect
ed soon came to pass. Hers was INC his' SUI
to be invaded, hers the first city 10 Dc seized.
And all this rebounds very much to her praise
and natriotsm. the Sentinel would give the
c.plf States TO understand. 1t continues in
whining, yet Dragging spirit
ave NAV refer, however, to what she has
sufered Look at her desolated districts
once her productive tidewater, her fertile Pied
mont, her beautiful valley, but now all trodden
under the hoof of invasion, and trampled in
the struggles of great armies. Look at her
people, how many are plundered, how many
In exile. Look at the price of provisions, made
enormous by the immediate presence of the
hostilIties. Look at the continual and extreme
demands upon her reserves and aged men Tor
military service. Look at the calls for her
slaves, the impressments OF her supplies, the
interruption, almost prostratiOn OF her bust
ness of all kinds, caused by the exigencies OF
the service. All this is her constant expert
ence. And yet has any one yet heard Virgin
ia complain? Does any one see her waver?
Are not her people cheerful and hopeful, and
resolute amid it all Have her Governors ever
sought difficulties with the Confederate agent?
Has her Legislature ever placed any obstruc-
tions in the way of the public defence? Has
she sent solitary factionist, or croaker, or
"peace man." SO called, to Congress"
The above contains some hard hits at Geor-
gia and some other States. But the Sentinel
might have saved Georgia, for Sherman is now
hitting her rather hard, and giving her some
doses such as Virginia has received and is re-
ceiving. 1t says, "Alas for Georgia.! she has
been distracted by bad politicians We can
distracted by bad politicians and worse trail
tors.
The secession of Virginia was one of the
most astonishing things that has happened
during the rebellion. But the Sentinel asks
with tears in its eyes: "For what sin of our
people was it that on time like this
we should be afflicted and distracted and
weakened by rash, inconsiderate and fatal rul-
ersP" A sad question truly, but the sins OF
Virginia are patent enough to be seen of all
men who are not wilfully blind. Poor Gov.
Brown! The Richmond papers are down hard
upon him. In their opinion he ''pays little re-
gard TO law" Yes she weakens the public
defence by an ill-timed and unfounded clanor
about State rights"l
That is very singular accusation to come
from such source. Unfounded clamor about
State rights That caps the climax of incon-
sistency Virginia journals talking thus about
State rights! Shades of Calhoun Upon what
ground did this proud aristocratic State stand
when she left the Union her fathers had made
ana sworn Co supporry why, upon the doc
trine of State rights as taught by Calhoun !
And now, forsooth, Georgia must receive a
severe fagellation because she wants to Aght
for the same doctrine and take herself out of
the confederacyl
What political harlequins, what heartess
demagogues, what arrant traitors, what proud
aristocrats now tread the sacred soil'' of Vir-
ginial But Grant will yet teach them some
lessons upon the doctrine of State rights, and
Sherman is in fair way to become an excel
lent schoolmaster for Georgia, while Phil.
Sheridan may give a few lessons in the She
nandoah valley.
"But Georgia we fear" says the Sentinel
sis not ready for the shock" No, "there is
not that united, cheerful, enthusiastic band OF
patriots" which this Virginia mouth piece OF
JEFF. Davis expects of the people of Georgia
They are indeed divided and Sherman seems
to be making that division wider. In fact, il
would not surprise us if this officer should cut
10 twain the very heart OF rebellion. The
more thorough his surgical operations are n
this central part of the confederacy, tie
weaker will beat the pulse at Richmond.
Again the Sentinel excIaims, "Goy. Brown
seizes the salt of the citizens! he seizes the
distilleries without particle Of law!' Sad
indeed must be the condition of the Georgians
to be without salt and whskey! And worse
yet-this same 'Governor impedes at every
step the Confederate authorities, and does
great deal of mischief" Well, 1t is quite
possible the Union spirit in Georgia may yet
do good deal more mischief than the Gov
ernor, and Sherman may more essentially
"assail the Confederate Administration" than
either.
There Is stronger, deeper love for the Old
Flag of the Union secretly cherished ia the
hearts Of the Southern people, than many OF
US dream OF in our philosophy. National
pride and national love are not easily driven
entirely out of human breasts, whatever may
be the crisis of affairs. Although we are
comparatively young as a nation, yet our
progress and history have been so remarkable
in the annals of the world that we have ac-
quired, fostered and cherished powerful at
tachment to the Ensign of onr Republic since
we broke away from the Mother Country and
established an Independent nationality, une-
qualled, perhaps by any other people on
earth.
This attachment is so strong, aud SO firmly
imbedded in human hearts, both North and
South, that traitors and political harlequins
however formidable they may be, cannot OBJ
literate it, nor turn it into hate. We are not
unmindful that tremendous power, great tact,
extraordinary talent and strong appeals to
prejudice and passion have been brought to
Dear on the Southern heart and many have
Wavered and fallen under such hellish instru
mentanties, and yet thousands have survived
tne shock, and the pulse of pure patriotism
stu beats in Southern bosoms.
That's what's the matter with the Richmond
Sentinel and other rebel journals. The truth
is, and It cannot be concealed from even rebel