Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-09-07

In a room will cause its occupant to secure
every loose letter or paper that may be in
sight for fear you steal it; and when your
presence in town will cause everybody
to lock their offices or remain in them to
guard against your approach.
am told that you have been often Or
dered to the field TO meet the armed enc
mics of your country. [ have formerly
expressed my surprise that you did not
go. You were educated if | am not mis-
taken; at West Point by the Government,
and my experience among army officers
has been that as a class they were men of
courage, high breeding and honor. They
have generally esteemed it their duty to
be in the front in time Of war. But all
general rules are proved by their excep-
tiors, and you are the exception in this
instance. | shall no longer wonder that
you remain in Indiana, nor shall be sur
prised if upon another invasion of our
State, you are again put under arrest and
relieved of your command. Your voca-
ton is certainly not the sword. You
should lay it aside as too honorable for
you TO wear, and in its place, as the en-
blem Of your calling, you should wear
bunch Of false keys, and a set of burglars
tools. Nor should you keep the uniform
of the soldier its place should be sup
Piled by the usual disguises, false-iaccs,
wigs and gum-elastic shoes, which night
providers, and house breakers usually
wear.
But a word or two General, in regard
10 the letters themselves. You have
rakcd drag net over many years of mv
most private corrc~p ~ponInnce. What did
you get after all your bascnass and al
yonr labor? The result viii hardly pay
you ior the universal d.t-s;aiion which
viii always c:iaE - vaur c,nl;ct. let
us see. One of my friends writes me
that he fear our liberties will be destroyed
in the hands of those who are now in
power. Ii predicts that Mr.. Lincoln,
aided by such willing instruments as you,
will attempt to raise despotisin ON the
ruins OF the Republic His fears and his
predictions thus expressed in June, 1861,
have been fully verified, He says a
peaceful separation would have been bet
ter than this. 1t is not for you to COM
plain Of sucb.on sentiment. | have heard
you publicly express your great admra-
tion for Mr.. Chase. He held the same
doctrine expressed by HIr. Ristine's letter.
| refer you TO the speech of General Blair
on that point. But the Indianapolis
Journal said the same thing only in stron-
ger terms So did the Cincinnati Cone
nlercial. the New York Tribune and many
other leading Republican organs. What
Importance then can you attach TO such
an expression of opinion?
But you found an old letter from my
good old Uncle in Virginia Poor scan
dal monger as you are, | cannot even per-
nit you much enjoyment in that. ] was
in Harrisonburg III June 1860; Mr.. Lin
coin was not elected There was no talk
of secession in Virginia. On the con-
trary, the feeling in behalf Of the Union
was overwhelming. But there was a deep
irritation yet in the popular mind in re-
gard TO the John Brown raid which had
recently occurred. | was screnaded at
my Uncle's house, and made short
speech. Abiding TO the murderouS inva-
sion Of her soil by John Brown, | stated
that such deeds were condemned IN the
State where | lived, and il needs be, a
hundred thousand men from Indiana
would march to protect TIE citizens OF
Virginia against any future abolition raid.
In February, 1861, when war became
imminent. l suppose ii looked to Mr.
Hardes as if it would be an Abolition
war, and he simply reminded me of what
I had said on his door steps to the citi-
zens of HarrisOnburg. Do you think
that the publication of this bit of stolen
information will materially affect the
Presidential election! Little minds catch
at little things.
And when companies have been formed
according to law, and asked for arms,
they have refused because they were
Democrats. Why is all this? From the
conduct of many Of these so-called
"Home Guards" and the conduct OF
such officers as you-the Democratic par
ty has been led to the firm belief that
these warlike preparations have more re
ference to carrying elections and subduing
the freedom of speech and of union III
the North, than they have 10 the suppress
sion of armed rebellion in the South.
They have paraded in front Of my own
house, in my absence, and with United
States muskets in their hands, in large
numbers. insulted and terrified my wife
and children. These were simply member:
of the Republican party, and the gun:
which they carried had been given to then
| by Governor Morton by your advice,