The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-16

TIA Yankee Journals epeak with great
confidence Of eympathisers In various por-
tions OF the South, who never fall TO fcndcr
all possible assistance to Yankee prisoners
In escaping from captivity, who groan IN.
der the s.intoicrAble military despotism" Oh
the south, and who pine for the time when
1.-THE elorious old nag," symbol Of 'the most
mild and mefciful Government under inc
sum-" shall wave over the citadel OF the re-
berion. That there are such persons VIC DO
mot deny, though Il is equally true tnas tney
arc few in number; that they assist IN the
escape OF prisoners IL not TO DO doubted;
that they correspond and conspire with the
enemy for the destruction Of our Govern
ment and people is highly probable. What
abyss Of basencss human treachery can de-
scend to has been exhibited in more than
one case Of treason by wretches living In the
South that may well defy parallel In the
history of crime. The very fact that traitors
are not numerous In the South has led to
the indifference with which their conduct
has been regarded, and the complete impu-
nifty with which they have been permitted
to carry on their traitorous designs.
The benignlty and federation manifested
by this Government to persons who, If liv-
ing In the North and exhibiting the attitude
toward that Government which they do to
this, would ensure their consignment to a
dungeon, has only tended to make them more
bitter, treachcrous, and malignant. They
affect to regard as q cruel despotiem Gov
eminent which does not interfere with their
freedom Of speech and person, and which
permits them to enjoy all the rights of loys]
citizens and the possession of their ill-got.
ten gains, whilst curses for the Southern
cause and al connected with 1t are the only
coin which they pay for such clemency and
indulgence. II the Yankees were to come
here TO- morrow the worst enemies of the
loyal people, the most cruel and savage per-
secutors Of our cause and countrymen, would
be these domestic traitors, who are unmo-
Tested in person, estate, or liberty by our
people and our Government.
But the time has come when the truth
that those who are no: for us arc against US,
must be practically recognized, and that
pitiful minority Of men ind women who do
not regard this as their country, must be
cent to that country which they do regard as
such, and not permitted to remain here, to
assist Yankee prisoners to escape and plot
treason against the State. 1t is the custom
of the Lincoln Government to send from It's
own limits better people than themselves for
not half their offences. Men and women
have been expelled from the North, and
driven from their homes and property, for
manlfesting sympathy with the Southern
cause, and, unless We are lost to ell sclfre-
spect. and all sense Of justice to our own
countrymen, We will commend the same
chalice to the lips of the traitors and mis-.
creants here who are plotting the overthrow
of the Government and the restoration of
the GLORIOUS old lag." 1t Is no thanks to
such a. them that Richmond has not been
taken hundred times over, and the Yankee
prisoners let loose to devote the city to fire
and sword. The authorities have duty to
perform In this matter, which is demanded
by the most obvious dictates Of public
security and seIf preservation