The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1866-07-07
why Treason should be made
OliOus.

cinnati Ga.etfc writes the following account
of conversation held at his rooms lately:
The conversation took place last evening,
at my own rooms on Cherry street. The
company consisted of your correspondent
an ex. rebel officer and three other gentle
men, who had all, | believe, been officers in
the Union army. Two of the latter as well
as the rebel officer. had been strangers to
me until that evening.
do not give the name of the eN-rcbcl
officer. 1t is sufficient to state that he held
prominent position in the rebel army, serv,
ing first as Il line officer, atcrward rs mem
Der of Joe Johnston's staff, Of s. D. Lee $,
and finally of the uulucky Hoods. He is
a tall cil-proportioned. handsome gentle
man of more than ordinary intelligence ;
easy and polished address, and thoroughly
courteous in language and manners. lie
resides in Nashville, and still wears the
Confederate gray. although he has eX-
changed his brass military buttons TOR the
more sober black horn.
was favorably impressed with him from
the beginning, and the company conversed
pleasantly for an hour. upon topics discon-
neced with public affairs.
At last, my friend, Judge NJ, who is a
great admrcr of ladies', turned the CONVEX
sation upon that most interesting of all sub
iiccts, and produced, in illustration of some
remark, a photograph, which it is not too
much to say all present admired. AS it was
taken recently in Lexington, Kentucky, at
least one person who reads this will know
whose picture it was.
Now, your correspondent "keeps' small
album, which, as pictures were under dis
cussion, he brought ont, and handed for in
sprction to his rebel friend. The first pho
tograph in it is that of a Union officer, Major
General X; and mingled with those of indi-
viduals of not quite so stern IA mould, follow
pictures of many other prominent Union
generals
WHAT AN ALBUM SHOULD CONTAIN.
The cx-rchel examined the collection at.
tentivcy to the end. listening with interest
while | told him the names of such of the
persons represented as he did not know, and
added a brief word of explanation concern
ing each.
II see,'' he remarked, that your pic.
lures of soldiers include prominent men
from only one army"
{" 1t would have more impartial look, y
he continued, "if your album contained
piutures of the prominent Confederate as
well as Union generals.
| endeavorcu to steer ont to sea by re-
marking that my preference was for Union
generals but had no objection to any ono
who liked the others better filling his album
with them.
STRANGE IDEA OF HONOR.
Ny friend appeared resolved to press the
point
"'rhcre are plenty of nice portraits of
General Lee and others to be obtained. :"
said he; I" would't you like to have some of
thcm?'
81 would not"
"Why not? Don't You think they arc
great generals, too?'
Even if thought so,'' ! replied. /" !
should hope that, as generals. they would as
speedily us possible be lorgotten.'
Why, don you think they were as good
mon as those whose pictures You have ~
GAS private gentlemen said |, "thcy
may once have been so. As private citizens.
as presidents of colleges, as railway super
intcndcnts. can, if they conduct themselves
properly, respect them even now. But in
that which brought them prominently before
;he public. regard them AS bad mon, and
think that for their sakes the sooner it is for.
,ttcn the BETTER
swell, am sure don't see Why" the
rehel officer pcrSstcd ''certainly they fought
no lorabiy, and came ont of the contest with
honor at It's close. And it seems to me that,
in order to produce harmony, the same re.
spcct should be shown to Lee and his sub,
orlina es that Is shown to Grant and his
" Whether people act honoraby or not
Ead Judge NJ. at this point, . depends up
on the nature Of the action i'll which they
are engaged. We cannot regard an effort to
overthrow the government of our comAron
country as an honorable one, and we would
not feel justified in lending our countenance
thereto, by hanging the pictures of those
prominently engaged in it about our parlors,
or even by putting them in onr albums"
1t would have been refreshing to our
Northern friends to see the look of surprise
which overspread the rebel gentleman $
countcnancc. He tHfncd to me: "Thcn
you do not think these men were engaged in
an honorable work?'
son the contrary" / replied, "nothing
could have been more miscellaneous, dishon-
or;lble and wicked"
" Why, how in the world, said he, " can
it be dishonorable for "a man to fight for his
country?''
"There, my friend" answered, ais the
very error into which SO many of you South
ern people have fallen. You have lost the
distinction between patriotism and treason.
What, in every age in the world and accord
ing to every code of morals and laws is re.
garded as the highest of crimes, you consider
u audable enterprise, and you speak of that
as fighting for your country which was in
reality an unholy attempt to take the life OF
your country, by cutting it in twain"
OUR COUNTRY.
"Well,' said he, 81 consider the South
as my country; and if we are ever reconcied
&c the North, she will have to meet us as
equals. 1t can be done in no other way
=" And do you not consider the United
States your country nowy'
81 suppose | do, he replied laughing
cat least until another rebellion breaks out p
WHAT soUrnERNERs WILL HEREAFTER TO.
"And do you think there will be another
rebelhon?' inquired.
"Not If the United States government acts
properly" was the reply; ''but Southern
blood won't stand any oppression"
81 suppose" said l.. THAT Southerner.
intend to obey the laws ~
40, of COURSE he replied; intend tc
do that as long as there is peace
That u.s." said "you will be obedient tc
to the laws as long as you are compelled to. y
THAT'S about the idea,'' was the candid
reply.
"And do you think" said |, "the govern
ment should feel grateful to you for such ODE
dence as that ?'
"Indeed do" he answered; "I think il
T.. 4 II g