Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1869-02-06
ouR neighbor, the editor of the Guard

Our neighbor, the editor of the Guard,
takes exceptions to our comments on letter
from Dir. Harris to himself, published in the
Guard some weeks since. His reply, We
regret to say, lacks not only in argument,
but is in exceedingly bad taste. Mr.. Harris
having been o rebel Senator in Virginia du.
ring the rebellion, was, of course, au opeK
and ayowed secessiouist, or what our neigh.
Dor would call constitutional Democrat"
Instead of repentance, he justifes bis course
IN attempting to destroy the Union, fer
which, according to our neighbor, "trus
men respect him." The editor of the Guard
attempts to excuse his conduct by saying
that Mr.. Harris was originally opposed to
secession and voted against II, tnt finally
least bis lot" with the rebela, in spite of lie
Town convictions"
The fact that Mr. Harris was originally
opposed to secession only aggravstee bis
csse. He sinned against light and know,.
edge, aud acted against his own convictions.
he knew tho right, but pursued the wrong,
u We can believe his own apologist. His
excuse was no better than that of the bog,
who vas opposed to stealing poultry, but as
his companions had resolved to rob neigh.
boring henrocst, he did not think il homo.
rable to desert his party, sud therefore
"went inv
Our neighbor grsvely asks aud answers
the following questions: "Where was Sen.
A'or Harris in the hour of dangers In the
tbickest of the fight. Where were you, Mr..
Editor At home at your cozy fgeside,
bunting up treason, &C."
In our answer 10 these profound qucs.
tio,s We can only cay that, according to our
peighbor's testimony, Senator Harris was. at
that very time, in the rebel ranks, fighting
to destroy the Union, against "his own con.
pictions."
Again, our neighbor says: "Sena.or Hsr.
ris rsked his life in the support of his own
convictions" If he did, then our neighbor
has grossly wrouged his friend by saying in
bis paper, Of the 18th u,t., that Senator
Harris was originally opposed to secession,
though he fought in favor of it. Now, We
would like the philosopher of the Guard to
cay, whether Mr.. Harris risked his life for
or against his convictions According TO
that paper he has done both.
Our neighbor has no exalted opinion of
email men, and consoles himself upon his
own status. This is, perhaps, unkind, If
not "puerile" and unphilosophical Pope
says, "Forth makes the man, the wan. of i.
the fellow" The philosopher of the Guard,
however, thinks tina. length makes the
man, &c. Even the donkey may contem.
plate with pride his length of legs and ears,
bns his bray will, nevertheless, always re.
yes! the true character of the animal whe.
theF mounted by Bsiaau of old, or his sue.
ee'scr, the giant editor Of the Guard.
Our philosopher proceeds to say: "As the
renhtor was brave man We respect him.
Even the savage and brutal Achilles felt
pound to respect the body of the brave and
inagnanimous Hector" This is rather dis.
respectful OF Achil'es, who, though not a
Virginian, belonged to one of the "frst fam
ines OF his time, ssnd We much doub. whs.
ther he would have been capable of the
brutality exhibited 6y the "refned, yirtuous
and Intelligent" gentlemen who regulated
The AndersonVile and Libby prisons.
We shall be glad to welcome back 10 the
Union every wel.dsposed citizen Of the
rebel States, and if we have misreprescnted
ME- Harris 1t ID because ls has been as nm.
fortunate in the use of his language as hi.
friend and spoiogis.. In regard to Gen,
LongstFeet and others, we Nigh: usk why
"H snat many of our Democratic papers
are hostile to these we'll known, brave, but
fepsntant rebel leaders But We forbear 10
press these delicate questions.