Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1869-01-23
THE SPIRIT OF THE NEW REBEL
LION.

THE SPIRIT OF TAE NM" neo1b-
LION.
Our neiphbor of the Guard publishes
o letter from on unrepentant Virginia rebel,
WHO aided in the attempt to sever the Union
and destroy the government, in order to
establish one whose ner.stone was based
on slavery, and based on the principle that
the laboring class are the mud -sills of socie-
ty." We are not at all surprised that JEFF.
Davis Virginia Democrat should defend the
late rebellion and its awful consequences,
but we certainly did not expect that Penn
sylvania Democratic journal would openly
and unconditionally endorse the doctrines
Of nm ayowed rebel and disunionist, who, as
our neigl,8or says, "IVhen par came, cast his
lot as all true men did, With the fortuses Of his
onn State and country" instead of Sighting
traitors and 6isunionis.s. If this is so, then
those brave men who fought and died to
preserve the Union and the best government
on earth, lie in dishonored graves. The fol.
lowing is an extract of the letter, with the
introduction and endorsement of our neigh
Dor:
owe take the liberty Of publishing tho following
extract from private lettsr of the Hon. c. R. Har.
rs Senator from Virginia, in the late confedcracy.
We hope he will pardon us, as his views though
briefly expressed, are clear and harmonze go
well within our own that we could not help CITING
them publicity. Senator Harris always deprecated
secession, and when delegate in 1861 to the Nir-
ginia convention, voted against secession. But when
war came he cast his lot all true men did, ciM
the fortunes Of his otca State and country. We
knew the Senator well in his boyhood days, and now
recognize him with his vigorous intellect and spright-
ly-eloquence one Of the bright lights South who
revere Republican instatioa, and oppose those who
seek to orerturn them.
"SrAUEroN, Va, Dec, 20, 1863.
&c. A REIMENsSyDER, ESQ During n trip 10
The Virginia Springs, last summer and FALL being
absent four or Eve weeks, your valuable paper, the
'!ndependeRt," (now the GUARD) came TO my of.
nee 1t was thrown aside with other mail matters,
and only found it last week. Better late than
never. acknowledge its receipt and ! am highly
pleased with its tone and spirit The battle is
'aa t"c are beaten for the time, but the great prin-
6Iood Of patriots and tie feiSdont Of sagss, Kill
get triumph.
'ilf the slave States had been allowed to vote as
they did once, (untrammelled by the disfranchse-
nent aou and the enfranchiseing Of the negroes)
with the northern vote, Seymour would have been
erected. 30 Grant holds his position by the power
Q! the sword or "V ct armies" II is dynasty that
Low rules the hour" Q. R, II.
1t will be seen that this beautiful patriot,
like most Of the rebels, thinks that although
"the battle is over' and that they are "beaten
FOR the time" the lost cause "will yet tri-
umph." What that portion of the Demo
eracy, who profess to be loyal and true to
the Union, may think of such reasonable
sentiments, among men of their own party,
time will determine. But those thin.skin-
ned Democrats, who took exceptions to our
language, when we referred to rebel sympa-
thisers in their party, will hardly think they
werejustifed in cersuring US, after such open
avowals in favor of the rebel doctrines by
those who profess to speak for the party.
Like all traitors and rebel sympathisers,
this rebel Senator hates Gen. Grant with a
hearty good will. They will never forgive
Grant for crushing out the Rebellion.
But can anything be more absurd, than
to hear these rebels talking of the principles
of the Constitution, q, if they had not, in
attempting to destroy the Union, violated
every principle in that sacred instrument.