Year: 1862

the Union


BuN Run Russell OutstrIppcd by Poet


Gster nIackay.


As our readers are aware, we long since
ceased to publish the New York correspondence
of the London Times; but there is letter pub
lished in that journal on the 9th of September
which is such curiosity that we reproduce it
in another column. 1t Will be seen by the
reader that Bull Run Russell has been COM
pletely out-Russelled by his successor, Mackay,
who claims to be poet and philosopher, but
is certainly a Scotchman and a scoundrel.
Some time ago he made q hasty tour through
the country, and was Hospitality treated. He
wrote some fiippant, fimsy letters about matters
and things of which he was profoundly ignorant,
and made soma doggerel verses for which he
would have been immortalzed in the "Dunciad"
if he had lived in the days of Pope. He became
the successor Of Russell after the hero of Bull
run had made hasty exit from the country
whose troops he had ridiculed and abused.
With all his faults, Russell had something Of
dash about him. He was an amusing, jovial fell
low, of enormous self-conceit overhowing with
John Bullism, and with profound contempt
for everything American, North and South
alike. He dabbled in stocks. and dipped into
oyster stews and toddy in some queer dens.
We were very sorry when he was ordered
away from the army by the Secretary Of War
aud left the country; for he was always excel
lent material for paragraph.


Russell would 60 at least in tho neighbor-
hood of fight, evenif he did run away from
the fold far ahead Of ali others, as in the case Of
the rout from Bull run; aud he wrote funny,
spicy letters, if they were not very truthful. He
was too gallant, moreover, to assail woman.
But Mackay describes great battles, though he
has not been within three or four hundred miles
Of the scene, and. with those low and vulgar
instincts which are peculiar to men of his moral
and intellectual calibre, men in whom the ami
NAL predominates over the mind, ho assails
lady vino has won the admiration Of all with
whom she has come in contact lady who, not
only by the official position of her husband, but
by the geniality and matronly virtues with
which she adorns the White House, is entitled
to the respect not only Of the American people,
but of those who enjoy their hospitality Since
the days Of Mrs. Madison no other lady has so
dignifcd her station as the wife of the Chief
Magistrate of the United States What is Mrs
Lincoln accused Of in the correspondence Of
lSackay? The highest crime Of which man or
woman can be guilty-trcason against her
country. She is charged with communicating TO
the enemy secrets known only to Mr.. Lincoln
and his Cabinet-secrets involving tie safety
Of the army aud the success Of the cause for
which tits fighting In other words, she is held
up to public infamy as a spy Of the enemy
within the pcnetralia Of the government. "The
Presidents wife is charged with treason," says
Mackay. "The charge against her has often
been obscurely limited. 1t is now openly made,
with the addition that General Halleck was so
thoroughly aware Of her indiscretion he
gave il no harsher name-that he stipulated, on
assuming the Office Of Commander-in-Chief,t that
she should leave Washington for her home in
Springfield, Illinois, whittier she accordingly
proceeded three weeks ago"


Whence comes this charge? We will do
Mackay the justice to say that he did not invent
it, We heard rumors of it floating about six





understrappers Of the Treasury Department.
The truth is, this story, and others of a descrip-
ton which we will not characterize, have been
set on foot by the leading radicals Of Washing
ton, and thence circulated throughout the
country, North, East and West, in order to
damage the President and to so intimidate
him by these foul ca!umnies as to get control
of the administration. Mackay is the init
mate companion and instrument of these
desperate men. His abolition sentiments are
in perfect harmony with theirs, and he has
afforded them all the aid and comfort in his
power by giving their stories the benefit Of the
circulation of the London Times. Had he
merely referred to their slanders to donouncc
them the case would be different; but he meanly
insinuates his belief in the worst of these
charges, and gives il Importance by asserting
that "it is now openly made" Who has openly
made 1t? We call on Mackay to tell the Ame-
rican people, or be branded as an accomplice
with the radicals in their defamation of Mrs.
Lincoln's character.


The conduct Of Maokay is cowardy, wan
ton outrage upon q woman Of whom tho coun.
try has right to feel proud II il 1agrant
breach of good manners and of the laws Of
hospitality, and it is too much for him to ex-
pect that II shall 20 unresented. He resides
on Staten Island, in the vicinity Of a camp and
we would strongly advise him to lose no time
In increasing the distance between him and the
soldiers. Indeed, we would recommend him to
take passage in the first ship for England; for
he has evidently made this country too hot for
him. and it may not be good for bis health to
remain in it much longer





A NEw School FoR PeIIrIcfASs.---Our poiti.
clans having run Themselves aground by their
s.ale tricks aad expcdielts, they will have to
adopt some different system OF tactics to pre-
vent themselves being showed asidc by the new