Year: 1867

editor of the C0mnlerc,aI. who publish
es everything for every body, and there
by turns an honest penny for himself


You think the straps on my shoul
drrs are not in good place, and that
the army IS not what it used to h..
Abraham Lincoln, whom YOU rebels
murdered, put my straps on, aud
hope to wear them until YOU are prop
erly punished for your enormous
crimes. As to the army, YOU are
quite right, sir. We had a lot of
scoundrels who are educated in the
art Of war at the national expense
trained to arms that they might SUI.
cessfully defend the countrv-nav.
sworn to defend it against all enc
mics whomsoever, but who. in the
hour of necessity, deserted their FLAG.
and forgetting alike honor. duty. home,
friends, gratitude, and the sanctitv Of
their oaths. with a perfdy uupar-
alleled in the history of the world.
turned their swords against their
government, and sought to destroy
what they had sworn to protect By
the war we got rid of these Infamous
traitors, and | presume YOU were one
of those on whose shoulders the time
honored straps were disgraced by per
jury, treachery aud treason.


1ou hold that as one gentleman
dealing with another, | should have
sent you private note. Semmes. YOU
are the greatest Joker of this age.


What, take You for a gentleman
and send you note as such? Oh.
Semmes, Semmes, for pity sake do
not crack another such huge Joke this
year, or the North American republic
will break its suspeuders, fracture its
breeches, and laugh itself 50 weak vou
can march in and take it with a single
gunboat. Now, my dear Semmes. be
reasonable, own up honestly that YOU
are nothing but a mean, low-lived, ri
rate rebel living by the mercy Of too
humane government, that You ought
TO be hung, and | Will forgive YOU
Remember, putting on airs won't
strengthen your neck, and if YOU don't
drop your peacock feathers and dof
your lions skin soon, rope rccoustruc-
tion Will be absolutely necessary in
your case.


Who whipped in the last war? Per,
maps Won think Grant surrendered to
Lee aud | am your vassai. Ny recol-
lection Is just the reverse; but if YOU
are not satisfied, gather up your plum
der, get out your greybacks. and we
will try it over.


You say officers Of the old service
when aggrieved demanded satisfaction
of the party offending them. and so
believe they do vet, providing the
offending party is a gentleman, but
YOU not being in that category a note
such as your warlike heart craved
WAS an mpossibilitv- You certainly
could not expect me 10 challenge
perjured traitor. Why, sir should
as soon have thought Of sending a note
to the proprietor Of a bawdy house.
the inmate Of a peuitentiarv, or high
way robbcr as to Yourself. Bv the
way, can YOU tell me The difference
between stealing pocket book from
a man, and stealing a gunboat from a
government? You see am fond of
conundruns. and | do wish you would
guess it.


Speaking of notes why when You
got so mad about my Fourth of July
speech, did YOU not send me a note be-
fore Won billingSgated it down q whole
column of your nasty sheet? have Of
ten heard it said, that when a man be-
come rebel, be would do anything.and
had lost all sense Of shame but tell
me truly, Semmes, do YOU not some
times feel little bit ashamed of your
crimes do you not tremble IN the
knees. about your future2 Did YOU
not. on the Fourth of July. and the
22d of February, and did YOU not on
last Sunday night, pray to the Lord
to soften the punishment the radicals
would iuhict upon YOU? If YOU did
not, then You are not human, every
drop of blood IN your veins has turned
to rebel distilled corn, you are giving
over TO reprobacv. and rebel hardness
of heart, which Is just where rope re-
comes IN


Two years ago you were never 90
ing to surrender. You would not
live under such government You
would die in the last ditch, etc. Yet
here Won are to-day, not only sueakiug
back to live under the flag you could
not pun down, but really assuming to
be a public teacher. aud advise how
the govrnment so hateful shall be ad-
miuistered. Was there ever such im-
pudence since the devil rebeIled IN
heaven No, Semmes you cannot
excuse, palliate or make treason re
spectacle your lot Is infamv accept
It quietly; retire from public life
YOU have no interest IN the govern
ment its affairs concern the loyal on
"; eat your bread in silence and /.
for one, will never disturb YOU But
if YOU parade your obnoxious treason.
and be noisy, then. bv the eternal. /
viii help to end such efTrontery by
putting a rope around your rebel neck.
and hanging you until you are dead.


You say you do not know me.
That Is matter Of regret TO you If
not to me The last words Of James
Buchanan. deceased, expressed re