Year: 1864




more and more contracts the limits of the re-
bellion and accordingly hastens its downfall.
the enemies of the Government both North
and South. seem 10 increase IN bitterness and
fury. Upon the part of the armed rebels, who
not only disown all allegiance to the govern-
ment but avowedly seek its overthrow, this
course is not at all surprising. Being enlisted
heart and soul 10 the work of establishing
an independent confedeTacy it might be ex-
pected that they would grow more exasperated
and uneomprOmising as they begin to realize
that the daring schemes for which they have
made such immense sacrifices are being thwart-
ed and annuled. It conforms well, too, with
their absurd notions of chvalry for the South
era leaders, mot people, for they have no voice
in the matter,) even after events have forced
them to a conviction of the utter hOpelessDess
of their cause, TO wage rebellious war with
more ferceness and desperation than ever
This false guide teaches them that to tamely
succumb under any circumstances would be a
shameful humiliation. They are therefore de-
termined 10 die with arms in their hands, and
to glorify their expiring hour by the very high
est reach of sublimized hate and mistaken
patriotism.


All this is natural enough and finds an easy
solution in impulses which, however base and
wicked, are nevertheless native to the human
heart. But bow strange, how passing strange,
that men protesting loyalty to the government;
should be guilty Of an analogous course of con-
dHet, and yet such men seem to be by no
means unirequent in the loyal States. As the
war for the Union approaches triumphant
consumulation they exhibit more bitter hos;il-
ity to every measure damaging to the rebel
cause. The more hopeless that cause becomes
the more sympathy do they manifest in its fa-
vor. The more nearly the administration at
tains the overthrow of the rebellion the less
they have TO say in its praise. The rebels
themselves are surpassed by theGI in their de-
nuncation nfiis acts and policy. They would
have Us believe that it is the NEST corrupt
and unworthy government that ever presided
over the destinies OF any nation. They charge
it with having wresled from The people the
right of speech and of the press and every
other right guaranteed by the constitution
Ia reviling it they exhaust the language of in
vective, being careful however 10 very rarely
say hard word against the rebellion or its
instigators. they present every argument
that could possibly be adduced for The enemy
to tax every resource and strain every nerve
to keep up the war 10 the bitter end These
arguments are repeated in rebel newspapers
and banded through rebel camps. AT every
opportunity the enemy filings them at our sol
diers with the taunting insinuation that "yonr
(our) Gown papers are authority for it." The
writer has himself been met by quota
-. E-o, tho
patti Enquirer when discussing with violent
rebels the merits of their cause. 1t is easy to
see therefore upon which side OF this great
contest the class of men just described proper
y belong. 10 fact it is impossible to play the
political hypocrite at such time as this
The events OF this war are as strongly and as
irresistably developing the innermost charac
ters of men as the poet conceived in his Wis
sion:-


''I dreamed of marvellous harvest,


I dreamed of a threshing floor,


Where men like grain, by anges twain,


We're garnered in measuerless store,


All bound in sheaves, like in the leaves,


And failed from husk to core"


There is no difficulty in determining who
are the friends and enemies OF the country
now. While the true patriot stands forth in
more bold relief than ever the traitor, strip
ped of his disguises, stands unmasked before
the world. He who loves liberty aud Union
is just as distinct from him who ates them as
day is from night. Nor is there any medium
class. In the very nature of the case such a
thing is impossible. The only distinguishing
marks among the friends or enemies OF the
| Union, are their different methods of main
tanning or opposing it. There can be no 9th
er. Every sane man must range himself up
on one side or the other of the great question


Merely criticising or opposing the Admin
istration as such is not culpable 1t is the in-
sane and reckless abuse of it as the Govern-
ment of the country, and when charged with
the immense responsibilities of a war like this
with which l have to find faHlt Common
sense ought 10 teach US to be thankful that
amid the fearful political perils through which
we have passed during the past three years we
have had an Administration that has commit
ed so few mistakes. 1t ought to teach US also
that at such time as this it ia the duty o.
every true patriot to rather ignore the faults
of the governing power than to be constantly
endeavoring to expose and magnify them


We ought to realize toe that it is u time
when the people should bring all possible NOR
al and physical support to the executive arm
of the government and should by no means
either in word or deed give any countenance
or encouragement TO the traitors in arms.


Such are my conclusions upon these matters
dear Gazette, as | have thought them over be-


hind the rife-pits in front OF Atlanta. ven


ture them as soldiers opinion, believing
however, that they are the sentiments enter


tanned almost universally throughout this army
Just beyond the picket line l regret to SAY


there is a very different state of feeling, as


am painfully informed there is also in certain


benghted districts of Ohio. This latter is L


large extent no doubt the result of the i'm


pending draft, and probably finds its proper


origin in that disgust for "villainous saltpster'
which among persons Of that class is believed
to be surpassed only by their hatred OF tn
African.


We soldiers, it is true, are inclined to b.
somewhat radical" in our Union sentiments
f Biyonets and bullets are radical; Rodman
and PARROTS are radcal and war itself ID thr
very perfection of radicalism; and we VIA
have grown accustomed to the daily use .
this kind of arguments with Southern Dis
= unionists, are radical by virtue Of necessit
as we'll as inclination. Whatever utOpia
, peace or compromise phanLases enter tn
minds ot n orthern conservatives, it is perfect
! Ii. Of Il