Year: 1865

tlOnS.


The writer referred to in my former


letter says "Our convictions are not


founded upon whims or irrationa


fears or simply upon abstract reason


ing /; they are supported by weighty
proofs and even testimony which il
published would not he deemed trifling
or unworthy of consideration" Oi
what the items of this testimony con.
sist | am not advised /; but orc thing


| am sure of, which is, that the writer


would never put forth such intimatidhs
unless they were really SO. There is
one item of very direct proof, howev-
er, of silent and secret design still
entertained, which is that of arming
the returned rebel soldiers as stand
ing militia force of two companies to
each county in the State of Mississip-
pi, under the pretence of protecting
the country against any disorder that
might arise out of the emancipation of
the slaves. Other rebel States are fol-
lowing the same example. But mark !;
this militia utterly refuse 10 serre un-
der the fag of the Federal Government !,
This, then, actually speaks out in un-
tones. Ii amounts, GER
tainly, to something more. than
" white heap" and it is most surely
the prerogative and duty of the Gov
ernment and people to understand it.


AS other rebel States arc falling
into the same wake the strong proba-
bility is, that the whole rebel country
will be invested with this rebel militia.
ry power before very great length
of time. Well, in case it SO proves,
how large an army of rebel returned
soldiers will the South have? In COM
putting them we find that there are
SS5 counties, and parishes throughout
the rebel territory and two companies
to county at 100 in a company will
give Iii, 900 men


Now these l77,OO0 so-called mill
tia are to be armed and equipped
and hence we sec an armed force, thus
formidable, who are outright and
sworn enemies to the General Govern
ment Hold this in reserve. 1t will
be the determined policy of the South
ern leaders who have already outwit-
ted us, to so shape political affairs,
and so direct political influences as to
elect Democratic President, so-called,
in 1868, if possible I; but in case they
should fail, to do it in 1872. And in
case they succeed, they will see to it
that he is man, too, who will sustain
their policy, as Buchanan did prior to
the war Their first business will then
be to repeal all the ordinances in their
Constitutions prohibiting slavery; and
as they will have the General Govern
ment in their hands, by the aid of the
in the north, and while
our army is disbanded, and theirs is
thus formidable, they may easily take
possession of the Capital and usurp
the entire rule aud all this through
their secret organizations while the
loyal masses are asleep. Now every
one knows that no such thing could be
effected publicly but, knowing full
well what they have done right in the
midst Of loyal community in time of
war in the State of Indiana by importing
arms, &c, will understand what they
may effect through secret organiza-
tions in time of peace, when no espc-
cial vigilance is employed and while
the loyal masses are not suspecting or
dreaming Of any such thing being on
foot.


Now, every man that has half an
eye can see this issue possible (; and
all who ponder the facts referred
to can see it even probable, unless
measures are interposed to avert it.
We have the fact of the secret order,
and the fact Of an organized force of
rebels who refuse Submission 10 The Gener-
al Gorernment and the fact that the
copperhcad fraternity in the North are
as inveterate against the Government
policy now as they were during the
war and the fact that the great mass
of rebels in the South are not a whit
more conciliated now than one year
ago, many having made their boast
that, when they get the State Gov
ernments into their own hands they
will have things SO as they please
despite of the General Government. )"
This feeling prevails quite extensive


ly among them. All this being SO,


what more do the rebels want than the


power and opportunity to accomplish


their contemplated ends The way il


is now going they will have even


greater facilities in three or four years


hence than they had at the breaking


out of the rebellion. Then they had


no military organization. Now they


will have force of Iii, 900 men, well


drilled, and all armed and equipped, un


der the sanction of Government. Then


another thing, they have now the ad


vantage Of experience which they had


not then, and which is more than one


half Of the requisite qualification.


/ am aware that it will be said b,


many that this is all ehimerical-vis
ionary and that no such events viii