Year: 1862

The Washington correspondent of the
Philadelphia Press has the following re-
marks upon the arrest of Gen. Stone, to
whose ucapacity or treason is attributed
the Ball's Bluff massacre:


The arrest of General c. P. Stone on Sat-
urday night, and his transfer to Fort La
fayette, was not unexpected by those who
had known bis strong secession proclivities.
His conduct in the battle of Balls Bluff,
which resulted in the massacre of the gall
liant Baker and his heroic band, and, the
manner in which he attempted to bFowbeat
Senator Sumner for cri ticising his military
policy in the Senate, would think, have
led TO his almost unanimous rejection had
be not been previously confirmed, at the
called session, for the Office of Brigadier-
General. The immediate cause of bis ar
rest has not been published, but il of course
grew out of bis well-known opinions and
expressions, The fact is, there are too
many of the officers, particularly of the
regular army, who while fighting against
the rebels, do not hesitate to indulge in
certain expressions of conditional and quail
ifed patriotism. This class is composed of
those who have had intimate associations
with Southern society, and are we'll inocu-
lated with the heresy of State Rights
They talk hippantly against Abotonists
and Black Republicans, aud are particular
ly addicted to complimentiDg the rebel
leaders. They forget The great issues in-
volved 10 this contest, and unconsciously
ignore their own duty in the premises.
Happily however, they are in minority,
even In the regular army. But If it were
not for the brave and nnmurmuring men
taken from private life, and clothed with
the confidence aud commissions of the Gov
ernment, even the example of this minority
could not be otherwise than injurious


The sympathisers with secession in pri.
vate life have been greatly assisted and en-
couraged by the example of half-hearted
officers of the regular army, and it is high
time for Secretary Stanton to give them
such an admonition as will not fail to be
effective. If ever there was good cause
il is that in which the American army is
now engaged. The blessings for which we
are cOntending are beyond all parallel and
all price, and the foes we are fighting have
been guilty of every crime in the calendar
For the man who wears the American uni
form to hesitate for outside political rea-
sons and TO chop logic as to what he will

or will not do, is mOnstrous. know of no
spectacle more dscreditable than to hear
an officer say that he has taken up bis sword
simply in the discharge of cold duty, aud
that he will not be bound by the opinions
of the Administration. All such men are
compulsory patriots, and deserve to be
watched and distrusted. What is needed
in this struggle is hearty, Jealous, even
faDatcal devotion to the country. The
spirit of the Crusaders should be invoked
against the rebellion. The American peo-
pie are contending equally for the exis.
tenee OF their own Government and for hui
man liberty everywhere. Every day in
creases the magnitude and the obligations
of their destiny. And the military man
who does not feel the inspiring force Of this
great truth should at once resign. He need
not hope that others will follow his lead. y
Every such loss will be compensated by new
volunteers. Fortunately for the future
fortunately for our rights and our race, the
Administration has resolved to tolerate no
man who is not entirely and heartily en-
listed, for veal or woe, on the side Of the
American Union.