* * * * *
The following extract from the Washington correspondence of the
Philadelphia _Press_ is significant:
'As pertinent to these questions, let me ask if you have ever gone
back to the time when most of the Breckinridge papers in the free
States were in danger of being mobbed and torn out after the fall
of Fort Sumter?
'I will not ask why these demonstrations occurred, but I will ask
if you can point to any one of these journals that is not _now_
filled with strong denunciations of the Administration and its
friends, and timid reproaches of the rebels in arms? Are they not
all clamorous for the reörganization of the Democratic party? Are
they not all against any combination of patriotic men under the
name of a Union party? Their object is as plain as their early
treason was notorious, and the end of their victory will be the
recognition of the armed rebels, or their full forgiveness. The
armed rebels are watching their movements with eagerness and joy.'
That they are doing so, is amply evidenced by the recent 'democratic'
and treasonable movements in Washington. In time of war, and especially
of such a war as this, there can be, as Mr. Douglas said, 'but patriots
and traitors.' Away with all parties--till the enemy are ours, the only
parties should be those of the North and South.
* * * * *
The municipal authorities at Nashville met Governor Johnson's appeal,
urging them to take the oath of allegiance, by a prompt refusal--falling
back 'for reasons' on State rights. There should be, in these times, but
one way of dealing with all such State rights gentlemen--arrest as
traitors, and trial under military law. This is no day for
dilly-dallying and quibbling about 'State rights.' There is only one
right in such cases--the right of the Union, and fidelity to it. This
rebuff is generally spoken of by the press as 'the Nashville Snag.'
There be such things as snag-extractors, and we trust that our
Government is free enough from red-tape do-nothingism and
circumlocution, to make short work of these insolent rebels, whatever
they be.
_Boston, April 1st._
DEAR EDITOR: I jot down the following as one of the most
melancholy results of this wicked and cruel war:
The Captain at our house believes in General Butler. The Lawyer
don't. Such is the state of parties at our table. As I said
before, the hand of brother is uplifted against brother, and
either may become a fratri-cider--as the fellow did when he
squeezed his brother to death in the press, among the apples.
The captain said, the other day, that Butler had a great deal of
dash.
'U--m!' growled the lawyer; 'one kind of dash he certainly has--to
perfection.'
'And what is that?'
'Balder-dash!' was the annihilating reply.