“let us alone.” --So says Jeff. Davis in his Message.
So say all the Southern rebels.
“We don't want any war — only let us alone, and we will not trouble you. We desire peace.”
Every thief and robber says the same thing.
Every violator of law wants to be let alone.
The expression has an appropriate origin.
Certain unclean spirits first used it to Jesus of Nazareth.
They had full possession, and did not want to be disturbed.
The Secessionists have stolen our territory, for which we paid millions; our forts, and navy yards, and arsenals, and ships, and custom-houses, and mints; have cruelly treated our citizens, whipping, tarring and feathering, hanging,
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and murdering them; have opened their batteries upon a little handful of half-starved men, and burned them out with red-hot shot; have undertaken to break up the best Government upon earth for no other cause than that they could no longer rule it; have erected batteries around other forts, and only wait an opportunity to batter them down; have put the arms stolen from us into the hands of those who threaten our destruction, and then coolly exclaim, as soon as they see the uprising of millions of brave and patriotic hearts in the defence of the Government, “Let us alone!”
They haven't let us alone, and they can't be let alone till the evil spirit is cast out of them, even though it be with some “rending and tearing” of the body.--Cincinnati Gazette, May 15.
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