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Washington, Dec. 25th, 1860.
What a Christmas! The nation in ruins, the Government overwhelmed with disgrace, the people on the eve of civil war! How peacefully the snow falls. But though its pure mantle covers the naked earth, it cannot hide the crimes done in high places, nor conceal the wickedness of the Republicans, who have declared their willingness to plunge the country into fratricidal strife rather than abandon the odious principles of their party. [And, thank God! it cannot congeal the fiery Southern heart.] With regard to the transactions of Goddard Bailey. I can give you nothing in addition to what reached you last night by telegraph. I am told that nobody is to blame, neither Bailey nor the Secretary of War. At least no criminal action can lie against them. Bailey is out on bail. I saw him last night at the National Hotel. He noticed no one; but his face, I thought, showed that a great burden had been lifted from his mind and heart. There is too much reason to fear that when the investigation ordered yesterday by the House is had, the disgrace will fall mainly upon Virginia.

Some time ago, I wrote that Forney was begging for conciliation for compromise.--Hear how he talks now:

‘ "I have for weeks past counselled peace. But the day for persuasion has passed and gone. The time has come for action! action!! action!!! The city of Philadelphia, which polled eighty thousand votes at the late election, ought to be able to put in the field to-morrow thirty thousand volunteers. Her great fire department alone is a splendid military organization, and her young men only need the right kind of leaders to form a corps d'orniee of more magnificence than that of any other city in the Union, only excepting that of New York.--The great counties of Berks, and Montgomery, and Lancaster, and NorthamptonLancaster alone exhibiting a population of one hundred and sixteen thousand--would swell this force into an army more powerful than all the Southern States combined could put into the field. These, with the fighting men of the other counties of the States, properly roused and officered, could soon be made ready for any call on the part of the proper authorities. Gov. Packer, always keenly alive to the honor of his country, should act in the present exigency with unusual promptitude."

’ Does this encourage delay on the part of Virginia? Is she scared? Then, for the comfort of her timidity. I give the reply of the Philadelphia Pennsylvanian to Forney's threat of war. The editor says:

‘ "We desire to say in the most emphatic language to this epistolary 'dog of war. ' 'Occasional.' that we do not intend to have the Abolitionists for masters at any time; and that we shall submit to their political influence no longer than we can help it; and that whenever the Republican or Abolition party undertakes to raise armies in the city of Philadelphia or in the North generally, to sustain their corrupt and disgusting domination by establishing a military despotism in the place of our present free government, there will be two armies raised here at one and the same time"

’ "Occasional" is the name Forney signs to the letters he writes from Washington to his paper, the Philadelphia Press.

I have also a sweet morsel for those patriotic gentlemen who are doing all in their power to rend Virginia asunder by divided counsels.--The Hartford Courant, a paper which opposes Coercion and eulogizes Daniel Webster for "not denouncing South Carolina, but praising her," in the days of nullification, and so winning her over to the Union again — this paper says:

‘ "The fact is, that we of the North happen to be so situated that the best thing we can do is to do nothing, say nothing, threaten nothing, concede nothing; but just stand back, and let Virginia, Kentucky, and the other border slave States, settle this matter as they best can."

’ So this is their game. Does any Virginian feel proud of playing into their hands? How noble and brave a thing it is, by warring among ourselves, to encourage the North to "concede nothing."

With what eagerness the Black Republicans seize everything occurring in Virginia, which is in the least degree unfriendly to the Gulf States, is shown by the malignant unction of the Tribune, as it quotes the resolution passed at the recent meeting at Christiansburg, in Montgomery county; which resolution declares that Lincoln's election is no cause for secession. The Tribune bases an editorial on this meeting, and closes it with an appeal (like all the other appeals of our delayers and retarders) to the pockets of Virginians. When our enemies praise us, and then appeal to the basest of all our passions — cupidity — I ask Virginia gentlemen, if it is not high time for them to take such a position as will not subject themselves to the insult of Abolition laudation, nor afford the shadow of an excuse to the Republicans for refusing any compromise whatever, on the ground that the gentlemen of Virginia do not think they ought to concede anything.

I am compelled, in spite of myself, to laugh at the absurd way the Yankees treat the present troubles of the country. In this same paper. (the Hartford Courant,) the local editor states that "Messrs. Starr, Burkett & Co. have got the 'irrepressible conflict,' and are selling off their goods with a rush; " and, on turning to the advertisement of S., B. & Co., I find, "Tremendous Panic! among the Dry Goods, Carpets, and Paper Hangings. Can't keep them still — bound to secede. They will go at such prices." Have we much to hope of a people who will treat the most serious calamity that can befall a nation with levity like this?

Zed.

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