The Daily Dispatch: August 30, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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Signs of the Times.

The following extracts from late Northern journals give a fair view of the condition of things in the enemy's country:

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Revulsion of feeling in Pennsylvania.

A correspondent of the Baltimore Exchange writes from Norristown, Pennsylvania, August 26, as follows:

‘ A great excitement exists in different parts of Pennsylvania just now, and you need not be surprised to hear of stirring scenes before many days. What would you think if the State should pattern after Missourian. And yet I have heard Republicans and Democrats freely suggest the idea. Hitherto Democrats have furnished the majority, if not two-thirds, of the volunteers. They now refuse, and the consequence is that soldiers are hard to get. Officers are plenty, but men are scarce. The reason is, that the Republican journals have taken high ground in denouncing Democrats as disunionist, until many good Union men have almost been driven into the Secession idea.

But the great operating cause now is the action of the authorities at Washington in attempting to drive Democrats into the Republican ranks, under the cry of ‘"no party."’ This will not be submitted to, and in every county where the Democrats strike for the old Democratic doctrine, the edict has gone forth from Washington that Democratic organs must be ‘"confiscated."’ Several papers, I understand, have already been seized by the Marshal.

The Easton Sentinel was mobbed and destroyed on Monday last, and the result in old Northampton is a terrible state of bad feeling.

The Jeffersonian, West Chester, was also destroyed by a secretly organized mob at mid-night on the same day. On the next day I passed through, or rather into the village, and the excitement ran very high. This is a State camping-ground, and parts of two companies organizing to make up a regiment were almost broken up by the attack on the Jeffersonian office. Out of about 150 to 170, one Lieutenant and 50 men withdrew their names, declaring that if such was to be the order, the Republicans might fight their own battles. The feeling ran so high that an immense patrol, armed with rifles and muskets, has been kept up to prevent an attack upon the borough, while depositors have withdrawn their names from the bank. Since, I understand, the Marshal has closed the office of the Jeffersonian, though the materials were destroyed. This has increased the excitement through the county to a high fever. If this goes on, you may take it for granted that Uncle Sam can get no more Democratic soldiers, or in fact any kind, for they will be needed at home.

This is blind policy. The Administration had better not rain mischief in Pennsylvania. The Democrats there are Union men to a man; but many — very many — are anxious for a restoration of peace on any terms that will secure Union and honor to the nation.

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Freedom of the press.
[from the New York Daily News.]

The copies of the Daily News in the charge of the American Express Company were seized on yesterday by the U. S. Marshal in this city. It is impossible to conceive by what authority a Government official can confiscate without legal process private property which a business firm has received in trust for the use of others. As well might the same officer lay violent hands upon a citizen's watch, his purse, or any article which he has paid for and which belongs exclusively to him. The Government, if it has authorized this illegal seizure, has gone one step too far, even to answer its own purposes. Reaching for a shield to cover its own weakness, it has ‘"overleaped itself and fallen on the other side."’ If the Administration will persist in gathering information only from the columns of the war press, it will never be awakened to a sense of the danger it is provoking until it is too late. Of every hundred voters in the city of New York, seventy-five are antagonistic to the harsh and unconstitutional measures adopted by Mr. Lincoln and his advisers, and an equal proportion are absolutely friends of the Peace party. The city is quiet now — calm as a tropical sea when not a breath stirs the flapping sail; but it is the calmness that precedes the hurricane. We are like men here sleeping within a magazine, where the train is laid and the blazing torch is at hand; one spark may spread ruin and desolation around. If the Administration will but pause, look about, take note of what is the true feeling, and ponder, much that is terrible may be avoided.

Such want on outrages upon right and liberty as have been witnessed lately in our midst, would have been sufficient to ‘"stir the stones of Rome to rice and mutiny."’ The wrongs that precipitated the French Revolution were innocent in comparison. Citizens cast into dungeons without public charge against them and without hope of trial; private property confiscated at the book of those in power; the press humbled, threatened and suppressed, or prostituted to serve the ends of fanaticism. What ever did Louis XVI. so tyrannical and dangerous? and yet he lost his head. What ever did Great Britain so unjust to provoke the indignation of her colonies? and yet she alienated them from her forever.

The people here have been unaccustomed to such wrongs; they can yet scarcely realize them. They are stunned for the time being with the quick succession of outrages that have been hurled at them, and they stand silent and motionless like men startled by an unexpected blow. But when they do a waken to a sense of injury — to a full conception of what they have lost and what they are losing — to an understanding that they are gliding by rapid steps from freedom to bondage, they will not lack the impulsive action of the Parisian at his barricades, or the resolution of their forefathers at Lexington and Bunker Hill.

A New York letter of the 27th says:

‘ The proprietors of the Daily News, fearing an attack upon their establishment, yesterday applied to the police superintendent for protection. A force of 400 police was held in reserve in the lower stations, but up till 1 o'clock this morning their services had not been called into requisition. It was reported that forty men armed with revolvers, were retained by the proprietors of the News, to meet any emergency. The Journal of Commerce office was also guarded.

’ [From the Baltimore Exchange, of Wednesday.]

At the head of the leading editorial column of the New York Daily News of yesterday, we find the following manly and outspoken notice from its proprietor. No man who has any genuine sense of right or appreciation of public freedom, can fail to respond, with his whole heart, to the fearless and independent spirit with which it is animated.--In the madness which is upon us, such a spirit, it is true, may be bent, but it can never be broken. No Government, since the freedom of the press began, ever entered into a contest with free speech without being overcome. History has no record of any other result. If the Government of Mr. Lincoln is insensible to the lessons of the past, as surely as truth is invincible it will be awakened by the teachings of the future.

"to the subscribers of the New York News.

"The subscribers to the New York Daily and Weekly News who reside beyond the limits of the city of New York will take notice that their copies, should they have failed to receive them, have been confiscated, by order of the Federal Government. This has been done without form of law, and by mere usurpation of power. This office is impotent, therefore, to fulfill its obligations toward its patrons; but subscribers may rest assured that every means will be taken to protect their interests, and that, until prevented by physical force, the New York News will disseminate its views freely and fearlessly, and will continue to oppose the present fratricidal war, even though it be at the risk of property, personal liberty, and life.

‘"Benjamin Wood."’

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Disloyalty of free speech.
[from the New York day Book, Aug. 28.]

But it is said we are ‘"disloyal."’ ‘"Disloyalty!"’--what is it? To be ‘"loyal"’ must we believe in ‘"the irrepressible conflict"’ of Seward, ‘"the negro equality"’ of Chase, the ‘ "ultimate extinction"’ theory of Lincoln, and that the Helper book is a ‘ "valuable political document?"’ Must we believe that Seward is as great a statesman as Jefferson, that Cameron is as incorruptible as Diogenes, and that Lincoln is as learned as Machiavelli? Must we believe that black is white, that two and two make five? In fact, must we commit intellectual suicide? Does Mr. Lincoln's Administration demand all this as the price of ‘"loyalty?"’ If so, the price exceeds our ability to pay.

But it is said we oppose the Government. How, where or when? Bring on your accusers; let the case be brought before the court. Let us see the counts and the specifications. If to be ‘ "loyal"’ means sincere reverence for the Constitution — a fervent love of the Union--an invincible repugnance to its overthrow, and earnest labor and exertion to prevent such a great national catastrophe — if these be the price of ‘"loyalty, "’ then do we and have we rendered them cheerfully, earnestly, and with a single eye to the good of our country. What more can we do? We cannot prevent the avalanche of falsehoods with which day after day Republican papers slander and libel us. To ask justice or mercy from these fanatical journals that seek to destroy the independent Democratic press because they fear its power, is to ask the lion to give up his prey after he has caught it. Puritanical tyranny never yielded power until choked into repentance.

At all events our right and duty as an American citizen are fulfilled, and if for this we fall under the ban of official punishment, we shall not fail to protest against the unconstitutional usurpation, or to defend, until the pen is snatched from our hand, the rights of the people, and to execrate, even though a dungeon opened its portals before us, the hypocrisy of a party which, getting into power under the pretence of regard for the negro, has riveted the chains of slavery upon millions of white men.

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Which is worse?
[from the New York Herald.]

These journals that have recently been vis-

ited with a mob, and others of which the Government has attempted to prevent their circulation by making copies in Philadelphia, are harmless as doves compared to the Tribune and Times engaged as they are in hounding the Federal Government into adopting the policy and inscribing upon the banner of the armies the emancipation of slavery. The aid and comfort given by the so- called peace organs to the Confederates, is but a drop in the bucket compared with the incendiary appeals of the agitating press, and the sooner the Administration puts a stop to their incendiary appeals the earlier will it receive the united and undivided support of the North.

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What are We coming to?
[from the Boston Courier, Aug. 25.

As our readers learned by the telegraphic dispatches of yesterday, the United States Marshal in Philadelphia seized all the copies of the New York Daily News which arrived there, as well those intended to be sold in Philadelphia as those destined for ulterior points at the South and West. The Marshal also took possession of the office of the Christian Observer, in consequence of a late virulent article on ‘"the unholy war."’ The Marshal, it is to be presumed, acted under instructions from the Government. If so, we must say we are sorry to see our Government in this respect imitating some of the most objectionable proceedings of despotism. Of the four memorable ordinances which cost Charles X. his throne, the first and most important was that which suspended the liberty of the press, and directed that no print or journal should be published without authorization. Are we coming to this? Is every journal which incurs the displeasure of the Government to be suppressed? Besides, that such a course is in contravention of the most elementary principles of civil liberty, it is a mistake in policy. By persecuting a newspaper, you pay it a compliment; you make it a martyr, you give an importance to its views which nothing else could give. Furthermore, it is really a confession of weakness. What is the Government worth that cannot stand a paper cannonade?

We are indignant, and justly indignant, at the tone of a portion of the English press and of the English public towards us just now; are we going to strengthen our cause there and secure fresh sympathy, by showing now little regard we have for those great principles of Anglican liberty out of which the freedom of the press, carefully protected in that country, and the security of the person from unlawful violence, alike spring? We are fighting not merely for the Union, but for the Constitution and the Laws; if to keep the first we must sacrifice the last two, the question may well arise — of what value will the Union then be to us, if any relic of its existence will then remain?

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Freedom of speech and the press.

There is nothing which proves the incapacity of a man for self-government more than threats of violence against his neighbor who differs with him in political and religions opinion. That feeling is utterly incompatible with the duration of democratic free institutions. It leads at once to a despotism by as straight and speedy a path as it can go. It is as short-sighted as it is fatally criminal and wicked.

Freedom of thought and freedom of speech are not to be put down by the strong-mailed hand of power. The history of the world, ever since its creation, proves this. The ‘"blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church"’ is an axiom that is applicable to more than ecclesiastical denominations.* * *

Our Constitution and our Republic can no more live without perfect freedom of the press and of speech, than flowers and fruits can germinate and come to maturity without the heat and light of the sun.--Cincinnati Enquirer.

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Disorganized regiments.

Under this head the New York Express of Saturday, says that such regiments as the 2d Fire Zouaves, who left New York on Friday afternoon, can be of no service whatever in the grand army. A large proportion of them were drunk, and the scenes that occurred among them were of the most disgraceful character. The Colonel ignored the rights of his officers and put the question of his leadership to the votes of his men. His officers then rushed on him with curses and drawn swords, while the men cheered the Colonel. Some of the officers cried with rage and were treated to groans. A United States officer remonstrated with them and was driven off, several swords being lunged at him. The men wished to ‘"thrash"’ their officers, and the officers to ‘"have it out at once."’

The Express says:

‘ The Second Fire Zouaves will do very little to redeem the credit of New York city or the New York Fire Department, so badly damaged by the First Regiment of that name. A spirit of insubordination seems to prevail in more than one corps preparing for the battle-field. One officer reported to the mustering Colonel on Friday that he had ninety men on his roll, but that eighty of them were in a state of mutiny, and that he could not produce them to be mustered without the aid of force! What a spectacle this is!

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A rush for aid.

The throng of women and children representing families of volunteers in the 17th and 18th wards, at the distributing office in New York on Friday, was unusually great. At 8 A. M., one hour before the appointed time of opening, the square in front of Cooper Institute was crammed with poor people, and when the doors were opened, at 9 o'clock, the pressure to get in was so great that several children would probably have been killed but for the interference of persons connected with the office. The excitement was finally allayed by distributing tickets among the crowd. A large number of the 79th (High-landers) made their appearance, but were cut off without a shilling, in recognition of their prominent part in the recent mutinies and desertions.