Progress of the war.
A Vallandigham meeting — Bold sentiments — the military on the ground.
A meeting was held in
Newark, N. J., on the 28th ult., to adopt resolutions relative to the arrest and exile of
C. L. Vallandigham.
It was a very large assemblage, and composed chiefly of the country people.
It met in the "
Military Park," and the first scene of the afternoon was a collision with the soldiers, which is thus described:
As the delegation pressed onward, with quiet determination, one of the soldiers, who carried a cane, made a rush to seize the banner, amid the yells of his comrades.
The man who held it, a sober, quiet, farmer lad in appearance, relinquishing the staff to one of his party, confronted the aggressor, and wresting his stick from his grasp in a single motion, gave him the weight of it across the skull, levelling him to the ground in a twinkling, and opening the scalp some two or three inches in length.
The melee became for an instant only general, but the country boys were too vigorous for their opponents, and in far less time than it has taken to describe the affray, three or four of the soldiers were helpless at their feet, and the banner was borne onward triumphantly to the platform, while the wounded men were cared for by their friends.
After the meeting was organized letters were read from
Gen. Fitz John Porter,
Hon. Thomas H. Seymour, (not the
Governor,) and others.
Gen. Porter thus writes:
‘
The dispassionate exercise of the guaranteed right of free speech cannot be yielded by any American citizen in time of war or in time of peace.
If there be anything worth contending for — anything the value of which cannot be estimated — it is this.
It has been well said by one of our most eminent statesmen, born in my own native State:
"Without freedom of speech there can be no lasting liberty — the republic cannot exist.
If every man should close his lips, and not venture even a word against violated rights, who could maintain a free Government?
Nobody! A people who cannot discuss the public measures of a nation, and apply the necessary rebuke to insure correction of wrongs, cannot be a free people, and do not deserve to be."
This sentiment should be dear to every American.
Other men may talk about the principle, but those of my name and blood will not, at the proper time, fait to
fight for it.--The contest of arms, however, will not be required; the certain and peaceful remedy will be found in the ballot-box.
Let us all possess our souls in patience.
That remedy is ours.
’
"The letter," says the reporter, "was greeted with cheer upon cheer."
Mr. Seymour closes his letter with the following manly declaration:
‘
for the evils which threaten to utterly Constitutions?
There are many palliatives, but only one remedy, and that is to stop the war. While that lasts violence and wrong will last also, and the citizen be doomed to a perpetual struggle with the oppressor.
If we would save our liberties, save the
Constitution, and restore the
Union, we must look for the accomplishment of these great ends in the efficacy of
peace measures, and not elsewhere."
’
While these letters were "receiving the plaudits of the multitude," a company of soldiers, with fixed bayonets, entered the park and proceeded to the main stand, etc:
The indignation aroused by this procedure was universal and profound, but the concourse maintained to the last a dignified bearing, venting their feelings in tremendous and sustained cheering at every allusion made to the circumstance by their orators, who openly denounced the military menace.
At length
Mayor Bigelow, of
Newark, and
Sheriff A. M. Reynolds appeared on the ground, and distinctly informed the
commanding officer of the troops that the civil authorities were amply able to maintain the peace of the city, and the sheriff added that unless the force was at once withdrawn he should call out the First Regiment of the National Guard, a fine new corps in thorough discipline.
Shortly afterward the troops, after patrolling to and fro, withdrew, not, however, before the civil magistrates had been affronted by the jeering of certain "respectable" rowdies who had come to see the soldiers "pitch in."
In the meantime eloquent addresses were delivered by
the Hon. A. J. Rogers, M. C. elect of the Sussex district;
Hon. E. P. Norton, of this city;
Judge A. R. Speer,
J. C. Fitzgerald, and
F. R. Teese, Esqs, and the venerable
Judge Crane, of Boonton, who all commented upon the military display, rebuked the usurpations of military power by
Burnside and the action of the Administration in the Vallandigham case, and were cheered to the echo.
The following preamble and resolutions were "unanimously adopted with enthusiastic cheers, in which several soldiers joined:"
Whereas, It is not only the privilege but the duty of freemen to withstand the encroachments of the
Executive, and to rebuke with firmness those in power, who, under any plea, however specious, may presume to assault the rights of the people: Therefore,
Resolved, That now, when despotism has seized the
Government,
boldness is prudence, and that we shall avoid most of all the counsels of
timid of time-serving politicians.--[Cheers.]
Resolved, That the people have thus far submitted to the illegal acts of the Administration not because they are ignorant of their rights, nor because they are indifferent to the inestimable blessings of liberty, nor because they are wanting in courage to resist the aggressions of lawless power, but because they have patiently hoped that the
President and his advisers would
desist from their violations of the Constitution in time to save themselves and the country from the consequences to which such acts inevitably lead.
[Cheers.]
Resolved, That in the illegal seizure and banishment of
Hon. C. L. Vallandigham, the laws of our country have been outraged, the name of the
United States disgraced, and the rights of every citizen menaced, and that it is now the duty of a law-respecting people to
demand of the Administration that it at once and forever desist from such
deeds of despotism and crime. [Enthusiasm.]
Resolved, That we have reason to fear, from the violation by the Administration of the laws passed at its own instance, and from the acts and threats of cabinet officers, and generals in the army, a settled purpose to establish, instead of an elective Government, a military despotism; and that if the time should unhappily arrive when our rulers shall madly attempt to deprive us of an appeal to the ballot box, it will then be the plain
right and duty of the people to withdraw their consent from such a Government and to construct, by the speediest and most available means in their power, the
Government established by our fathers.
[Tremendous cheers.]
Resolved, That we heartily approve of the sentiments expressed by
Governor Seymour in his recent letter, and that his truthful and timely vindication of the rights of freemen entitle him to the respect and esteem of every lover of liberty.
Resolved, That we renew our declaration of attachment to the
Union, pledging to its friends, wherever found, our unwavering support, and to its enemies, in whatever guise, our undying hostility, and that, God willing, we will stand by the
Constitution and laws of our country, and under their sacred shield will maintain and defend our liberty and rights, "peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must." [Great cheering.]
Doings in the army of the Potomac.
A correspondent of the New York
Tribune, writing from the Army of the Potomac, gives the following items:
‘
The enemy reviewed twenty-five regiments on their right wing, yesterday, within sight of us. That there was that number of regiments was calculated from the amount of colors visible.
This was intended as a demonstration, in order to blind us to the fact of a part of their army having departed to reinforce
Pemberton.
A gathering of their troops about thirty miles up the
Rappahannock, with the ostensible show of crossing, may be for the same purpose.
All day yesterday men were departing in cars from near
Fredericksburg, but it is impossible to tell whether for the
South or for some point on the road where they might alight, and unknown to us, join the forces up the river.
Their motives are difficult to penetrate.
Spies, if we have any, can learn little that is definite, and deserters, like private soldiers in our own army, know nothing beyond what occurs in their own immediate vicinity.
The rebel pickets taunt our men with the delay in capturing
Vicksburg.
They suggest that we shall have "a sweet job of it." A party from each side lately, while bathing, swam toward each other, shook hands with a "how are you, old fellow?" in the middle of the river, and agreed to change positions for the time being.
Our men, therefore, swam to the rebel shore, while their antagonists continued to this side.
The latter then personated Yankees, shouting "How are you, secesh?" with many expletives not calculated for ears polite, and were answered by "How are you, pork and molasses?
When are you going to pitch into us again?" etc. After a friendly talk with those near by, both parties recrossed.
This may seem odd, among men engaged in killing each other, but private and professional life are two very different matters.
It is a demoniac rifle ball one day and a friendly handshaking the next.
’
The Hitch in the exchange of prisoners.
The New York papers contain several statements about the stoppage of the exchange of prisoners.
A Washington telegram to the New York
Herald says:
‘
The fact is that the rebel authorities refuse to parole or exchange the officers of
Colonel Streight's command, captured recently in
Georgia, they having been demanded by the
Governor of the
State, under the retaliation act passed at the last session of the rebel Congress.
In consequence of this refusal no more rebel officers will be released or paroled until an arrangement can be made by which all of our officers that may fall into their hands shall be released.
The exchange of the enlisted men will be continued as heretofore.
The large number of prisoners taken by
General Grant and by
General Banks in their operations will no doubt bring the rebel authorities to an equitable arrangement for the future.
The Commissioners for the exchange of prisoners,
Colonels Ludlow and
Ould, have agreed upon an exchange which covers a large number of prisoners heretofore released on both sides.
The official announcement of the classes of prisoners of war restored to duty by this exchange will be made in a few days.
’
The
Washington Chronicle attempts the following explanation about
Streight's officers:
‘
The retention of the officers, on the requisition of
Governor Shorter, on the charge of their arming negroes, is the flimsiest possible excuse, and was based on the following: ‘A member of the 734
Indiana captured a silver-mounted carbine from one of
Roddy's officers, and presented it to
Lieutenant Colonel Walker.
The
Colonel's servant carried it along with his other things, and from this the charge originated on which they refuse to exchange the officers of that brigade.’
’
Miscellaneous.
The annual examination at
West Point commences on the 3d inst. The literary exercises occupy six hours a day, followed each after-mortar practice, and or artillery drills, artillery.
The
Vice President of the
United States has received a draft on
London for a sum which amounts to over six hundred dollars, given as a free will offering to the cause of emancipation by the colored women of the
British colony of
Victoria, to be applied to the benefit of the freedmen at and about
Beaufort, S. C. The donors had previously sent one hundred and seventy dollars to
Philadelphia for a like purpose.
It is stated that the quota of
Vermont in the coming draft will be 2,000.
Gen. Cass has recovered his health, left
Newport, and gone to his home in
Detroit.
