The TH atchman,
£
§FLLEFONTE, TUESDAY, JULY 2.
SSS SEES
>
Pa
mmr,
* Here shall the press the people's rights main-
tain,
Unawed by party or unbribed by gain;
Pledged but to truth to liberty and law,
No favor sways us and no fear shall awe.
ALEXANDER & MEEK, Editors and Publishers.
The Wonder of the Age.
Gentle reader will you bear with us while
we devote a brief space to the Central Press.
Reader, have you seen its last issue? If
not we advise you to procure a copy at once.
It is one of the wonders of the age. When
you get it, 1ead that article in the editorial
column, which is made up of such conflicting
theories, antagonistic sentiments, perversions
of the truth and assertions of falsehoods that
the editor himself could not find a single
word or sentence in the whole vocabulary
of the English language suitable for a head.
ing. The second article in the same column
is, unfortunately in the same fix, and after
carefully reading it, we must confess we
are at a loss to know what it means or what
to call it. But let us analize it into its sep-
rate ingredients, and by the time we are
done probably an appropriate name may sug-
gest itself. The first article commences as
follows :
‘* The Watchman compiains that men’s
loyalty should be doubted who view the
decisions of Judge Taney as the highest legal
authority of the land.”
The WarcnMaN does no such thing. It
says that those men who oppose the binding
force of the decisions of the Supreme Court
array themselves against the authority of
the Government, and that according to the
reasoning of the man who penned that arti-
ele which appeared in the Press, and headed
‘‘ Loyalty,” they are traitors. This part
of the article we suggest to the editor of
the Press, should be headed ** Perversion of
the Truth.’ To show the position we took
on this subject, wo refer our readers to No.
23 of the WarcHMAN, artical headed *¢ Mer -
chant’s Opinion of Loyalty.” After having
made this dishonorable perversion of our
language and sentiments, the Press proceeds
thus :
‘* Judge Taney is so old that, like all |-
other aged persons of high intellectual at-
tainments, he ig liable to commit serious
blnnders.”’
We suggest, Mr. Editor. that you have him
reinoved' and yourself substituted, as your
judgment (in your own estimation, at least,)
in far superior to his—jyou are not too old.—
This portion ef the article we would call
» egotism, arrogance or conceit, either will do.
Then, again :
+ We confront them with the decision of
the same Judge Taney, delivered during the
the rebellion in Rhode Island.”
Wo have read that decision, and we ut-
ferly deny that there is a single sentence,
word or syllable in it that in any way con-
fliicts with his recent decision of the habeas
corpus case. Eminent jurists have read and
studied the two decisions, and all have failed
to discover the conflicting theories that the
editor of the Press has seen with such as-
teunding clearness. This part of the article
wo would call an unfounded assertion.—
Next, they say, "‘ the Warcamay claims to
be loyal.” You are mistaken here. We
claim to be true to our Government, but not
loyal. We refer you again to our ideas on
loyalty in No. 23 of the WaTcmMAN.
** And, yet, the seinor editor of that sheet
has declared that the Constitution of the re.
hels is as good as ours and in some instances
better.” This part of the article we would
head, “an unmitigated, malicious, premedi-
tated Jie." .
The Senior editor has said, and says now,
that the Rehel Constitution is copied after
the Constitution of the United States, and
that with a few exceptions, it contains
nearly the same provisions. This was said
in a discussion upon the merits of the two
Uonstitutions, and not (as the Press endeay-
ors to leave the impression) because the
senior believes in secession. No, sir, we
have the most implicit confidence in our good
old Constitution, if carried out according to
its letter and spirit, and believe that the on-
ly way of permanently settling our national
difficulties is, in a strict adherence to its
every provision. Besides this we believe it
to be the bounden duty of every American
citizen to support not only the Constitution,
but every law made in pursuance thereof,
until it is constitutionally repealed, and when
Judge TANEY, the Chief Justice of the Su-
preme Court of the United States, whose
duty it is to pass upon the Constitution and
the laws made in pursuance thereof, decides
what that Constitution means, or how the
laws are to be construed, made by Congress
under it, we believe it to be the duty of ev-
ery man to acknowledge the binding force
of that decision. We do not, like the ed-
itor of the Press, set up our decision in op-
position to his, and denounce him as a trai-
tor, because he dares in the discharge of his
sworn duty to utter a sentiment that may
conflict with ours. No, verily, did we do
this, we would acknowledge ourselves to be
“iraitors of the deepest die, and would our.
relves krot the rope that would seal 8 fzait.
e's doom, The maw who openly opposes
the decision of the Supreme Court opposes
the Governmert, because it is part of it, and |
attempts, to the utmost of his ability, to
weaken it in its most vital part. The edi-
tor of the Press does this, notwithstanding
he has heretofore said, “that to be loyal is to
refrain from throwing anything in the way
to mar the harmonious action of all the de=
partments of the Government.” Now while
it is true that such sentiments as these of the
Press, and coming from that source, uttered
in opposition to this branch of the Govern-
ment have but little weight, as no sane man
can be so silly as to be misled by them, yet
they sho a willingness on his part, to sub-
vert the Government under which we live by
these underhanded blows at its supremacy,
which is some evidence that were he not
afraid of lead and gun powder would induce
him to join the Southern army under “King
Jeff,” as he calls him and fight ‘openly for
its overthrow.
“The Watchman is first for Taney, and
Taney is first for the rebels and consequently
it is for them both’ says the Press which we
wish to amend as follows, and then we are
willing to let our readers judge which is the
most logical. The WarcuMan is first for
the Government, and therefore neccessarily
for Taney, because part of the Government.
The Press is against Taney who is part of
the Government and being against the Gov-
ernment is for the rebels.” The Press again
says ©
“They attempt to enlighten uson the points
at issue viz : (the difference between an Ad-
ministration and the Government) but we
must confess they have totally failed.”
We might have known this, to convince a
man of even the most simple truth who has
not three ideas of hisown per day is a
most foolish task. This part of the article
we would call ** ignorance ”’ and we advise
the editor to stop printing newspapers and
go to school. Again the Press says :
** Our friends down in the Iron Front, are
in favor of the Constitution and the laws.
but opposed to executing them.”
Who ever said we were opposed to exe-
cuting the laws except the Central Press. —
We are confident we never did, and chal.
lenge the Press to produce a single word or
sentence uttered by us to that effect. * This
for the sake of variety, we would head, —
‘‘Prevarication.”’
But we can tell you who is opposed to ex-
ecuting the laws. It is the man who oppos-
es Judge TANEY'S decision in the Habeas
Corpus case, and therefore opposes the exe-
cation of that most sacred law—and by
that man we mean the editor of the Press.
They say the Government is founded
upon the eternal principles of justice ; if so,
why is the carrying out of those principles
80 obnoxious to our friends of the Waren
MAN ? Is there no inconsistency here 2”
Again we say we never opposed the car-
ryiag out of the principles of sternal justice,
hut insist that the Administration carry out
tbe Constitution in letter and spirit, and
also insist that the editor of the Press gives
us the proot that we did. This part of the
article we would Simply head, “Lie.”
The balance of the article in the Press,
we would call “jumble of words and silly
nonsensical trash.” Now let us sum up all
these different heads and see what we have
got :
‘* PrEVERSION OF TRutH, 7—¢ Egotrsy,
ARROGANCE, CONCERT," —¢ UNFOUNDED AS-
SERTION,”’—¢¢ AN UNMITIGATED, MALICIOUS.
PreMeDITATED LIE, ’'—** IGNORANCE, '—
“PREVARICATION,'—¢ Lig,” —¢SiLLY, NON-
SENSICAL TRAsRH.”
The editor of the Press might have put
these several heads at the top of his article
after the style of the news column in the
Inquirer —or should that not please his fan-
cy, we would suggest as it partakes more of
lie, (lye) than anything else, that he just
simply head it ““‘Suap.” Now, if the editor
of the Press is desirous of making a fortune,
we suggest that he make this article more
concise by striking from it all the silly non-
sensical trash, and leave just the pure lie
-~(lye)-—~then publish one hundred thousand
copies of it, put them up nicely 1n little tin
boxes and label them Jonx Georar Kurtz’
CoNCENTRATED lie (L¥g.””) We will guar-
antee a ready sale, and insure it to make a
very good quality of soap.
Republican Disunionists.
Col. BrowN, of the Democrat, notwith-
standing our friendly warning of week before
last, still continues to deny the truth, and
persists as arrogantly as ever in the asser-
tion of falsehood. We have long hoped that
the Colonel, having arrived at a mature age,
would at least be able to distinguish truth
from falsehood, and that, therefore, a refor-
mation might be confidently looked for ; but
it appears, by the last Democrat, that our
friendly advice had been set at naught, and
our fondest hopes, for his future, have van-
ished in the air. A few weeks ago, in reply
to an artical in the Democrat, in which it
was confidently asserted that no man living
could point toa single Republican, either
North or South, who was a secessionist, we
called tke Colonel's attention to the fact that
Sax Houston, of Texas, his favorite candi-
date for President, previous to the nomina-
tion of 1860, was a Republican secessionist.
The Colonel now denies this, and says he
never was a Republican. Why did he sup-
port him? Was it because he, Houston,
voted (or * BUCHANAN'S Lecompton out-
rage,” as the Colonel calls it? Will he
answer ? He also denies that J. M. Borrs,
of Virginia, ANDREW JACKSON DoONALDSON
and JAMES Harvey were Republicans. Can
he believe, as he says, that the people read
and think for themselves? If so, he insults
their understanding, by persisting in enforc-
ing upon them such palpable falsehoods.—
HanvEr is an 8ppointee of President
LiNcoLN. No person believes him to be
anything else than a Republican, yet the
Colonel denies that he is. Ain’t this decid-
edly cool? After this we will not be sur.
prised to find him capable of denying even
his own existence whenever 1t serves his
purpose to do so. Why he, Jupas like, will
deny even his God and Master for thirty
pieces of silver. Hg denies his old master,
Sam. HousroN, whom he once almost wor-
shipped, and at the next change of the moon
we will not be surprised to hear him deny
that President LiNcoLx is a Republican. —
But these Southern Republican secessionists
are not the only members of that party that
have believed in the doctrine of secession.—
They are not the only Republican traitors
that there are in the country. There are
not ouly a few, but a great many of them
in the North in high positions that have
advocated the right of secession, of whose
speeches we can produce abundant extracts
to prove what we say. But what is the use,
if we would bring even holy writ to prove it,
the Colonel will deny it, and insultingly ap-
peal to the mtelligence of the people to bear
him out in it. Now, we hope to end this
contest with the Colonel by making a state.
ment ourselves. and asking him a question.
First, then, secession is not Democratic. —
The principles of Democracy have ver been
opposed to it, and, therefore, when those
men in the South who once were Democrats
seceded, they ceased to be Democrats, and
we ignore all party connection with them.—
They may call themselves Democrats, but
according to the modern meaning of Repub-
licanism, as interpreted by the Colonel, this
would be more appropriate to them, because
it now means rule or ruin. Now for the 1n
terogative. First, did you not thank God,
io a speech made in the Court House, that
Josrua R. Giopings, * God bless his old
gray head,” (your own words) had taught
you Republicanism ? If so, you believe the
teachings and sayings of that venerable old
man. If you do, has the following been,
and is it your sentiment now :
“I look forward to the day when there
shall be a servile insurrection in the South,
when the black man, armed with British bay-
onets and led by Brstish officers, shall assert
has freedom, and wage a war of extermination
against his master—when the torch of the
incendiary shall light up the towns and cities
of the South, and blot out the last vestige of
Slavery, and though I may not mock at their
calamity nor laugh when their fear cometh,
yet will 1 hail at as the dawn of the political
malenium.”’
If you endorse this, and all that Josmua
R. Giopings has said on this subject, then
we presume you endorse ihe sentiments of
GARRISON, BURLINGAME and the rest of his
fellow workers. Such sentiments as these,
for instance, ‘the Constitution, an agree
ment with death and a covenant with hell,”
** Let the Union slide.” Whatever stands
| in the way of this sacred cause put it down.
If it is a party let the party be abandoned.
If ivis the church, let it be anathematised.
If it is the Government, let the Government
be repudiated. 1s this what you understand
Republicanism to mean? If so, let the
people know it, and they will judge whether
there are not a few Republican disunionists
in the North.
i
THE PROPOSITION OF PRESIDENT DAVIS. —
There have been various statements in the
papers in regard to the propositions of Pres-
ident Davis. It has been positively denied
by some that he ever made any. Below is
another statement, taken from the New York
Herald, which we give m its own words :—
The various rumors as to the propositions
made by the leaders of the Southern Con
federacy for peace and . a reconstruction of
the two sections of the country, appear to
resolve themselves into the simple fact that,
as we learn, Jefferson Davis has addressed
a communication to President Lincolr, pro -
posing peace, on the grounds merely that,
as the United States Government must be
convinced of the impossibility of conquering
the South, it should do now what it must
eventually do after a long and bloody war—
namely, recognize the independence of the
Southern Confederacy. He does not pro-
pose that Congress shall pass any acu rela-
tive to slavery, nor does he refer to tho pay-
ment of the expenses of the war, or the
withdrawal of troops, as reported in other
quarters, but simply that, as the sanction of
Congress will be necessary to ratify the re-
cognition of the Southern Government, he
suggests that no progress be made on either
side until Congress meets ; and he pledges
himself that no aggressive act on the part of
the South shall take place if his proposition
is favorably considered, until it is ascer-
tained how Congress will act in the premis-
es. He gives a succinct state of the strength
and resources of the South, and compliments
the United States Government for the activ-
ity with which it is pouring troops into the
field, and he concludes his letter by saying
that ‘the spectacle of four hundred thousand
men—let me say brothers—thus arrayed
against each other, with the most destruct-
ive weapons of modern warfare in their
hands, is a sight from which the patriot turns
away appalled. In Heaven's name let us
not drive them into actual conflict. If pos-
sible, let us avert a collision, the horrors of
which will have no parallel.” No 2uswer
has yet been returned to this communica
tion, nor has the Administration the slightest
intention of making any compromise, or en-
tering 1nto any negotiation with the rebels,
upon the basis of Mr. Davis’ proposition.
a
Wa issue our paper earlier than usual this
week, to give the **boys™ a chance to enjoy
themselves during the ‘fourth’. Hope our
readers will not ceusure us for sending them
a half sheet as “all hands’ from devil up
want to get on a while the hollidays
last,
Inconsistencies of the Revengefall W.
Party. 4 -
The diflerent spirit with which parties
support the Government in its efforts to put
down rebellion is evidently the result of |
their respective antecedents. Men whose
animosity against the South was worked up
to the highest pitch before war was deemed
probable are now as a matter of course, ex-
tremely ferocious and blood thirsty, breath-
ing desolation and slanghter in overy sen-
tence, and urging the Government to make
the war cruel and merciless. Because their
patriotism is more intense or their love for
the Union more profound than that of their
less sanguinary fellow citizens? Not atall ;
but simply because the Government is strik-
ing at a section and at a people whom
they hate with intense hatred, and the pros-
pect of their severe punishment and humili-
ation is a source of gratification.
On the other hand, those who have hith-
erto endeavored to cultivate and perpetuate
friendly relations between the North and the
South as the means of averting the dreadful
calamity of civil war, which they foresaw as
the result of sectional hatreds, and were
ridiculed and derided for their forecast—those
who are not stimulated to ferocity by ante-
cedent antipathy, deplore the terrible neces-
sity of war, and trust that the rightful au-
thority of the Government may be. re~estab-
lished without unnecessary cruelty, and
with as few of the horrors of war as the na-
ture of the struggle wil admit of. This class
of persons—in which the Democratic party
is included —had no part in originating the
war. They would have averted it had the
administration of the Government been en-
trusted to them. They constituted a very
large majority of the whole people of the
United States. But recognizing their obli-
gations to support the Gevernment without
regard to by whom administered, forgetting
what might have been done, and laying aside
past associations they unhesitatingly flocked
to the standard of the legitimate Government
and drew their swords in defence of the]
Constitution and the Union— thus giving ev-
idence of self sacrificing patriotism. ;
Which of these two classes now united in
support of the war, and marching side by
side ip the ranks of the army, are most enti-
ted to praise— those who are willingly fight-
ng against a people they hate, or those who
regret the necessity of drawing the sword
against a people with whom they would
have sacrificed much to perpetuate friendly
relations ?
The sanguinary war party —just now par
excellence the Union party—preach up the
liberation of the slaves—the hanging of
rebels taken in arms —the confiscation of
property —the destruction of private rights
—the obliteration of State lines—and every
other act of atrocity calculated to alienate
the people of the South from the North, and
convince them of the truth of the prociama-
ticus of the rebel leaders, that. this isa w
of subjugation or extermination waged 8-
gainst them by the Abolition hordes of
Abraham Lincoln. Think you that such
counsellors arc really solicitous for the pres-
ervation of the Union upon terms of former
equahty ?
Again these same men turu every incident
to account in inflaming the animosity of the
Northern people against the South, Their
hatred is deeper than that of Englishmen to
Frenchmen, Hungarian to Austrian, Moor to
Castilian, Cavalier to Roundhead, and there
are unfortunately tor, many indications that
itis reciprocal. If we believe them, the
Southern people are a traitorous, inhuman,
thieving, desperate and despicable crew of
barbarians, without enterprise, without civ-
ilization, without honor, destitute alike of
truth and virtue, and altogether little above
the level of aristocratic brigands and brutal
buccaneers. Yet notwithstanding this esti.
mate of the Southern people, the extreme
war party whose lineaments we are sketch-
ing, profess to be in favor of spending han-
dreds of millions of money and shedding
rivers of blood for the privilege of living up-
on terms of equality under the same Govern-
ment with a people they utterly despise and
hate, Ts this not a startling inconsistency ?
If we believed that the south was all they
tell us it is—that Southern society was a
compound of aristocrats, monarchists, kna-
ves, thieves and semi barbarians, we say
most unhesitatingly that the sooner we dis..
solve connection with such neighbors the
better for us and our (Government.
But we entertain no such distorted ideas.
We believe that the great mass of the South-
ern people are as enlightened, as Christian,
as law- respecting as the North ; and, believ-
ing so, we desire to rescue them {rom the
despotism now tyrannizing over them. We
desire the rebellion to be put down with as
little destruction to private property as pos-
sible, and to welcome the Southern people
as equals and partners in a great Nation. —
Exchange. 5
Tre FArcE ENpED.— It will be recollected
that just previous to the close of the extra
session of the Legislature, a number of the
members formed themselves into & military
company, and tendered their services to the
Governor. Much to the surprise of these
patriotic gentlemen, who probably never
dreamed that they would be called on, the
Governor ordered them to report themselves
at Camp Curtin on the 15th inst. About a
dozen responded to the call, and held a
meeting, at which a committee was appoint-
ed to wait upon Gov. Curtin, who reported
that the Governor had not formally accepted
the services of the company, as it might
lead to embarrassment in case another extra
session of the Legislature was called. By
Peace Movements,
A little light seems occasionally to shine
upon our dark National pathway. The leg:
islatures of Towa and Connecticut have each
raised their voices in putting a stop to this
unnatural war. Here follows two of the
resolutions introduced into the Legislature
of Connecticut. Those offered in the Legis
lature of Iowa express similar sentiments :
Resolved, That we recommend to Con-
gress the calling of a National Convention
for the settlementof national difficulties,
and that every possible, honorable means
shall be first exhausted by the National
Government before our prosperous people be
plunged into a civil war, the ultimate result
of which tke wisest cannot foresee.
Resolved, That we are opposed to civil
war, prosecuted for the subjugation or de-
struction of the seceded States, while it is
possible amicably to settle the difficulties
now existing.
Resolved, That we are opposed to the pros-
ecution of a war against the seceded States,
waged under any circumstances, for the
purpose of emancipating the slaves in the
Southern Slave States.
Public feeling is beginning to manifest
itself in other quarters. A public meeting
was recently held in the city of Newark, N.
J, at which the following proceedings were
adopted :
WrEeReas, That in view of the present
deplorable condition of the country, the
members of this meeting deem it their duty,
and in accordance with their constitutional
rights to petition the Congress of the United
States about to assemble, to interpose (if in
their judgment it is best for them to do)
their power to put an end to the present
troubles now existing in this cur once pros-
perous and happy but now distracted coun-
try, and to save us from the ravages of civil
war.
Resolved, That a committee of ten be ap-
pointed by the chair to prepare and circu-
iate a petition for signatures of those persons
who may be in favor of permanently restor~
ing peace and prosperity to our unfortunate
country.
A letter from New York says:
- Notwithstanding the indignation of some
of our ultra political journals, wherever the
very thought of peace is whispered, I can
assure you that an earnest movement is on.
foot in this city, with a view to memorialize
Congress 1n favor of compromise, on the ba-
sis of the Crittenden or Border State resolu~
tions. rejected at the last session.
The New York Tribune, too, is becoming
a little more inclined for peace. It says :
“ Nowhere on earth would a speedy and
honorable peace—a real peace be hailed with
more heartfelt gladness than by us. If the
traitors prove too strong to be subjugated,
we are for peace on their terms, rather than
a useless continuance of the war.”
The white coated sinner-in-chief, who
presides over the columns of the Tribune,
having contributed so largely to kindle the
present revolutionary fire, at length finds it
getting too hot, and 18 now willing to settle
‘‘on thew terms.” Why could not this have
been done in the beginning ?
Abandoning Partv.
The Clinton Democrat has the following
remarks upon the no party efforts of the do-
minant party, which have shipwrecked our
Union :
¢ The Democratic party built up this na-
tion and raised it to the highest pinnacle of
prosperity and greatness. It only when its
principles were departed from, that the
country suffered. And now, when the coun-
try is most seriously affected by treason, er-
ror, fanaticism and rebellion, it is the only
party that can restore peace, uni n, con-
cord, essential affection and prosperity. —
Its continued existence depends upon keep-
ing up its organization, and upon that de-
pends the glory and well being of the na-
tion.
For onc, tharefore, we will never consent
to give it up, while two men live to form and
vote tickets ; and we know this to be the
sentiment of the party generally.
We have no donbt the Republicans are
convinced that it is necessary for them to
change their name—that is certainly true,—
We are perfectly willing that they shall con-
sult their own tastes ann interest in that
regafd. But that great Democracy that
heretofore conducted this nation through all
its perils, without wrong to any, to the very
summit of human prosperity, can be perv
mitted to die only when the Government of
freemen in America dies—never while an
arm of one of its members can be raised to
defend freedom’s banner and strike free-
dom’s foes. Tt is the party of the people, of
right, of the Constitution as formed and car-
ried out by the patriots of the Revolution,
and 1812, whose acts are found on every page
of the country’s history and who were al-
ways identified with its glory and its great~
ness. The interest of the country and the
purest patriotism demand its services, and
if it has not forgotten its very nature, it will
rise again to rescue the nation from all the
difficulties that imperil it.
We are for the Constitution —for the Un-
ion—for the doctrine and the Government of
Jefferson and Jackson—and for the party
that is most certain to maintain them.”
A PROTEST AGAINST INVASION.—The
Bridgeport, Conn., Farmer thus comments
on the announcement of the purpose of the
Government to invade and subjugate the
Southern States :
“ Lincoln in his last proclamation earnest-
ly invokes all citizens to support the ‘meas«
ures of the Government.” Every loyal citi
zen believes in supporting the Constitution
and measures of the Government in confor-
mity thereto, and will do so, But when Mr.
Lincoln inaugurates an unconstitutional
policy upon a portion of our country, no
person is bound to support him} The whole
North goes in for maintaining Mr. Lincoln in
Washington, but in a war of aggression up-
on ihe States he will find public sentiment
at the North at once devided, and a large
body of the Northern people arrayed against
him. A peace policy is the policy that
ought now to be adopted, Let us heve a
peace policy at once. Peace and prosper:
ity.”
Selo Berens.
The Democratic Standard published at the
home of ex- President Pierco says :
“Those who are urging on war are a set
of reckless men who are making an immense
fortune out of the wealth ot the country. Look
to this matter, men of all parties for your
a resolution of those present the Sompeny
digbanded and adjourned sine dic. Bah!
property 15 to be taxed to pay the bills.”
THE LATEST NEWS.
WasRINGTOR, June 28.—The United State
steamer Pawnee arrived at the Navy Yard
this morning, bringing interesting, "though
painful intelligence from Matthias Point.
According to the statements of persons in
the Expedition, Captain Ward, of the steam-
er Freeborn, yesterday obtained from Captain
Rowan, of the Pawnee, a reinforcement of
about twenty men, and united with others
from his own vessel, comprising between thir-
ty and forty in all, started in several cutters
for Matthias Point, taking with them about
two hundred and fifty bags, which were fill-
ed with sand on the shore, and with which
breastworks were soon erected, under the
direction of Lieutenant Chaplin.
While in the act of returning to the Free-
born for the purpose, it is stated, of obtain-
mg cannon for the battery, a force of rebels
estimated at from 800 to 1,200 suddenly
emerged from a thick wood in which they
had been concealed, and poured a vollay of
shot into the Federal party, who made a
hasty retreat. Several of the men swam off
to the Freeborn, Captain Ward, on the
Freeborn, protected his men as far as possi-
ble with his guns and fired 12 or 15 shot
among the rebels, with what effect could
not be ascertained.
While in the act of sighting a gun after,
it is said the gunner had been wouneed, Capt.
Ward was struck in the breast by a bullet
and in the course of an hour thereafter died
of internal hemorrhage.
A sailor named William J. Bess, wag
wounded in four places. Several others
were also wounded, among them Jack
Williams, the Coxwain, a ball entering his
thigh. The flag he carried was completely
riddled.
The men all reached the ves:le without
any farther damage, Captain Ward's body
was brouget here today by the Pawnee.—
In the faneral procession which accompan-
ted it from the wharf to the place of tempor-
ary deposit in the Navy Yard, was displayed
the riddled banner.
The gloom which prevailed in this iocality
was oppressive. The remains will be trans-
ported North.
1t is said that after the Federal force re-
treated from Matthias Point, the breastworks
were immediately occupied by the rebels,
The rebel force at Buchanan is reported to
have been increased to 4000.
Tre Grand Jury. says the Baltimore Ez-
change of the 25th inst., yesterday found a
presentment against John Merryman, Esq.,
on charge of treason.
Letters in the Charleston Mercury com.
mend that paper for having the moral cour-
age to resent the insult offered tc South
Carolina, by a gentleman named Russel, the
correspondent of the London Times.
A Seecran Dispaton to the New Orleans
Picayune, dated Richmond, June 20, says
that the Convention has adopted an amend-
ment to the Constitution of the Confederate
States, giving to Virginia the right to sccede
on certain contingencies.
Tmrry MeN of the Massachusetts Eighth,
stationed at the Relay House, are literally
bare footed, the supplies of shoes having
failed.
Cuarres H. Foster announces himself as
an unconditional Union candidate for Con-
gress, from the First District of North Car.
olina.
Skirmish near Cumderland—Seventeen Rebels
Killed and a Numbar Wounded.
GRAFTON, VA., June 28 —We learn that
Corp ral Hayes and twelve men velonging
to Col. Wallace's regiment of Zouaves, while
scouting on Patterson’s Creek, twelve miles
southeast of Cumberland, on Tuesday night
encountered a party of Rebels, numbering
about forty. A sharp engagement ensued.
Seven cen of the enemy are reporten killed,
and a number wounded. One of Hayes’
party was killed and himself badly wound -
ed. They captured a number of horses.
WASAINGTON, June 28.—Gen, Scott to-
day received the following despatch :
CuMBERLAND, June 27th, 1861.
To GEN. MCLELLAN :—I “have becn ac-
customed to sending my mounted pickets,
13 men in all, to different posts along the
several approaches to Cumberland. Finding
it next to impossible to get reliable informa.
tion of the enemy, yesterday I visited the
13, and directed them, if possible. to get to
Frankfort, a town midway between this
place and Romney, to sce if there were any
Rebel troops there.
They went within a quarter of a mile of
the place and found it full of cavalry. Re-
turning they overtook 41 horsemen, and at
once charged them, routing and driving them
back more than a mile, killing eight of
them, and securing seven horses, Corporal
Hayes, in command of my men, was desper-
ately wounded with sabre cuts and bullets.
Taking him back, they halted about an hour,
and were then attacked by the enemy, who
had been reinforced to about 75 men. The
attack was so sudden that they abandoned
their horses and crossed to a small island
at the mouth of Patterson’s Creek.
The charge of the Rebels was bold and
confident, yet twenty-three fell under the
fire of my pickets, close about and on the
island. My fellows finally driven off, scat-
tering, each man for himself, and they are
all in camp now. One, Corporal Havs, of
Company A. was wounded but is recovering.
One, Jony C. HorLpiNesrook, of Company
B. is dead. The last was taken prisoner and
brutally murdered.
Three companies went to the ground this
morning, and recovered everything belong-
ing to my picket except a few of the horses.
The enemy were engaged all night long in
boxing up their dead. Two of their officers
were killed, and they laid out twenty-three
on the porch of a neighboring farm house —
I will bury my poor fellow to-morrow,
I have positive information, gained to day
that there are four regiments of Rebels
about Romney, under Colonel McDoNALD. —
What their particular object is, I cannot
learn. :
The two Union Regiments are encamped at
the State line, nine miles from here, await-
ing further orders. They have not reported
fo Be: They hesitate about invading Mary-
and.
The reports of the skirmish sounds like
fiction, but it is not exaggerated. The fight
was really the most desperate one on record,
and abounds with instances of wonderfull
daring and coolucss.
(Signed) Lewis WALLACE,
Commanding Eleventh Reg’t Indiana Volun-
teers.
G. B. McCreLLAN, Maj. General.
Beers.
Private letters received per Africa say that
a large number of privateers are fitting out
in England for the rebels. It is reliably
reported that several have already left and
are now on their way to this country. Out
Minister's attention is directed to this.
Pe
a