i — Fm ie © TTL Pr rer wim my ie iy i he TW atchmum, BELLEFONTE, THURSDAY, AG. 1. “Here shall the press {ic people’s rights marr- tain, : Wnawed by partyor unbribed by gain ; Pledged but to truth to liberty and law, No favor sways us and no fear shall a C. T. ALEXANDER x : P. G- MEEK, ? } Editors and Publishers. Something Wrong in the War Depart-: ment, That there 1s something wrong in that branch of the present Administration having control of the War Department, no sane | man will now question. = But at whose door 1 to lay the «herge, the people are still in | «doubt, yet notwithstending, there may be ‘some doubt as to who are the guilty parties, public opinion seems to fix a goodly share | «of the blame upon Secretary Cameron. The | outrageous frauds that were perpetrated up- on the three months volunteers, when first «<alied into service by the merciless horde of political swindlers, whe held the centracts directly mnder our State Administration, for furnishing provisions and clothing. have dwindled into insignificance in comparison with that which has boen attempted to be perpetrated on those same volunteers, upon their return from the temted field. The three months volunteers were composed of the very ower of eur country. Young men who, when at home, were in good circum- stances, who left their homes of comfort and case, to endure the hardships of 2 soldier’s life, to save their country from destruction. They have served their country for: three long months, many of them in rags, and of- tentimes at the very point of starvation, ow- ing to a badly regulated commissaiarat, for the small pittance ot eleven dollars per month. They done all this without a mur- mur, because they loved their country, and many of them would have re-enligted imme- diately upon their return to farrisburg, had their small pittance of about forty dollars in in all been promptly paid them. But instead of this being the case as they all expected, they have been compelled to wait for their pay for ten days (the longest ten to them since they left home) because no provision had been made for them, either in the nec- essaries of life, or a place to rest their weary bodies. And why ? They all ask why? The Government has an abundance of mon- ey. Public opinion appears to us to have struck the key note in attributing to one of twocauses. The first is that a set of un- principled political Cormorants have been attempting to line their pockets with the Lard earnings of these volunteers, by tireing them with thedelay, and then buying up their claims upon the Government at a shave, or else Secretary Cameron, in his bitter enmity to Governor Curtin, is at- tempting to cast the blame upon him. But this can not be done, as everybody must know that Governor Curtin has nothing to do with it, as it is the United States Govern- ment that has them to pay, and it is Simon Cameron or his agents, that are responsible for the attempted swindle, and the people hold them guilty. Our soldiers, however, are men that cannot be swindled in this way, and they manfully stood up for their rights, and by their determined front on Saturday last, succeeded in bringing that which they should have had a week before. In God’s name, how long is this condition of things to continue. rebel Al AA pm ‘ Observer,” and His Communication. Mr. Observer, whose communication ap- pears in last week's Press, appears to be very indignant because a communication handed us some weeks ago, headed, “The Fourth of July at the Catholic Chyrch,” was not published, upon which the editor of the Press comments as follows : “I'he Watchman must extricate itself from this charge as best it can—if 1t can. Prob- ably the loyalty of the Catholic Church shown on the Fourth of July, beneath the waving stars and stripes, was a little more patriotic than the creed of the Democratic party will admit of.” Our explanation is.simple, and we hope that Mr. Observer and the editor of the Press will understand it. We received long communications from every village in this County in which the Fourth was celebrated. We could not pablish them all, as they would have filled two nambers of our paper. We therefore, concluded to only publish those handed us from these quarters of our County, in which any sane man can have any doubt as to the loyalty of the citizens. We published an account of the selebration held by the citizens in this town, simply for the benefit of the editor of the]Press. His “loyalty” was seriously questioned, and as he was a Secretary of the meeting, we pub- lished the proceedings to show that he was still “loyal.” As for the Catholic population, no one but a traitor at heart, like Observer, would have any suspicion of their loyalty. We knew they needed no vindication fr mr us. They stood up as did all Democrats, for the Con- stitution and the Union. When men like Observer and the editor of the Press said, “Let the Union slide.” That they are Un- ion men now, no men, except the editor of The true hearted 'Irisktén of this town have not complained becatise ‘Observer's commu- nication was not ‘published in our paper.— But Observer, simply because his communi- cation difl'nGt appear in print, set up a ter rible howl, which is re-echoed by the Press, with 'the hope that he may gain favor with ‘those Irishmen, whom, in the past, he has ‘denounced because they would not, like ‘himself, turn traitor to their own blood and kindred, and vote the Know Nothing ticket. Peace Resolutions. Another attempt to settle this unnatural civil war has signally failed. The friends of peace and the restoration of the Union have again been silenced, in their efforts to effect an honorable compromise, and which will probably be the last effort made until the mighty masses of the North succeed in get ting a De mocratic majority in Oengress. It is now clearly evident hat the Repubh- can party in ‘Congress will mot'be satisfied with any adjustment, until all the mighty energies of this mighty Republic are prostra- ted ; until starvation stares u~ allin the face, and the flag of our country be drench- ed in the blood of thousands of our citizens. Democrats, and lovers of our country, read the following resolutiens, offered by Mr. Cox, of Ohio, on the 29th inst. and pay attention to the vote—cut out the names of those voting aye, and lay them away for future reference, for the day will surely some when those true patriets, voting to re- store our country te peace and happiness, will be the idol of a grateful people : Mr. COX (Ohio) asked leave to introduce the following : Wueress, Itis the part of rational be- ings to terminate their differences by ration- al methods, and inasmuch as the differences between the United States authorities and the eleven seceding States have resulted in a state of war characterized by bitter hos - tilities and extreme atrocity, and although the party in the seceding States are guilty ot boeaking the national unity and resisting the lawful authority—yet be it Resolved, That while we ma'ce increased exertions, by our army cud navy, to main- tain the mtegrity and stability of this Gov- ernment, the common laws of war, those maxims of humanity, moderation and hon- or, which are a part of the code internation- al, ought to be observed by both parties and for a stronger reason than exists for such observance between two nations, inasmuch as the two incensed parties have a common ancestry, history, prosperity, glory, Gov- enment and Union, and are now unhappily engaged in Iacerating their common coun- ry. Toon That resulting, from these pre- mises, while there ought to be left open, as between nations, the same means for pre- venting the war being carried to outrageous extremities, there ought also, in the interest of civilization, to be left open some means for the restoration of peace and union. Third, That to this end. the restoration of peace and union, on the basis of the fun- damental principles of the Constitution, there be appointed a committee of one mem- ber from each State, who shall report to this House at 1ts next session such amend- ments to the Constitution of the United States as shall assuage all greievances. and bring about a reconstruction of the national unity, and that for the preparation of such satisfactory adjustment, and the conference requisite for that ecd, a commission of s v- en citizens of the Umted States be appoint. ed, consisting of EpwArp EVERETT, of Mas- sachusetts ; MiLLarp FruLMmoRre. of New York ; Reverpy JonnsoN, of Maryland ; Martin Vax BureN, of New York; Taos. IRVING, of Ohio ; FRANKLIN PIERCE, of New Hampshire, and James Gurarie, of Ken- tucky ; who shail request from the so call- ed Cenfederate States the appointment of a similar commission, and who shall meet and confer on the subject, in the city of Louisville, on the first Monday of Septem- ber next, and that the committee appointed from this House shall notify said commis- sioners of their appointment and functions, and advise and confer with them, and report their action to the next session as an amend- ment of the Constitution of the United States, to be proposed by Congress to the States for their ratification, according to the fifth article of said Constitution. Mr. WASHBURNE (Ili) objected to the introduction of the resolution. Mr. COX moved a suspension of the rule. The question was determined in the nega- tive—yeas 42, nays 85. Adjourned. The following is the vote on Mr. Cox's resolution : YeAs—Messrs Allen, Ancona, Baily, (Pa) Burnett, Calvert, Cox, Cravens, Cristield, Crittei den, Dunlap, Grider, Haight, Hard. ing, Holman, Jackson, Joknson, Law, Leary Logan, May, Mallory, Minzies, Morris, No- ble, Norton, Nugent, Pendleton, Perry, Reid Richardson, Robinson, Smith, Steele, (N J.) Valandigham, Vorhees. Wadsworth, Web- ster, White, (Ohio), Wickliffe, Wood and Woodruff, Nays—Messrs: Aldrich, Alley, Arnold, Ashley, Babbitt, Baker, Baxter, Beamen, Bing ham, Blair, (Mo), Blair, (Pa), Blake, Buftinton, Campbell, Chaimberlain, Clark, Colfax (F. A.) Conkling, Roscoe, Conkling, Conway, Cavode, Cutler, Davis, Dawes, De- lano, Diven, Duel, Edgerton, Edwards, Elli- ot, Fessenden, Franchot, Frank, Gooche, Goodwin, Granger, HALE, Harrison, Hor- ton, Hutchins, Julian, Kelly, Kellogg, {Nich} Kelogg, mm) Lancing, Loomis, vejoy, McKean, McKnight, McPherson, Moorehead, Morrill, (Me), Morrill (Vt), Olin Pike, Pomeroy, Porter. Potter, Rice, (Mass) Rice (Me), Riddle, Rollins, N H), Sedgwick Shankes, Sheffield, Shellaberger, Sherman, Spaulding, Stevens, Thomas, (Mass), Train, Trowbridge, Upton, Vandever, Van Wick, Wall, Wallace, Walton, (Me), Walton, (Vt) Washburne, White, (Ind), Window, Wor- cestor, and Wright. rm AA Tue Philadelphia Bulletin has a chapter on John Brown and the war, in which sen- timents approaching adoration for the mem- ory of the old traitor, who attempted to seize the Harper's Ferry armory, are ex- pressed. Every one to his taste—but we cannat exactly see the destinction between the treason of the man who attempted’ to take Government property as the prelude to a slave insurrection, and that of the Se- cessionists who seized it for their purposes. The Bulletin is quite happy in the belief that the cause in which John Brown sacri ficed his life, appears so near its triumph, and that the “blood ** of the martyrs is once more the seed of the “ [Abolition] the Press and Mr. Observer, will deny.— :Church.”—So we go. Amidstall the gloom of ‘our Tate ‘@efeat, one fact stands ‘ut as tand Bistiet as a star, and that's, that the 'fank and file of the ‘Union forces are manor ‘than more than a match for the chivairy. The firery onsets of the immortal Sixty ninth, and the fierce charges of the Fire Zouaves, and their col- leagues of the Seventy first and Seventy ninth, are examples of persistent and obdu- rate courage unsurpassed in the history of battles. When we add to this that these troops were under fire for the first time, and that the successes they achieved were in the face of the most fearful odds of numbers, position and arms, the warlike qualities of our Northern soldiers almost approach sub- limity. Wherever they met the Confederate infantry the latter were scattered before them like chaff. Wherever they were op- opposed by any arm of the enemy, and the conflict was a question of sheer hand to hand fighting, the superiority of the Free State troops was not only conspicuous. but fllustmous. In this one clear, bright, glori- gus fact, we see the salvation of the Repub- c. Yet, notwithstanding all this, those brave men were beaten—sadly, disastrously beat- en—for want. of comple lcaders—beaten through lack of organization--beaten, be- cause, in this immature condition, they were needlessly hurried, by insensate party clamor, 1nto a conflict with an enemy ready at all points. This magnificent material for an army was sacrificed to enable a few pre- sumtuous politicians and ambitious upstarts to wear the insignia of Colonels and Gener- als when they were unequal to the hand- ling of squads. 3 This neble force, whose deeds of valor eclipse all that is known in our history, was immolated because the War Department was too busy with its jobs and speculations in beef, horsesand military commissions to pay attention te its proper organization ; and because an arrogant partisan sheet in New York, echoed by a few fanatical members of Congress, deafened the President with their parrot cry of “On to Ricchmond.”’ While the superior valor of the national troops, thus tried and demonstrated, shows that the cause of the Union is safe in their hands and must ultimately triumph, the in- famous manner in which they have been officered and mismanaged, pomts out clearly the blunders, if not the crimes, that are hereafter to be shunned. The whole tribe of paper Colonels and Generals must be cast off without fear or favor. Every member of the Cabinet, who, instead of regarding the war as a life and death struggle of a great nation, sees in it only a glorions opportunity for profitable jobs and fat contracts, should be dismissed—and the conduct of the war must be left to the educated Generals of the army, uninfluenced by clamors from the tribe of Lovejoy and the T'ribune.— Phila. Inquirer. Will any one tell us how the Inquirer sar escape the charge of traitor, seces- sionist, &c., that has been heaped upon us for saying things about those in high places not half as bad as this, There is ev- dently a weak point in the Administration somewhere. We have said so ah along, and denounced it in very mild terms in compari: son with the above. But the Central Press saw no difference between the Adminssira- tion and the Government, and therefore de- nounced us as traitors. Do they see the difference now between those who adminis- ter the affairs of goveinment and the gov- ernment itself, or will they charge this dis astrous defeat upon the government. We want to know. * On to Richmond.” We have fought and been beaten. God forgive our rulers that this is 80; but it is true and cannot be disguised. The Cabinet recently expressing in rhetoric better calcu- lated for a love letter a fear being drowned mn 1ts own honey, is now nearly drowned in gore, while our honor on the high seas has only been saved by one daring and desperat negro, and he belonging to the merchant marine. The sacred soil of Virginia is crimson and wet with the blood of thous- sands of Northern men needlessly shed.— The great and universal question pervading the public mind ‘is, shall this condition of things continue ? A desemated and indig- nant people will demand the immediate re- tirement of the present Cabinet from the high places of power, which, for one reason or other, they have shown themselves in- competent to fill.—N. Y. Daily Tribune, July 23,1861. Listen to that infernal old scoundrel, Hor- ACE GREELEY, as he expresses his disappro~ bation of the Administration, for having made an attack upon the enemy in his strong hold. But two weeks ago the same Horack GREELEY (editor of the leading Re- publican newspaper--the Tribune) lustily cried, <‘On to Richmend.” and was so much dissatisfied with the tardiness of the veteran Scott, that he threatened to have him ousted {rom the position of Commander-in~Chief of our Army. Scott has listened to his croak- ing and to that of the President’s Cabinet, and made the attack as they desired. Now GREELEY says, “We have fought and been beaten. God forgive our rulers that this is 80.”” We would suggest that he first pray God to forgive him for the part he has play-’ ed in hastening the conflict, and at the same time not forget to ask pardon for having instilled into the Northern mind ideas of an irrepressible conffict, and provoked sugh re- sentment in the Southern mind, as to render a peaceful solution of our national difficulties impossible. In fact, had it not been for Greerey and his followers, we might to-day have been a peaceful, happy people. Let all remember GREELEY, and hand his name down to posterity as a culprit, whose hands are stained with a nation’s blood. The Bangor Democrat says :—¢ At length the people are awakening to a sense of the dangers and calamities that threaten them. They begin to be aware that the prosecution of this frightful war must end in the de. struction of their freedom. In its progress all the guarantees of liberty are trampled under foot. The iron heel of a military des- potism is already upon the necks of thous- ands of their fellow countrymen. The absence of the Editors on publication day will account for the errors in our last week’s pa- per. The Great Facts Demonstrated at Ma-| ‘nassas, The Returned Volunteers. We have carefully refrained from saying anything of an inflammatory nature in re- gard to the infamous wrong perpetrated up~ on the returned soldiers, because it only wanted something of that kind to serve as a torch to fire and explode the mine upon which we have been standing for the last few days. Now that the danger 1s over, and quiet has been restored, we feel free to speak. The Administration at Washington, as well as the State Administration, knew pre- cisely the day on which the terms of the different regiments would expire, and if they had made the proper arrangements, each regiment could readily have been paid off and mustered out of the service six hours after its arrival in this city. Instead of do~ ing this, however, two regiments arrived on Sunday, the 21st, ore of which was quar- tered m the Capitol, :and the other scattered about town. Others fellewed, uutil Capitol Hill was literally covered. 1t was found that there was but one Paymaster here, and he not prepared to pay out any considerable amount. The officers called upon the State authorities; and they in turn telegraphed to Washington, when a dispatch was received by John A. Wright, early on Tuesday morn~ ing, sigued by Paymaster General Larned, stating that two Paymasters would be sent fo Harrisburg as soon as they could get the money out of the Treasury. Paymaster Sallzda, on Wednesday, paid the First and Fifth, which exhausted the amount he had on band. In the meantime, the retarned soldiers were without food or shelter, and some of them were reduced to the necessity of beg ging to keep from starvation! When the people of Harrisburg learned this fact they came forward with a will and energy that will redound to their credit for all time to come, and fed the hungry and took the sick ‘into their houses and cared for them. Hous- es were thrown open and basket after bas- et of provisions was carried to the hill. Nor was this done by the rich men of the place alone, but hundreds who were scarcely able to afford it, in a laudable determination that the soldiers should not want, gave to the last. We may incidentally mention the case of a pocr laborer who exhausted the money he had laid up to pay his rent in supplying food for the volunteers. The au- thorities on the hill finally got their eyes opened, and in order to remedy matters, af: ter the men had existed without rations for three or four days, served out hard crackers and raw beef—raw beef, when they had nei- ther fire nor cooking utensils. While this state of things was going on— while the men were reluctantly living on the charity of the citizens of Harrisburg, it was given out that several Paymasters had arrived from Washington with money.— This was on Thursday morning, and every one thought paying off would be commenced at once 3 bat the day wore away and no- body was paid, neither could anybody ac- count for the delay. On Friday a number of officers called upon one of these Paymas- ters for information, when some were an- swered evasively aud others were informed that he would pay when he was ready.— These men had all their muster rolls pre- pared, and did everything in their power to get their men off. Some proposed paying ofl their men themselves, and others wanted to give a power of attorney to other parties to draw and receipt for them, but the Pay- masters refused to proceed in any other way than the regular method, whenever they were ready. Thus matters stood until about 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, when a large number of the volunteers congregated in the Market square, who had expected to spend the Sab- bath at home, became clamorous—some of them exceedingly infuriated. An effigy, labelled ‘Paymaster,’ was hung on the lamp post in tront of the Jones House, which was set on fire and consumed amid the huz- zas of the soldiers. While the conflagration was going on, the 12th regiment of reserves marched in from Camp Curtin, and charged down Second street. The returned volun~ teers being without arms, gave way. The cry was then raised—“To the Arsenal for your arms !” and the crowd commenced rushing in that direction. The- 12th went up Third street at double quick time, and succeeded mm surrounding the Arsenal before the volunteers could get any arms out of it -—a fortunate circumstance which certainly prevented bloodshed. Soma of the volunteers got an old dis- mounted cannon, and drew it down to the square on a dray, with the avowed intention of “blowing up the paymaster.” It was subsequently taken back. The threats to hang the paymaster were very fierce, and the Jones House, in which he was stopping, was guarded by soldiers of the 12th regiment. Order was finally restored on the promise to pay yesterday morning, and the paymas- ter was as good as his word. He commenc- ed operations on the 2d regiment at the United States Hotel at 10 o'clock, and con- tinued throughout the day, and will continue to-day until all are paid. The soldiers throughout conducted them selves with great forbearance, considering the cruel manner in which they were treat- ed, and we here declare, from conversations wo heard, that it was the kindness and lib- erality of the citizens cxtended to the sol- diers that prevented a serious out break, in which we all would have suffered more or less. The Administration at Washington will have some difficulty in explaining away the cause of this outrage. To acknowledge the incompetency of the officers appointed would strike too near home. No other cause can be assigned, or we are grossly misinform- ed. Many of the soldiers, if cared for comfort ably, and paid off promptly, would have re entered the service without leaving the city. The treatment they have received will not only prevent them from going back. but it will militate very much against raising new levies. The men that were here will soon be scattered over the State, and their state- ment will not be without weight. They talk of a day of retribution, and we think it will come—not only one, but a num- ber. Every election day will be a day of retribution for years to come.—Patriot & Union. "National Debts. If Lucifer himself had beea solicited to zid human villainy m concocting a scheme that should effectually enslave the masses of man- kind, and render them mere beasts of bur- den to a privilidged few, he could have in vented nothing more effective than the mod- ern system of public debt, whereby those who produce nothing live in idle and luxu- rious ease at the expense of the preducing classes of society. National debts, by which the millions are bound in abject submission to the rule of what are ¢alled the *“monied classes,” should be termed, as they are in fact, mort- gages on the bodies and souls of unborn generations of men. And ‘however repul- give may seem to us the habitudes of Feud- alism, when the helpless people were openly plundered of the proceeds of their toil by the armed retainers of the lawless Barons, it may be doubted ifit were not preferable to that atrocious system of modern times, that accomplishes the same ends through the fraudulent contrivances of public cred- its and national debt. At all events, it is certain that ¢* kings and nobles ” in our day are far less powerful and iofinitely less mischievous than are the ¢ rag barons’ who speculate in stocks, and bind the toiling multitude in slavery a thousand times over ‘more hopeless and more degrading than any mere physical force could impose on them. In England, where this system of slavery may be said to have had its origin, and where 1t has been carried to the most fright. ful extent, there are now ten millions of peo- ple unable to read or write their names, who though they are called Christians, have scarcely a conception of Christianity, who in short buried ina profound animalism, never have nor ever expect to have a dollar beyond their weekly wages, and whose high- est hope in life is to be able to keep out of the poor house and to be buried at their own expense. What a destiny! What a doom not for inferior negroes, but creatures like their oppressors, whom God made the equals of their kings and queens, doomed genera- tion after generation to this darkened and hopeless animal life, like the beasts of the field that surronnd them! The mortgages on these blinded and outraged being amount m all, to about five thousand millions. One Sh thousand million were incurred to crush out the American Revolution of 1776, to prevent the glorious and immortal truth declared by Jefferson, that all (white) men are created free and equal, ever being embodied in a po- litical system. Three thousand millions were incurred to crush out the same truth and to overthrow Democracy in PFrance.— Finally, another thousand million wys laid on posterity to benefit Sambo (2), to egual- ize races, to thrust aside distinctions fixed forever by the hand of God, and secure‘ im- partial freedom ’’ for negroes. If the laborer earns five shillings a day, he must first pay the interest on these mortgages before he is permitted to buy a crust of bread or a glass of ale. He must pay ten pence on the American debt, then thirty pence on the French: debt, then ten pence for Sambo’s benefit, and perhaps four pence more for the anual support of a « gplendid government,’ and with the re- maining sixpence he is permitted to pur chase bread for his wife and children. Thus every day of his life this poor, toiling, help- less, blinded and abject wretch pours out his sweat—his life-blood—not for the enjoyment and happiness of those he loves, but, to pay the interest on thosé atrocious mortgages on his body and soul, "which were contracted, perhaps a century before, and which the ig~ norant and credulous crowd dignify with the title of national debts. Fortunately for us, indeed for al] humani- ty, ‘American slavery’ has saved our own millions of free and thrifty citizens from this hideous monster. Southern slaveholders have directed our national policy, and being producers thomselves, they have always waried against that infernal system of debt and taxation which, in England, has work- ed out such frightfull consequences, and re- duged the hapless millions into mere beasts of burthen. Jefferson, Jackson, Calhoun, Hunter, Davis, &c., have thus far saved the toiling millions of the North from these ten- dencies ; but if the anti-slavery disunionists still continue to oppose a peace and carry on the war until they’ in breaking up the Union, the Sewards and Camerons will govern the North, and then it can only be a question of time when the toiling millions are reduced to the condition of the working classes of the old world.—Day Book. ee ee A A prem. Tre Rigar MAN, &c.—A Pennsylvania coal dealer went the other day to the engi- neer’s office in Washington, for the purpose of obtaining a contract to supply the navy with coal. He found a Joune gentleman there who did not know the difference be- tween anthracite and ocannel coal, and who, on being asked what kind of coal was used in the navy, very pompously answered that ¢ the navy department always buys coal which will generate steam.” ‘The Barbarities of War. Many frightful atrocities are alleged as having bech committed by the rebels upon the persons of Union men falling into their hands. Federal soldiers have been ruthless- ly murdered on the field of battle while im. ploring quarter, and even the persons of the dead hacked and mutilated. There is prob- ably much exaggeration about these stories and in some instences they are no doubt pure inventions—but if the war in which we are engaged was not attended with greater barbarity than usually occurs in conflicts between different nations, it would be an exception to the history of all civil’ wars since the world began. They have been proverbially the most cruel and barbarous. The hope expressed at the commencement of the struggle that it would prove and ex - ception honorable to civilization and christi- anity, appears destined to disappointment. We have witnessed men at the North counselling the indiscriminate execution of rebel prisoners, regardless of rank or their measure of criminality —whether they were instigators of rebellion, or its dupes, or men forced to take up arms against their inclina= tion. We have heard men who professed to be civilized crying out ‘no quarter to rebels taken in arms —and the proposition has been seriously made thata gallows should accompany the Union army for the prompt execution of priscners after their conviction at the drum head. Such attro- cious suggestions are disgraceful to humani- ty—and served to illustrate how soon war ‘can pervert the heart and arouse the latent ferociety of human nature. . But, thank God, ‘this murderous policy was mot adopted.— The Government had a better appreciation of its duty snd more mercy upon its own army than to inaugurate a system of execu- tions which would have consigned the brave men, whota the fortunes of war made pris- oners of the rebel army, to an immediate tnd 1gnomonious death. These complaints of rebel barbarities come with exceedingly bad grace from those who have themselves advocated the prompt hanging of all rebels. Did they expect that the hanging would be all on one side? Did they believe that the spies lurking about Washington would not inform the rebels of the treatment they were to receive in the event of capture ?—and dnd they expect that the knowledge of the fate in reserve for them would dispose the rebels to treat Union pris-" oners with more humanity ? Nevertheless those who have protested against the hang’ ing process, and pointed out 1ts consequen: ces, have a right to demand that Union pris-, oners shall be treated with humanity, and’ that the Government should compel the reb-’ els 50 to treat them by severe lessons of re’ taliation, if nothing else will answer. rr red AA Apes. A Few PLAIN QUESTIONS TO ‘WHICH TEE Punric1s WAITING FOR AN AMSWER.—It is said that the panic on Sunday originated id the teamters, who were out of place. The Public asks—who placed them there? That the panic was aggravated by alarms of a gallery of civilians, present to see the OW. The Public asks-~who gave them passes t That many of our officers were appointed to commands with which they were wholly unacquainted. ’ The Public asks--who is responsible 2 That ignorant civilians were placed in commands which they disgraced. inted them ? The Public asks—who ap) That the senseless objurations of the T'ri- bune led to a premature attack. |, ‘The Public asks—who is so weak da to be influenced by Greeley ? In a word, evil does mot do itself—some one is to blame for it ; and the American people demand to know. whose short com- ings have led to their disgrace. THE LATEST NEWS. Our readers can believe just as much of the following war news as they have a mind to. We do not give it for facts —simply as REPORTS WasniNGTON, July 28, 1861. Henry Birch, a well known slave dealer, and said to be a rank Secessionist, who drove Harry Magraw and Arnold Harris to Bull’s | Run, for the purpose of recovering the body of Colonel Jas. Cameron, returning this ovening. He says they drove out the day they left left Washington to the battle field, and that the bodies were still lying about on the ground untouched, but none could be identified as Col. Cameron’s. They also visited all hospitals, but could see or hear nothing of the remains, but received positive information that he was killed. They then all went down to the Manasses Junction, meeting with no serious interruption. At that point Magraw, who was well acquaint- ed with the rebel commander, Gen. Johnston, sent for him. After some delay, a filo of rebel soldiers came up and took the party prisoners. Johnston would not hold com- munication with them. ¢ Jefferson Davis was telegraphed at Rich. mond to know what disposition to make of them. An answer came back, * send Ma- graw and Harris here, and release Birch.” Birch was accordingly released to-day.— He says he heard nothing from Harris and’ Magraw until yesterday, when he received, | a message from them that. they were in jail in Richmond —that Harris would probably escape soon, but that Magraw would be kept until the war was over or he was ex: changed. Birch says the rebels have only burried: about eighty of the dead, and they werd all thrown into one pit. They left our corpses lying all over the fields, woods and ravines: untouched, except to take off what clothing they wanted. J ; Gen. McClelland’s withdrawal fromthe’ army in Western Virginia will’ not change or delay the prosecution of the campaign
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