0
gradlin gepoitstii.
Wednesday, April 27, 1864.
• TERMS.—S 2 per annum in advance; or $2.50
If not paid within the year. All aubecription ac
wants must be settled annually. No paper will be
pent out of the State unless paid for in advance.
ADVERTISEMENTS are inserted at TEN cents
per line for tirstyusortion, and arvg tents per lino
A for each subsequent insertion. Advertisements of
'five ;Ines or less are charged 50 cents for first inser
tion'and 25' cents for each subsequent insertion; and
Advertisements exceeding five lines and not ex- .
;teeding ton lines, are charged $1 for first insertion
And 50 centi for each insertion thereafter.
' Stir All Legal .IVotiees. of every kind, and al/ Or
phans' Ccntrt and other Judicial Sales, are required
by late to be adroev 6861 in the ftErostroter —it having
the largest circulation of any paper published in the
county Qf Franklin.
All Obituary and Marriage notices exceeding five
ines, and all oommunieations, resolutions and other
notices of limi tea. or iadividualinterest, are charged
len cents per line..'
- Advertisements or subscriptions may be sent di
rectly to the Publishers, or througli any, responsible
City Agency. M'CLURE & STONER,
Proprietors.
' Jon K. 13HRYOCK is authorized to receive
Subscriptioni and contract for Advertisements for
the RXPOSITOEY in the Eastern cities.
CONGRESSIONAL C ONE' ERE N CE.—The tin
-dersit,ned, Congressional Conferees for .Frinklin
county, respectfully suggest to the 'Union payty of
the district, that the Conference for the election of
Delegates to the Union National Convention, meet
in Chambersburg, on Tuesday.the 17th of May next.
They will cheerfully concur in any other time and
place that may be acceptable to a majority of the
Conferees. BENJAMIAMI3ERS,
• JOHN E. CRAYFORD,
11. S. STONER.
•
Chambersburg, April 2, 1864.
''SINGLE copies of the REPOSITORY can
be had at the counter, with or without
wrappers. Price five cents. Persons or
dering single copies to be mailed must
enclose a tWo cent postage stamp.
THE Union Committee of Franklin
sounfy met on Saturday last, and elected
Col. F. S. Stumbaugh Senatorial delegate
to the Union State Convention, and Hon.
John Rowe Representative delegate.—
Congressional conferees were selected fa
vorable to A. K. McClure as one of the
District delegates to the Union National
Convention. .
- •, THE Union State Convention will meet
in Harrisburg to-morrow, to elect Dele
gates at large to the Union Nationtd Con
vention, and to form an electoral ticket.
-The Convention will declare for the re
.nomination of ABItAILpi Litipoiii - with
entire unanifidty, and in doing so, will
I•reflect the earnest sentiment of the Union
party of Pennsylvania.
IT is now evident that Congress -will
impose a prohibitory tag upon the circu
lation of the State Banks, and they must
close up or go under the National banking
law. As oar State laws exist, thesßankA
cannot go underthe act of Congress with
„out first winding' up, and the legislature
i?hould not fail to pass a fair enabling act,
under which they could accept the act of
`Congress without interruption of their
.businest,
ARMY MOVEMENTS.
The'note' of earnest preparation is heard
on-both sides for the pending conflict in I
Virginia, and hoW soon or where it may 1
come, we are glad not to know. For two I
weeks past the public journals have chron
icled no movements of troops; and what
dispositions:have been made by General;)
Grant we cannot even guess. We do
(know, however, that he has called in every •
available man and is strong alike in 'a
just cause ; in the quality and number of
his forces, and in the affections and con
fidence of his soldiers and countrymen.
Concentration has been rid and syste
matic at every point to threaten the rebel
capital. 'Gen. Sigel has gathered in his
large and hitherto widely scattered army,
but at what point, and with what aim, is
'left to conjecture. .Buntaide's corps was
, at Annapolis a few weeks ago, but whith
er it has gone, even ambitious and sensa
•
Lion Correspondents do not venture to pre
dict. Gilmore is ordered somewhere with
a large portion of his command; but just
' at What place he will turn up, the thun
der of his artillery only can proclaim.
Gov. Seymour's militia now garrison the
forts and defences of 'New York, and the
veterans have " gone to the front," and
Gen. Meade's immense army, with Lieut.
Gen. 'Grant at its head, is repoited to be
moving and maneuvering, but how or'
Where, is left to the futuip to develop.
The Shenandoah Valley- sebms to biopen
and defenceless; but to what extent it is
exposed, or if actually exposed, for what
• purpose, it invites a rebel movement in'
that quarter, we shall know • when it is
matter proper for public information.—
" Certainly not less than 250,000 men are.
about ,to encircle Richmond under the
most successful 'and trusted of our chief
tains, and soon the . terrible carnival of
death, the crimsoned legacy of expiring
treason, will point the chosen battle-field.
We do not seek to underate the num-
bers and desperation ok the. foe. Lee is
a s strong as ever before-•perhaps stronger.
Que-half of the dominions of crime has
l i been wrested - from the insurgents by our
;victorious arms; and their circumscribed
Itecritory and shortened lines enable them
e4oncentrate a powerful army for the
. 41edigve conflict. But strong as they are,
they;evince an evident unwillingness to
laccePtile proffered battle. They h ave
,opened the spring campaign by .a palpable
confession of -.wealmess. .I"orrest dashes
upon the western shores of Kentucky, and
fitly . earns for himself .and his cause an
immortal i, ; my_ by the most atrocious
bntcherlr of a surrendered and defenceless
garrison. Offensive operations are com
menced on the North Carolina coast, and
Plymouth, our advanced post at that
point, is probably captured; Leesburg
has been occupied by rebel forces within
thp last ten days; and we would not be
surprised to hear any day of five thousand
rebels in the Shenandoah, magnified to
fifty thousand by reports of spies and
sympathizers. All these movements are
but the shifts of a skillful foe.to weaken
the Army' of the, Potomac, and distract
Gen. Grant fibre his settled purpose to
move on the enemy's works; but they
must signally fail. 'Leesburg, Winchester
and other points which may be occupied
or threatened by the rebels, are import
ant to the Union cause; but Richmond is
a thousand( fold more important; and
however the ttuthlent tributaries of trea
son may reach out in their courses, Gen.
Grant will lead steadily to the fountain
head of this withering desolation. _ •
Soon the day of triafmnst be upcin us,
and fraught with the inightiest conse
quences: If the God of" battles shall
bring victory to our cause, then must
treason and its sweeping train of discord
and death belong to history.' It cannot
survive a substantial triumph—it must
die if discomfited. Many and earnest are
the asperations to Him who ruleth over
all, that this may be the crowning sacri
fice that will bring an honored and endu
ring Peace to a:United Republic. '
OEN. RUSSELL'S REPORT.
The - Annual Report of Adjt. Gen. A. L.
Russell forthe year 1863, isalarge volume
of nearly 700 pages, and forms an import
ant chapter in' the history of this gigantic
war. It has been prepared by General
Russell with vast labor and care, and is a
complete record of the number of troops
furnished by Pennsylvania under all the
various calla of the President and Gov
ernor, alike for the army and for local
defence, and it gives a perfect list of all
the military commissions issued by the
Governor from the commencement of the
war until the close - of the last year. ' It
exhibits not only the original officers of
regiments and companies, but all. ; the
changes by casualties, resignations,
proinotions, and is the first
official record • of the State ever given to
the public that does justice alike to the
gallant and unworthy officers who have
been honored by the Executive. -
Under the first : call of the President for
three months' troops. issued 15th April:,
1861, this State organized and placed in
the field within two weeks after the call
was received, twenty-five infantry regi
ments, with an aggregate strength of 20, 7
079 men. Under the act of ggress'of
July 22, 1861, four independent - infantry
regiments were organized by the Gov
ernor, embracing 4,711 men, which or
cranizations are still in service. The .
Re
serve Corps was organized under the act
of the legislature of 15th`May, 1861, coin
poSing thirteen infantry regiments, one
of Cavalry and one of artillery, with an
aggregate of 15,856 men. During the fall
of 1861, Gov. Curtin organized and placed
in the field sixty-one infantry regimentS.
eleven cavalry regiments and we of
artillery, containing 83,048 men - , till of
which are still in the service excepting
a few
. organizations which were merged
into other regiments. Under , the call of
7th July, 1862. forty , four infantry regi
ments, six of cavalry and one of artillery,
were organized, with 40,383 men, includ
ing eighteen regiments of the nine months'
volunteers. They served with great credit
at Antietarn,, Fredericksburg and -Chan
cellorsville, and were discharged at the
expiration of their term of service. Du
ring the, summer of 1862, recruits for old
regiments had been mustered to the num
ber of 9,259 men, and over 5.000 were en
listed in the regiments of other States.
On the 4th of August of the same year, a
draft was ordered, and fifteen regiments
of drafted men were organized in this
Stafe - , — numbering , 15,100 men. Thes6
regiments served on the coast, and were
not calledinto action; but they werewell
officered and had attained a degree of
efficiency that would have, done thorn
credit in active operations. They were
discharged at the expiration of nine
months.
The total number of troops, including
three months' men, the drafted - men and
volteers, furnished by the State up to
the 31st of Dqeember, 1862, was 200,336,
and the number, then actually in service
--excepting deductions by the casualties
of war, discharges and desertions—was
179,357. During the year 1862, there
were also several _independent company
organizationg.mustered. Two batteries
of heavy artillery, one of light artillery
and one company of Philadelphia artil
lery, were added to the service. During
1863 one full cavahyregiment was raised
by Col. Ctunmings for three years, an in
fantry regiment by Col. M'Clean, and
4,458 recruits were mustered into the old
regiments by recruiting officers. On the
9th of June last, Pennsylvania was divi
ded into two military. Departments, with
Gen. Brp,oksltt eommand in the West, and
Gen. Couch in command here. In the
4.1)r afranklitt , littpositm, 101 24, ER.
Department of the Monongahela there
were organized \ for special service five
regiments of infantry and one company
each of artillery' and 'cavalry, with an
aggregate strength of 3,750 men, and. 1,416
six months' men were also organized in
companies and battalions. to the De
partment of the Susquehanna thirty-one
infantry re g iments and several battalions
of cavalrVand batteries of artillery, were
organizedto serve durh% the emergeng,
with an aggig,gate of 28,354 men ; and'
three regiments of cavalry, with two-bat
talions of infantry and three batteriasiif
artillery were organized under Geo. Couch
to serve for six months. In addition to
this force we had on the border 6,385 New
York militia, and 502 from New Jersey.
As the report closes. with the 31st of
December last, we have-no record of the
many enlistments made in the'State with
in the last four months, which cannot be
far short of 50,000, and may be more. Of
one thing the people of Pennsylvania may
well be proud. Our State has promptly
met every call made upon her for, men to
defend our Nationality, and we thank
Gen. Russell for a record that does her
justice in making up the history of this
bloody drama. . -
-
ASSAULTS LYON THE JUDICIARY
The. Spirit of last week has an ungen
erous assault upon Judge Nill—ungen
erous because it resorts to .intendo to
-convey the impression to its readers that
prejudice: controled the court in the re
cent criminal trials. So grave an impu
tation should be made only when clearly,
warranted by the wanton disregard of
the claims of justice, and then they should
come with a gravity and tmkuly distinct
ness Which would appeal to the calm
judgment rather than the excited preju
diceS of the public. •
We do not assume to defend Judge Nil,
for the reason, that we perceive nothing
wherein he needs vindication. That he
may err in the discharge of his responsi
ble ditties is not only possible, hut highly
probable, for the purest and profoundest
of jurists-have, yet to 'attain. infallibility
but that he is inflexible in his integrity,
both . personal and judicial, and aims at
the highest standard of impartial justice
in his official acts, cannot be doubted by
dispassionate men who knoW him; and
malice 'must be impotent to assail one
whose unsullied life, borne to nearly
three-score years, affords the best guar
antee of his fidelity tOustice. The un
stained record of sacra private life, needs
no labored vindication when it comes in
conflict with partizan madnessin the dis-
Charge of sacred official duties.
Judge Nill may or may not have erred
in the criminal trials of recent -court.
We have yet to see evidence that he did;
and doubt not that when disapassionate
judgment comes to examine his acts, the
*distortions and quibbles which heated po
litical tnalice 'have given birth to, will
vanish front view. But, whatever may
be the individual opinions_ of men, who
assume to define the laws ',more wisely
than the court, we do protest against a
journal that circulates widely throughout,
the county as the Spirit does, dragging
the decisions of our tribunals of justice
into the mire of politics, and appealing
to political prejudices to 'impair the're
straining power of the laws. No form of
attack couldiso surely, and imperceptibly
on the part qlf the people appealed to,
.destroy confidence in courts of justice
and ti) the same extent breed lawlessness,
as unmanly innendoes striking at the in
tegrity of our judges. This' journal has
shown its devotion to law over all politi
cal interests or political prejudices. It
has demanded inflexible obedience to the
laws, and their impartial and stern en :
foreement, regardless of political faith oi
ebnaition in life ; and if the chief admiu:.
istrator of the law should fail to do his
whole duty, we. should boldly ,Condemn
him as the chief of criminals. , •
The integrity of our courts.-is not to be
trifled with in times like these, save at
fearful cost to the order- and safety of
society; .and we feel assured that the
Spirit h not well. Weighed the natural
fruits of its imputations— : -so far as they
May meet with like prejudices to cherish
them—or it would have spoken manfully
for the vindication of the' laws, rather
than groVel in the assaults . usually ein
played against' political candidates in a
partizan conflict. Its publishers have an
equal interest with every other citizen in
the faithful maintenance of the laws;-and
its sole safety is in the 'judicial tribunals
of the laud. .Let it join all who loVe
order in sustaining the courts, and make
common cause against crime, instead'of
lavishing sympathy upon,..wrong-doers
because' of : the political persuasion of
criminals: -
PAY AS YOU GO.
,The
. times are prosperous. Money is
abundant, and labor is well requited in
every channel-of industry. Trade has an
impetus hitherto unknown within the ex
perience of the present active men; and
fortune seems - to smile upon every one
'whose band hi put forth to Welcome her.
Our farmers have had a succession of
bountiful harvests, and their prdducts
have corruuled more than remunerating
prices.
The present is, a good time to guard
against figure disaster. It is well for all
to pause at dines and take!their latitude,
for prosperity is as capricious as the
morning mists, and may vanish when -we
least expect it. We do net predict early
or certain, revulsion;
,bat as surely as
night succeeds day,,.revulsion, more or ,
less terrible in its power, Must follow in
flation; and if we rash on as if 'rich har
vests were to be perpetual, and as if
money were to be ever abUndant, it needs
no prophet to foretel that ditiaster will eorue - i
with the first depression of the great busi
ness intere,stsef the county. \
_ Let the thoughtful man ,compare the 1 ,
present With the habits and prudence of
our, people five year's ago. Then we
shunned debt
,aS the fruitful 'parent of
ruin—now' - every species: of debt ;isre
garded with singular indifference.
:Counties, townships and boroughs do not:
hesitate to contract debts of - startling
magnitude Ito pay bonntiei to, volunteers.
Tine, we are :but doing our duty to . our
government in exhausting our resources
to ;sustain,'; its )supreMe .and protecting
power; but it should not for a moment
be forgotten that now is the time to pciy !
. Every ' l district in Franklin cauntY has
contracted a large debt to, fill-its quota 'of
troops. We honor theta for it ; but 'the
whOle of these debts • could be paid just
now without being 'seriously felt by. the
people; While if allowed to remain unset
tied under the mistaken notion that they
•
can be better paid in light instalments,
they maY entail a bitter leg:acy mpoir us
in after years. Suppose these debts should
be to pay in the midst of :revulsioris such
as 1857 and 1860 witnessed, or. with a de
ranged currency such as 1838-40 produc
ed, would they ! not bring terror to every
door? Bear in - mind that several thou
sand millions of National4lebthave been
imposed upon us by muderpus treason,
and-it must be sustained ;and eventually
paid. •it will be a heavly :_tax upon our
tesoltrces and industry fdr generationS to
tome'; and it is unwise-td add to theinec
essary burdens; the dentands which, the
present times should proide for.
We Would earnestly urge every district .
now loaded with bountY debt. to pay it '
at once., It, can be done witkout hard
ship upon
,any, class of pee r pleUt this time; '
s and every' dictate of prudence points to
the wisdom of employing' the superabun
,.dant resources of the Conntry, to reliev
ing existing embarrassments as far aspOs
sible. it is the safe rule alWaYs to pay,
when able to do so; and \ we submit to the
People Whether they can ever hope to be
in a better position to pay than just now ?
We hope, indeed, that the current year'
will extinguish every such debt, and leave
the people prepared for -every - sacrifice
the preServation of our sacred Nationality
,may impose upon theni, Without being
crippled by local obligations. Let - every
township, vOrd or borough ailopt, the
mottn-J,-" pay as you
WE trust that a general 'exchange of
prisoners has at last , been agreed'upon;
although no informatioli f of the fact liaS
yet been received officially from the gov
ernment. The Richmond Bizquiro: of
the sth l hist., says ;.
,"We arc, gratified in being able to make the
happy, announceinent that a regular s'stem for
a 'general exchange of prisoners is agreed upon
and Nvilhbe immediately inaugurated.
Cortnnissimier Ould returned on Saturday
from Fokress Monroe, at ,which point be has
been, under a flag 'ot truce, two Or-three days
past, om business connected with his depart
ment, the result of which; he informs -us, is the
resumption of -the cartel, with the prospect un
der its provisions of an immediate exchange of
all prisopers•O*'war on bothjSides."
OVET i t 44,000 votes were polled for-the
sword at the great , Sanitary Fair in New
York last week, at ,$ll per vote, and a
majority of over 15,0001 gave it to. Lieut.
-Gen. Grant: Gen. McClellan was ahead
1640 votes the evaing - before the close of
the Fair. •
TnE- Union men of Perry county have aelect
ed Dr. j, P. Claik delegate to the State Con
vention; and John R. Shuler„John A. Baker
and W. W.' Dickinson Congressional Conferees
to electidolegates to the National Convention.
tHE LOUISIANA RATTLES.
Western Louisiana 'has' recently been the
scene (if a series of .the most desperate and
deadly battles of the war; considering the num - -
her ; ofl men engaged. Gen. Bahk's army was
moving' upon Shreeveport, and the advance,
consisting only of cavalry had brisk skirmishing
with thh enemy on the 7th inst., a few miles
beyond Pleasant Hill. .0,.n the Bth Gen—Gand
rum's brigade ,of infantry and cavalry. met the
rebels Under - Kirby Smith, some 22,000'strong,
and the rebels, by, overwhelming- nuMbers,
routed the Union troops. ,Gen. Banks was .on
the field in Person; Our loss in men was over
1,100 and some twenty guns. Gen. Banks
withdrew his forces to Pleasant Hill„where he
'formed ajunction*With Gen. A. J. Smith's pom
!nand, and prepared himself . fora determined
defence. On the 9th the rebels massed their
forces to overwhelm the Union lines.- A cor
respondent who witnessed the conflict thus de-,
scribe it: -
- - I
"Now came the grand -coup do main. The
Nineteenth on arriving at the top of the hill,
suddenly filed over the hill And passed through
the lines of Gen. Smith. We must here men
tion that the rebels were now in but two lines
of battle, the first having been almost annihilated
by Gen. Emory; what remained having been
foreettback - into the second line. ,But these
two lines came on exultant find sure of victory.
" The first passed over the knoll, and all
heedless of the. long line - of cannons and crouch
ing forms of as brave men as ever trod mother
earth, : pressed on: The secondline appeared
'on the crest, and the death signal was sounded.
-Worth) cannot describe the awful effects of this
- 1 •
discharge. Seven thousand rifles, and several
batteries of artillery,loaded to. the muzzle with
grape and can nister, were fired simultaneously,
and the whole centre of the rebel line was crushed
down as a field of ripe wheat through which a tor
nado has passed. • it is estimhted - thatlne thou
sand men were hurled into eternity or fright
fully mangled by this one discharge.
"NO time was given them to, recover-their'
gmid order, but Gen. Smith ordered a charge,
and his men defiled rapidly forwar, the boys
of the Nineteenth joining in. The re repels fought
i i i
boldly and desperately back to the timber, on
reaching Which a large portion bro e and fled,
fully two thousand throwing aside eir arms.
In this charge Taylor's battery etaken, as
were also two of the alms of Nim's attery, the
Parrott gun taken from us fl at C 'on Crow
last fall, and one or two otheribelo ging tcithe
rebels, one of which was considerably shattered,
beSides seven hundred prisoners. A pursuit
and desultory fight was kept up for three miles
when our men returned ttithe field of battle.
- "And finis ended this feartid and bloodystrug
gle for the control of Western Louisiana." -
Another correspondent who was an eyewit
ness writes of this terrible assault as follows:
• " Gen. Smith made all preparations to receive
the advancing fbe, and as the human line came
rolling up the hill he looked quietly on until the
enemy were almost up to the muzzle of his guns,
xvheil a'skeet of flame flashed along his lines,
and with the crash of ten thousand thunders,
musket balls mingled with grape and canister
swept the plain like a besom of destruction.
Hundreds fell dead and dying before that awful
fire. '
" Scarcely had the seething lead left the guns
when the-word." chnarge" was given, and seven
thousand- brave men precipitated themselVes
upon the shattered ranks of the enemy. Em
ory's Division, which had only yielded to supe
rior, numbers and remained unbroken, now rashi
ed forward and joined -the -Sixteenth Corps;
driving the Rebels rapidly down the hill to the
woods, where - they broke and fled in the great
est confusion and dismay. .
"The . battle was fought and the vietory won.
Our troops followed up the Rebels until night
put an end to the pursuit._ •
" In the last chargé , - we xecaptured Taylor's
Battery, which hadbeen bait in the earlier part
Of the action, and retook two guns ofNimet Bat
tnry, which had been lost in the battle of the
preceding day. ,
"The ten-pounds Parrott gun which - the Re
bels captured last fall; at Carrion Crow, was also
retaken.
• " Five hundred prisoners, sll the dead and
wounded, three battle standards - and -a large
number of small arms, fell into ourlands,
"Our victorious army slept upon the battle
field, which was one' of the bloodiest of the war.
SPEECH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
_ President Lincoln attended the Baltimore
Fair 'On Monday evening of last week, and de
livered an address; in which he -alluded most
pointedly to the future policy of the government
in protecting colored troop. We subjoin his
speech :
Ladies find Gentlemen : Calling to mind that
we are in Baltimore; we cannot tail to note that
the world moves. Looking upon these many
people assembled here, to serve, as they best
may, the soldiers of the Union, it occurs at once
that three years,a go the same soldiers could net
so 'mach as pass through Baltimore. The
- change from then till now, is both great and
gratifying: Blessings on the brave men who
have wrought the change, and the-fair women
who strive to reward them for it
But Baltimore suggests more than could bap
pen within Baltimore. The change within
Baltimore is part only of a far wider. change.
When the war began, three years ago, neither
party, nor any,man, expected that it Would host
till now. Each looked lOr the end, in some way,
long ere to-day. Neither did any anticipate that
domestic sluvery would be much affected by - the
war, But there we are ; the war has not ended,
and slavery has been much affected—how much
needs not be recounted._ So true is it that man
propose and °Aid disposes.
But we can see the past though we may not
claim to hale directed it; and seeing it, in this
case, we feel more hopeful, and confident for
the future.
The world has never had a good definition of
the word liberty, and the American people just
11
now •u. much in want of one. Wp all declare
for li , it rti ; but in using the same word we do
not I mean the same Ming. With some, the
word liberty may mean for each man to do as
he - Pleases with himself and the product of his
labor, while with others the same word may
mean for some men, to do as they please with
other men and the product of other men's labor.
i t
Here are t - o, not Only different, but incompa
tible thin , called by the same name, liberty.
And it fel ws that each of the things is, by the
respeetiv p dies called by two different and
incompat' le names—liberty and tyranny.
The shepherd drives the wolf from the sheep's
throat, for which the sheep thanks the shepherd
as a liberator, while the wolf denounces him for
the same act as the deitroyer of 'liberty, espe
cially as the sheep was , - a black one. Plainly,
sheep and the wolf are nut ageeed upon a defi
nition of the word liberty • and precisely the
same difference prevails - to:day among us human
creatures, even in the North, and all professing
to love liberty. Hence, we behold the proms.:
sos by which- thousands are , daily passing from
under the yoke of bondage, hailed by some as
the advance Of liberty; and bewailed by others
as the destruction of all libertf. Recently, as
it seems; the people of Maryland have been do
ing,something to define liberty; and thanks to
thein that, in what they have done, the wolf's
dictionary hits been repudiated. . .
It is not very becoming for one in myposition
to make speeches at great length; but there is
another subject upon which I feel that I ought
to say a word. A painful rumor, tree, I fear,
has reached us of the massacre, by the rebel
threes at Fort Pillow, in the West eud of Ten,
.nessee, on the Mississippi river, of some three
hundred colpred soldiers and White officers,
whohad just been overpowered by their assail
ants: There seems to be some anxiety in the
public mind whether the Government is doing
its duty to the colored -soldier, and to the ser
vice; at this - point. At the beginning of the war,
and for some tithe, the use of colored troops
was not contemplated : and - how the change of
•
purpose was;wrought I will not now take time
to explain. Upon a- clear conviction of duty, j
resolved to turn that element of strength to ac
count ; and I am responsible for it to the Amer-,
icon people. to the Christian world, to history,
and on my final aceonnt to God; Having deter.
mined to.use the negro as a soldier, there is no
way but to give him all tho protection given to anY
other soldier. The difficulty is not in stating
the principle, but in practically applying it. It
is a mistake to suppose the / Government is in
different to this matter, or is not doing the best
it can in regard to it. We do not to.-day know
that a colored soldier, or a white officer con:i
ntending colored- soldiers, has •been massacred
by - the rebels - when made a prisoner. We fear
it, believe it, I may say; but we do not know it.
Te'take the life of one of their prisoners on the
assumption that they murdered ours, when it is
short of. certainty they do - murder'ours, might
be too' serious, too cruel a mistake. We are
having the Fort Pillow affair thoroughly inves
i and such _investigation wilt probably
show conclusively how the truth is. If, after all
that has been said, it shall-t Urn out that - there
has been no massacre at
,Fort Pillow, it Will
boalmost safe to say there has been none, and
will be none elsewhere. If there has been the
massacre of three hundred there, or even the
tenth. part of three* hundred, it will be conch*.
sively proven ; and being so proven, the retrib
ution shalbas surely -code; It will be matter
of grave consideration in Vinkt eNict course to
apply the ielrititttion ; but in tbitsti*eedeass.
it must come.
From Baltimore American, 21st.
THE RELEASED PRISONXIM
While we h a ve,•in common with all who are •
loyal to our flag, and loyal to the interests and '
instincts of a common humanity,- beee pouring
the vials of oar wrath on the heads of the re.
creants and murderers , at 'fort Pillow, We have
enough to engage our 'attention and - arrest our
sympathy at our own doors. We noticed the
arrival of five. hundred and sixty-five released
prisoners from Richmond en Monday, and com
mented briefly upon their condition. Such a
pitiable'set of poor wretches Was never seen in
this city'. Their emaciation waseztreme, their
feebleness was alniost 'at the last gasp; their
dejection was painful to behold, and -their
squalor was frig - htftil. They were -starved to
th e verge of, the grave, and what was left ef
theni was-nearlydevoured by vermin. Some of
from hope too long deferred, had fallen
state of utter listlessness and apathy
bordered upon
.idiocy. The ,deepening
tiwnh
which
oi m c ,
h a
pallor, the dropping jaw, and the glazing. -eyes,'
told that others had only come to die—that it ,
was too late . for outstretched arms toiSavestatoo - '.•
late to dispel the evening shadows that,*ere:
gathering around them—too late
"T' alaritt the longnight of the lonely grave. a.
Or check tho hesdlong htte of Deatleso'erwiselm- -
• .:-
,ing wave;
and saddest of all, and most to be' deplore& too
late to die in the arias of .the weary watchers,
and the broken-hearted ones - at home, or to
wake from their lethargy long enough to know
that they were once more under the protecting •
folds of the Stars and. Stripes. . -
Compared -with - this, the =Madre at Fott
Pillow,was a blessing and a mercy._ , His sweet
and decorous, sags the old, adage, to die for
one's country, but when the hour comes for the
surrender of life; let us rather court the swift.
Winged messengers -of death—let tis - rather
woke= the speedy ball—let us rather-hail the
friendly bayonet, as did the lionketWted defend
ers of that fort, than wear the cNtwti ofmartyr
dom as these patient sufferers have one, Look
at their hollow cheeks - , listen to their sopuchral
g
voice. peer under their drooping yeltds. and '
you will read plainly a story of _ toarjng hun
ger, of pinching cold, of wasting fe i
er; of days
of weariness and nights of pain, of buried hope
and 4ubmission to. despair- . They are nut
friends anti:brothers,' They wen} facing the
thickly hurling missiles of death in defence of
us when we were sitting by out. *firesides .
They were suffering every pang and every pri.:
vation while -we were comfortablei they were
sick and in prison while we .were. free. Can
we do too much for them in requital? . Never
can we be too, generousor too grateful? - We
trow not. •
we' .
But while are sickened andi'shockea - by
the evidence of- such barbarism and brutality.
and while our hearts•are wrung byl the wrongs
inflicted and_the sufferings endured, what are
we to think of . the incarnate fiends who thus
bravelhe scorn of mankind, flaunt their diabrsz
lism in the face of civilization, defy the plainest
teachings of Christianity, court tl4 execration
of the ages to come, and display i a degree of
ferocity and malignity that would disgrace a
Catnanthel We used to associate Our ideas of
the refinements of cruelty with theTastile, the
Vehme, or the Inquisition, but thatjit is all past
and gene. 'Henceforth the Richtn nd Prisons
will take the foremost place in outs minds, and
in the annals of human events, as tAio sktionyro
for all that is malign and fiendish mid diabolical
—for all that is bloodthirsty, iuhuitian and in
fernal'. Upon that detested spot will be heaped
maledictions enough to sink it. It, will be fore
ever remembered as the place whore trut.-
hearted men, earnest patriots and flied soldiers
were slowly starved to death for the crime of
defending their country from the assaults of
traitors. Nor that only, but to diminish our
force in the field and to deter enlistments, art if•
such conduct would produce, feat in place of
exasperation. How these wretches and out
laws expect to succeed 'in their mild endeavors
is a puzzle to us. Providence has never yet
smiled graciously on much stnallerivillainy; we
do not think it will begin 'on sueli monstrous
'depravity. 1
For every one of these feeble arid dying men
we have returned a healthy Rebetiwhe has been
well led and well cared - for. In individual
case - s, a similar style of returningigood forevil
would react on the principle of heaping coals of
fire on the bead of the offender ; but in this in•
stance magnanimity is thrown array and love's .
labor is lost. Fortunately for the welfare of
the sufferers they- are now in 4 community
where Christian kindness will bel liberally dis
pensed, and under the general supervision of s
Medical Director who is esteemed in this De
partmer ' lti, patri
otism a]
' THE
of the w 71 . • T
The death of the widow of H 4 nry Clay was
not an unexpected event; for she i had passid,
the 83d year of her age, and physical infirmities
had long shown the premonition of her disease.
It is tt years' ago this Spring since Lucretia
Hart betarne the wife of Henry Clay, when he
was about three years her seuior.i Her serene
and happy temperament, when. contrasted with
the.exciting anxieties of his politioal life, shows
what a haven of rest Ashland must always have
been .when Mr. Clay was able toitbroW. off the
weight of public. responsibility and seek repoibt.
in the.bosom of his family.
Those Who knew Mrs. Clay catibear pleasing
testimony to her cheerful assumpton of, house
bold duties, her devotion as a wife, and ber
loving patienee as a mother. Henry and Lucro
tin. Clay bad 'eleven - children born to them, six
daughters and five sons, of whom but three sur-
Vive---Theodore, the eldest, who' {has been for
many years a lunatic undercharge of Dr. Chip.
ley, Thomas IC, who is now abroad in diplo
matic service, and John M., a stock farmer in
Fayette Coun:ty' As the moon derives its radi
ance from the aim, so the life ofthis good and
pure Christian lady • received the hal ?which
surrounded the fame of her husband, walrus we
record ber death, the - memory of the great, the
noble, and the gifted Clay rises before us, and
he seems to stand before us in bodily presenCe.
"his habit as he lived," when all around" drew
light and life and glory from his aspect." 'Upon
the tomb where will repose the remains of LW!.
tetia Clay, there ueed be no other epitaph to
endear the spot to the American heart, than
"The Widow of Henry Clay," though' her vir
tues and her loving impulses has, like winged
angels', borne her to the merr
recoded her name amid t
e just made perfect."
POLITICAL INTEL
—The city election in H
been carried by the Union
time in eight years.
—Tl*Demenrats of the Secnnd Distrielvin
Ohio, have called a meeting to endorseMr.Long
and the sentiniente of his treasonable speech.
—the P l resident has approvedithe act anther
izing the people of. Nebraska toiform a Coma.
tution and State Government. ilt is tberekeie
a law.-
losEen Moous, who was co i nvictd in Cur
bria county for Jordan t!darbourg,
bedn pardoned by Gov. Curtin, pn accordance
to the wiabea ot - nine.tenths ofitini citi.x . enp of
that county. So'sayi one of thelEbenaburgpa.
Per*.
death at