llpl
. TRIG1ITOR WROX&.
WnHN'RIOBT, TO BE KEPT BIGHT,
W B K S WRONG, TO BE PUT RIGHT.
r EBEXSIR'UG:
THUR8DAY::::::::::::::N0VEMBER 21.
Interesting Correspondence.
Bowling Green, Nov. 15, 1&G1.
To Charles D. Mcrrai-, Esq.,
Editor of the Democrat y Sentinel, Ebenslurg,
Cumbria county, Pennsylvania
.My dear Charles: In these days of
fratricidal strife, when brother is arrayed
against brother, and everything around
and alout us smacks of sulphur and salt
petre, it is-truly refreshing to .doff the
more cumbrous of my military trappings,
and,-forgetting for a brief season the toils
and care3 incident to my responsible posi
tion, td hold a small confab with you. For
I make no idle assertion when 1 say that
there is not within the limits of what was
anciently known a? the Federal Union, a
single mau or woman, for whom I entcr-
j. a j i
lain a more leuuer icam man :ui .ui-
sclf. -Our acquaintance dates back many
years, and during all that period nothing
ever occurred to mar the harmony of our
amicablo relations. Of a truth, we never
differed in or about anything, except this
I was always a Southern man with
Southern principles, while you were al
ways a Northern man with Southern prin
ciples ; and this difference is so small
in itself, that I might not even now refer
to it, were it not for the magnificent fact
that it is ever a source of pleasure to speak
of those things with which we are most
familiar. I feel, nevertheless, that I am
amply justified in adverting to it if for no
other icasou than to illustrate how infin
itesimal is the difference between tweedlc
duni and tweedle dee. And thus much
in the shape of a few prolegomcnary ob
servations. You are fully cognizant, my precious
Charles, of the change the great change
that has come over the spirit of my
dream. Of a verity, things have changed,
and is it strange that I, even I, should
have changed with them? We have iu
deed fallen upon evil times. I assert this
as a self-evident proposition. There was
a time when we all got along swimmingly
under, the old Federal regime. Our patri
otic ancestors had doue and suffered much
to .establish our free institutions, and they
had left us a rich legacy in the shape of
the Union. To preserve the latter was to
perpetuate the former, aud this whilom
agreeable task pre-eminently devolved
upon what we used to call the Democratic
Party. I had the honor to be a member
- I ani too modest to say a prominent
member -of that venerable, though now
defunct institution. It was coeval and
identical with the Union itself. To talk
of the one existing without the other,
would simply be giving utterance to a po
litical monstrosity. 1 loved that party as
the apple of my eye, and even now T revere
its memory. Many were the favors it
ehowercd upon my devoted head, and
many more would it have showered there,
had.it not been cut off (not my head, but
the party) in its career of usefulness and
glory - ' ;
But as a serpent entered into Eden, go
a worse than serpent found its way into
-the. peaceful garden of Democracy, aud
lroni tnencetorwara utneiios occupation
was gone. It is true we existed in name,
but our suLs'ance was a ponderous nonen
tity. , The last great victory which our
organization achieved aud it ic a a victo-
4j
ry was in the election of myself to the
Vice Presidency, and that elegant old
public functionary, J. BccilANAN, Esq.,
to the Presidency. That triumph indeed
was something to be proud of out it was
liks the last big kick of a strong- man in
the agonies ot unai dissolution. 1 he seeds
of .destruction had already been sown in
our glorious eld party, aud the grim mes
senger had marked it as a distinguished
victim. It was doomed to die. I did not
know it then, but I discovered it soon
aftT, and I resolved to prepare myself for
the worst.
: Thiols not a fitting time for crimination
or recrimination. I have no desire to in
veigbj against cither the authors, aiders or
abettors of Popular Sovereignty, or Squat
ter Sovereignty as it is sometimes poetical
ly termed. But the truth must be spoken.
and "while I admit our success in 1856
with thaicdiou3 doctrine in our Platform, '
jer I feared th.e infernal heresy from the
outset, and more than once did I tell Mr.
Buchanan that it would sooner or later
be the death of us. Tho old gentleman,
however, never seemed t realize the truth
of the matter, and ever and anon would
put me off with 'one of those knowing
cocks of the eye, for which ho has attained
such a world-wide reputation. But the
tamous Lecompton controversy bad luck
to it convinced even him that my appre
hensions had not been unfounded. The
schism thus introduced into our ranks,
and every day becoming more formidable,
led us both to the belief that, after tho 4th
day of March, in the year of our Lord,
1&G1, neither he nor I would be likely to
have inu'rh to do in the ad min is t ration of
the government. But we firmly resolved
to decapitate, if possible,, the chief of the
Sovereign Squatters, (who had the auda
city to aspire to Presidential honors,) even
if it should result in my own sacrifice.
I need not, my. darling Charles, enter
into details respecting the campaign of
1860, it being a fair presumption that you
have some slight recollection of that most
interesting period. You may remember
that the nominating Convention originally
convened at Charleston, South Carolina,
a village of no mean importance, and
that it? sessions were so uproarious in that
place, that it became necessary to adjourn
over to Baltimore. At the latter place
the nominations were made, and, miraLile
dictu, the nominee for the Presidency
the highest office- in the gift of the people
was the very man that Mi. Buchanan
and I didn't want. The Convention had
the impudence, too, to re-adopt the Cin
cinnati Platform, and to affix thereto cer
tain other resolutions, which hitter, with
a solitary exception, savored about as
much of genuine Democracy as a temper
ate man's breath would of old rye whiskey.
The exception to which I refer, was the
5th resolution, which read as follows :
Resolved, That the Democratic Partj- are in
favor of the acquisition of the inland of Cuba,
on such terms as shall he honorable to our
selves, and just to Spain.
But, happily, this obnoxious nomination
was made, and these detestable resolutions
were passed, without any participation
whatever on the part of my friends. At
a very early stage iu the proceedings, they
saw the course things were taking, and
they determined not to submit to thewill
of a tyrannical majority. They, therefore,
quietly withdrew seccshed would be a
more fashionable word from the Conven
tion, and formed a small tea-parly of their
own. Then, appealing to the world and
everybody else, for the rectitude of their
intentions, they deliberately proceeded to
business. They re-affirmed the Cincinnati
Platform, as did the other Convention,
but they took care to adopt a series of
resolutions explanatory cf that instrument,
inasmuch as there had been some differ
ence of opinion in regard to the true in
tent and meaning thereof. These "ex
planatory resolutions" were eminently
sound, and such as no conscientious Dem
ocrat could object to, more especially
Northern Democrats. The 4th resolution
was very like unto the 5th resolution of
the other Convention, already quoted, ex
cept that it had a decidedly better business
jingle about it. For tho sake of compar
ison, I beg leave to introduce it:
Ilcsoletd, Th.it the Democratic Tarty arc in
favor of the acquisition of the island of Cubti,
ov fuch terras as shall be honorable to our
selves and to Spain, at the earliest jracii
calle moment.
You will perceive, from tho italic is fj
words here, that this resolution meant
something. The other advocated the ac
quisition of Cuba I admit; but when ? It
was entirely too vague and indefinite. But
thin resolution covered the ground fully.
Old Bl'CK, as I used familiarly to call
him, had long desired a full and unequiv
ocal endorsement of the views set forth
by him in the Ostend Manifesto, and this
resolution would almost seem to have been
framed to meet his particular case. How
the dear old sduI's heart must have jump
ed when he read it !
But this resolution was not passed
merely to please Old Buck. (By the
way, friend Charles, let me entreat you,
parenthetically, not to confound this Old
Buck with Jonathan.) There were
other cogeut reasons for its adoption. If
time permitted, I would gladly dwelt at
length upon these, but under the circum
stances, a simple statemcut of the more
prominent ones must suSec. First, then,
the Federal Government didn't have ter
ritory enough without Cuba. Secondly,
Cuba, in the hands of a hostile power, was
daugerous and annoying. Thirdly, Cuba
was a very fine country, having a rich soil,
a good climate and pleuty of niggers. -
These, my lovely Charles, were the
principal reasons which induced the De
mocracy to commit themselves to the pur
chase of Cuba. The arguments of he
Abolitionists and Black Republicans on
the subject are sheer gammon. It is barely
possible, that, if tho Federal Government
had bought Cuba, and paid a few hundred
millions for her, she might have seceded,
and taken the mor.ey with her; but as
Government did not buy her, it is quite
impossible for Cuba to play off any such
game. - An argument which you will
readily appreciate. '
From this second or seceding Conven
tion, I had, as you well remember, the
honor to receive the nomination for the
Presidency. For this mark of their dis
tinguished consideration, I was, ot course,
duly grateful.- But, inasmuch as our
Party -was divided, and I was a little du
bious as to my success," I had some scruples
about accepting the nomination. More
than this, the Coaventiou had placed Jok
Lank on the ticket with me, and Joe be
ing such a horrible speller, I feared that
my connection with him would not improve
my chances. But Old Buck was deter
mined that I should run, and ever and
anon would come and playfully slap me
on the back, and say : "Bully for you,
Breck ! I'll bet my pile on you " Yet,
after all, I hesitated; and never did I
make up my mind to bear the brunt of the
campaign, until one day when I received
a copy of the Democrat & Sentinel, with
my name at its mast-head, and containing
a heavy leader, in "which you assured the
world that I was the humble individual
who should receive your distinguished
support. The article was pen-marked,
else I might not have seen it, but its pe
rusal did my soul good. I felt then, that
if human agency could accomplish anything
at all, the Presidency was miue; and I
assure you that had I been successful, you
would have becu substantially remembered
in the shape of a mission to the Feejee
islands.
But, alas ! what a delusive thing is
hope! How vain are the expectations of
mortals here below ! The day of election
came and went, and behold the electoral
figures : Douglas had Missouri and New
Jersey, V2 ; Bell had Kentucky, Tennes
see and Virginia, 39; I had Alabama, Ar
kansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Lou
isiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Car
olina, South Carolina and Texas, 72 ;
while the "Old Hail-splitter" had the
balance of the States, with a total of ISO
thus giving the nasty Black Republi
cans a clear majority of 57 votes over the
whole kit arid kaboodle of us ! I confess,
my inestimable Charles, that these figures
annoyed me not a little. I was especially
indignant at the fact that Kentucky, my
own state, went against me. And yet
there was something in the result which
plucked out the sting of my defeat. If I
was beaten, I had the satisfaction of know
ing that the great Sovereign Squatter was
not elected ; and I had, moreover, the hap
py reflection, that, in the elevation of a
Black Republican to the Presidency, the
people of the South were furnished with
a splendid pretext for dissolving the Un
ion !
Strange a3 it ma' appear to many, a
pretext had long b?en desired. For I
tell you, my incomparable Charles, though
I prefer that you keep it to yourself, the
idea of dissolution did not originate last
fall. It has long been entertained in the
South. For myself, I was always disposed
to be conservative, and had I been elected
to the Presidency, I could have sav3d the
Union four years more at lea&t. This I
could have aceoniplisheed by giving all
the good offices under my control, to the
people of the South, it. being their great
forte to govern rather than to be governed.
And herein is the great secret of the
Southern revolt, it being understood, that
after Old Abe's election he rule was to be
reversed, aud that they were to be govern
ed instead of being the governors.
The work of secession, as you doubtless
remember, was begun by South Carolina,
that wonderful state bavin ir passed an or
dinance to that effect, aud declared her
independence of tho "accursed Union,"
so soon as she learned tho result of the
election. Iler senators and representatives
too promptly resigned their seats in Con
gress, and went home. All of which
plainly showed the pluck of the state and
the pluck of the people ; and thus was set
an example highly woi thy of imitation.-
I well fcuew from the "signs of the times,"
that secession was going to be the order
of the day, and so one evening I called
over to see Old Buck, to ascertain his
views on the propriety of the' thing. I
found him rather morose aud snappish at
first, but after we had indulged in a nip
or two, he became quite communicative.
I then drew him out, and he expressed
himself in substance as follows : "A state,"
said he, "has no right to secede from the
Union. Such an act on her part would
be a violation of the Federal compact,
which, wos raada ty high contracting par
ties, the people of the United States
acting in their sovereign capacity, and
no one state has a right to determine for
herself whether that compact ha3 been
violated or not." At this point I inter
rupted Old Buck with this interrogatory:
"Then I am to understand, Mr. Buchan
an, that you will favor the abominable
doctrine of coercion ?" "Oh, bless your
soul, no !" he replied. "While I claim
that a state has no right to withdraw from
the Union, I cheerfully admit that the
LTuion has no right to keep her in if she
chooses to go." I immediately drank
Old Buck's health and departed.
The same evening, by appointment, I
confabulated awhile withCoBB andpLOYD
of the Cabinet, than whom it would be
impossible to find two more honest or re
liable men. Of course, they were both
sound on the goose question, and we were
unanimous that Old Buck wasn't agoing
to do much against secession. Yv"e hen
took counsel as to how we should demean
ourselves respectively, each man having
sworn to run his state out of the Union or
die. Cobb, being Secretary of the Treas
ury, was to get and hold on to all the
funds and Government securities ; : and
Floyd, being Secretary of War, was to
collect all the arms and ammunition lie
could, and ship them South. All of which
were to be appropriated by,, and used f'oi
the benefit of the Secessionists, if the ex
igency so required. 3Iost nobly did Conu
and Floyd do their work, and at the close
of their labor of love, they felt that they
could not conscientiously longer hold offi
ces under the Federal Government. Like
high-minded, honorable men, therefore,
they resigned their positions and went
home. I witnessed their departure from
Mr. Buchanan. It -""as very affecting
indeed, tears being shed on all sides. The
tears were very large too, and there were
a great many of them.
I know there are plenty of mud-sills iu
the North who regard the conduct of Cobb
and Floyd as synonymous with stealing.
Such an opinion is contemptible, and the
creature who entertains it is not fit to be a
Southern gentleman's body-servant. Steal
ing indeed ! Why Cobb is a Colouel in
Georgia, and Floyd is a General iu Vir
ginia both in the service of the Southern
Confederacy. President Davis knows
them both well, ami he would be the last
man in the world to give them Commis
sions, if he were not satisfied that they are
perfectly honest and trustworthy.
From the time of the conversations re
ferred to, I did all I could to advance the
cause of Secession. The office of Vice
President was very convenient for the
purpose, aud of course I used it. (on the
sly) while it lasted; and, as good luck had
it, my friends had elected me to a full
term in the Senate. So I went right out
of one office into another. I took the oath
to support the Constitution of the United
States, with a mental reservation to sup
port the Southern Confederacy. I kept
quiet; I felt that I could do more in that
way than by becoming boisterous, for my
object was to gather information at Wash
ington, and impart it to the people of the
South in other words, I had opened a
small intelligence office for thsir benefir..
For a long time I managed the thing so
well, that the people of the North gener
ally thought me loyal to the Union. But
at last I was compelled to show my hand,
and I did it boldly. My course iu the
extra session of Congress wiped away ev
ery doubt as to iny true position. Since
then I have been open and above-board,
and on the principle that the end justi
fies the meaus I recently made a tour
through the mountainous districts near the
border lines of Kentucky, Tennessee and
Virginia, alarming the people by circula
ting big stories as to the intentions of the
Federal Government, and using every
means in my power to make converts to
Secession. If anybody thinks the prin
ciple on which I did this an unsound one,
all I can say is, that I despise his or her
opinion. I havo the proud satisfaction
that 5 Mr. Davis has approved of all my
acts, he having been graciously pleased
recently to reward my services with a
Brigadier General's commission. I want
no better vindication of my past career.
I came here not long since, in company
with our mutual friends, Rill Preston
and IIumfu. Marshall. Our journey
was a very pleasant one indeed. The
F.F.Y.'s were delighted to see me; at
Richmond I was fairly lionized. I do
not kuow yet how I shall like playing
General. I am much better at playing
particular. Please forgive that wretched
pun it crept in unawares. The great
drawback with us is a want of provisions
and clothing. The "boys" have generally
very little to eat sometimes not that
much, and many of them are compelled
to keep their beds (or want of soniethin"
to wear. Uen. ijeauregard comes rouuu
frequently to cheer us all up. His first
name is Peter, and he is a very nice old
gentleman. I have had the pleasure of
taking several nips with him at his quar
ters, and once we indulged in a game of
"mumbly-peg," at which I came out sec
ond best. Jirfr Davis has already made
his marque, and I feel confident that if
Beauregard gets a chance he will make
his mark, too. Another pun confound
it!
Since I came here, I resigned my seat
in the U. S. Senate. The only regret I
had in doing so was that I should no lon
ger be able to draw my pay. But, of
course, it would never do for me to go to
Washington again ; I should be hung
certain, and probably quartered, and I
have no disposition to submit to any such
operations. By the wa', what is your pri
vate opinion of wy Manifesto ? I notice
the Louisville Journal and The AUeglianian
are very severe on both the Manifesto and
its humble author; but I notice, too, that
vou have properly rebuked their insolence.
The way you take Prentice and Bar
ker down should be a warning to all such
offenders. Tho latter, particularly, has
tried hard to get you to say something
agaiust me, but, thank Fortune, he has
not succeeded. I have read every num
ber of your paper carefully, and never yet
have I seen a word reflecting upon me in
tho slightest degree. I sincerely thank
you for all this, my unapproachable
Charles, and, perhaps, it is more than I
havo a right to expect. But if you con
tinue faithful, and the Southern Confed
eracy succeeds, and I succeed with it, I
will make a man of vou.
As I write, the news reaches me, that
the Federal Court in Frankfort, Kentucky,
has indicted me for Treason. the grand
jury having found a true bill. Whoever
heard of such presumption ! They will
have a good tiaie trying me. In the
words of that fine old song slightly
changed I can proudly exclaim :
Hurrah, Hurrah! they are unlucky,
I've cleared the track from Old Kentucky 1
I shall be glad to be remembered kiudly
to my friends in Cambria, of whom, I am
informed, a few arc still residing in that
favored town of Ebcnsburg. Tell them,
that I have "taken my stand in Dixie's
land," not because I love them less, but
because I love the S. C. more. If they
remain true to me, however, I will not be
unmindful of 4hem.
I am rejoiced to know, that every state
which voted for me last fall, except Dela
ware and Maryland, is a member of our
glorious S. C. So, too, of Virginia and
Tennessee. Missouri we yet want, and
Kentucky we must have. Delaware and
Maryland we don't care so much about.
They are trifling little thiugs at best, and
we have come to the conclusion, that it
would cost more to get them than they
would be worth. If they choose to stay
out in the cold, so be it.
But I must brinr this rambiincr eoistlc
to a close. I hope you will continue
weekly to give Barker jessie. Call him
by any name you like. Of course, every
body knows he is not, and never was a
Know-nothing or Abolitionist ; still there
is policy in saying he was and is. There
is policy about it I say; policy. But you,
my delectable Charles, understand this
well, and will act accordingly.
Enclosed please find fifty cents in S. C.
Postage Stamps, and a S. C. Bond for one
dollar, (in all 1.50), us an advance pay
ment for one year's subscription to the
Dem. 0 Sent. Tho stamps go here like
hot cakes, end the Bond is perfectly safe,
it being well secured on a cotton basis.
Please acknowledge receipt, and oblige,
Yours as Ever, iJrecIi.
Capture or Masoa aud Midcll!
The entire country was electrified on
Monday by the intelligence that Messrs.
J. M. Musou and John Slidell, Envoys of
Jeff. Davis to England and France, respec
tively, had been captured in the Bermuda
Channel by the U. S. fiiga;e Sau Jacinto,
Capt. Wilkes. They had embarked on
board an English steamer. They are
probably now in New York.
m mt
More righting at rort i'ickens.
New York, Nov. 18. Mr. Savage,
United States Vice Consul at Havana,
who returned from Key West, on the 10th
inst., reports that fifteen hundred rebels
were discovered by the Federal patrol on
Santa Rosa Island, some twenty miles
from Fort Pickens. Tho commander of
the fleet sent a force who shelled the reb
els off the island with great loss. The
supposed object of the enemy was to ct
together a force of five thousand or more
troops, und then make a forced march on
Col. Wilson's camp, for another night at
tack. This report is brought by tho steamer
CocnvpnIitn, arrived to day from Havana.
THE GREAT WAVAL EXPEDITION
" - , A Glorious Victory!
t OBTS WALKER 4. WD BK ACRCGA&O 15 i0B6p
CAPTURE OF BEAUFORT COXFIRjied
FULL PARTICULARS.
We last week gave all the nex3 that
had come into our possession np t0 the"
hour of going to press .concerning the
success of the Great Naval ExtJIv '
tot reu'i!0ij
on the boutnern coast. Herewith. we
pend full and minute particulars cf
glorious engagement at Port Royal
which it will be seen that the Federal
forces have achieved an overvrhela,;
victory and struck Treason a deadly bit,
near its very birthplace. An import'
harbor is in our possession, ForU TVYler
and Beauregard are successfully reduced
and our Flag now floats triumphantly 0'er
the town ot Beaufort ! This is certain'
glory enough for one day.
The first official inteiligcrce of ofr
success was brought by the steamer Bien
ville, which was detailed from the F.ect
for that service and arrived at Fortras
Monroe on Tuesday, 12th inst. Shelf
Port Royal on the Sunday previous.
The gale encountered by the fleet w:j
very severe. The Union and Oscala
went ashore and were lost, as previou-iy
reported. The Governor foundered at sea
but the Isaac T. Smith suececded in g.
vinir her crew.
The fleet arrived at Port Royal on
Monday, the 4th instant. On Tuesday
the smaller gunboats rounded and Luoyt'd
out the channel, under a fire from the
forts, w hich did no damage. On "Wednes
day the weather prevented active opera
tions, but on Thursday morning, the 7th
instant, the men-of-war and "gun-boat
advanced to the attack. The action com
menced at ten a. m.,- and was hotly carried
on on both sides, and lasted about fmr
hours, at the end of which time the rebtU
were compelled, by the shower of shells,
to abandon their works and beat a hasty
retreat. Our loss was eight men and cN
ficers, the chief engineer of the Mohican,
killed aud about twenty wounded. The
rebel loss is not known. Fifty-two Iodic
were found by our men and buried
All their wounded, except two were car
ried off.
Two forts were captured Fort Walker,
on Hilton Head, mounting twenty-three
guns, and Fort Beauregard, on Bay Point,
mouufirg nineteen puns. The gacsweie
of heavy calibre. The forts were both
new and splendid. The earthworks were
of great strength, constructed in the high
est style of military science and pronoun
ced by our Engineers as impregnable
against Jtiy assault by land forces.
The final retreat of the rebels wss i
perfect rout. They left everything, arms
and equipments of all kinds, even to the
officers' swords and commissions, all tie
letters and papers, both public and pri
vate ; order books and documents were
left in their flight, and fell into our hands
affording our officers much valuable infor
mation. Among the papers wa3 a telegram from
Jeff. Davis to the commander of the post,
informing him of the sailing of the fleet,
and that he knew their destination to be
Port Royal.
The whole surrounding country was
seized with a perfect panic The day af
ter the fight the Seneca and two other
gunboats, under the command of Lieuten
ant Ammon, proceeded up to Beaufort,
aud found but one white man in the town,
and he drunk, and the plantations up the
river seemed to be deserted except by in
negroes, who were seen in great numbers
and who, as the boats passed cuiac du
to the shore with bundles in their hands,
as if expecting to be taken off. They
seized all the letters in tha post ouico
Beaufort.
After the capture ot the forts the whole
army about 15.000 men were safetf
lauded, and established on shore. Th(
forts were but little injured, but the reb
els could not stand the explosion of our
big shells. . . . ,
The force of the enemy, ns ascertained
from their papers, was from three to ioar
thousand men, under Gen. Drayton,
South Carolina. Our victory is rompleM
the enemy leaving everything but
lives, which they saved by running.
The boats from the Wabash were tM
first to land after the fight, and UPtaia
John Rodgcrs was the first man n;cborf;
The boats returned loaded with va-uai
trophies of all kinds. , ,
Tho rebels set a trap but it missei
When our brave fellows landed to tai
possession of the Fort?, they JoonJ
rebel flag at the Fort in Hilton H ;.
flying, and just as one of our men pu
at the halyards to draw down the trai
ous banner, an explosion took T!-' -house
just vacated bv the rebel ow
but doing little damage and injann0
It was found on exsmination tfcai
r.-heU ..id hpfm-o evacuation V"T
arranged what they thought won w
a deadly trap to the victors. Mines
been laid and matches so arrarg ea
when the halyards of the flag Jg,
drawn down the mines would , be P ,
f the nag
ies would be fP
1 nfl
tfcJ
and DiOW r
whole woik and involve the victors
in
common ruin ; but it did uoc sj
soon tho brave old flag, ,be s, , U
stripes wavo4 in triumph frcw
flagstaff.