Valley Spirit

The fanatical Abolitionists who are crazy to carry on this horrid war go off into ecstasies over every idle rumor of successes attained by our armies in the field. Their passions and their prejudices will never permit them to take a calm view of such reports--to ascertain, in the first place, if there is any truth in them, and if true, whether any permanent advantage is gained to our cause. They catch up with eagerness and believe the most improbable and ridiculous stories, and though deceived and cheated, time and again, by similar fabrications, they are just as ready to pin their faith to the next that comes along and cling to the belief as obstinately, thus verifying, in the most striking manner, the lines of the poet:

"Faith--fanatic faith--once wedded fast
To some dear falsehood, hugs it to the last."

Their past experience in bogus war news is of no avail; so thoroughly are they demented, by their chronic attack of negro-phobia, that they cannot even learn a lesson in the hard school in which fools are taught. They are to be pitied--their case is a deplorable one, and all that we can do for them is to

"Pray the powers to mend their mental flaw,
Or grant them kindest keepers and clean straw."

Another peculiarity of their madness is this: Should any staid Democrat venture to doubt their war rumors--expose their fallacy--or point out their mistakes and discrepancies, they forthwith raise a crazy howl over him and denounce him as a "traitor" and a dangerous person to be at large. You are required to believe the most enormous falsehoods--magnify all disasters into victories, and put the best face on things generally, or you will excite in them a paroxysm of madness terrible to behold! The rule with them is to believe all they hear, imagine more than is told, and exaggerate all they repeat, and you are expected to swallow it all as gospel or come under the ban of "disloyalty."

When the movements of our armies compelled the evacuation of Savannah it was a "big thing" for the Abolitionists to rejoice over, but when Charleston and Wilmington came tumbling after their exultation knew no bounds. The "back bone of the rebellion" had received a compound fracture beyond the skill of the most expert bone-setter to restore! They had preached up the doctrine that England supplied the rebels with all their war material, through these ports, and that the rebellion would have fizzled out long ago were it not for the aid it obtained from abroad. There was not an Abolitionist in the land who did not profess to believe this, and now that these ports were captured the rebellion was on its last legs--the last rebel had found the last ditch and there given up the ghost! Nothing remained to be done but to confiscate the property in the rebel States and parcel it out among negro soldiers and cotton speculators. Occasionally an imprudent Democrat could be found fool-hardy enough to cast a doubt over this pleasing aspect of affairs. He might be so bold as to venture to suggest that we have lost more than we have gained by the capture of these places--that their garrisons, and those at other points evacuated, have given the rebels an active army in the field of over seventy thousand veterans--enough to hold Sherman in check. The aforesaid incautious Democrat might also venture to throw out an intimation that Brother Jonathan is a better friend to the rebels than Jo[h]nny Bull--that he will furnish them with all the supplies needful to carry on the rebellion at less risk and on more accommodating terms than could be obtained from foreign blockade runners. Our Democratic friends would of course, not be so reckless as to hazard this assertion without being backed up by sound Abolition authority--the real simon pure, negro-loving, loyalty stripe! He would, therefore, respectfully refer them to the report on the bill to abolish the present system of trading with the rebellious States, and which Lincoln failed to sign. The report was prepared by the House Committee in Congress, of which that rank Abolitionist, Washburne, of Illinois, is chairman. The following extract is taken from the report:

"The rebel armies east and west of the Mississippi river have been mainly supplied for the last twelve months by the unlawful trade carried on on [sic] that river, and that the city of New Orleans, since its occupation by our forces, has contributed more to the support of the rebel armies and to the purchase and equipment of privateers that are preying upon our commerce, as well as to maintain the credit of the rebel government in Europe, than any port in the country."

This statement is undeniable and in the face of it well may we inquire what has been gained by the occupation by our forces of Savannah, Charleston and Wilmington, if these places are to be turned to no better account than New Orleans in subduing the rebellion? It must be remembered that all persons allowed licenses to trade with and supply the rebels are intensely loyal and pets of this administration, otherwise they would not obtain permits, and of this "numerous class" it is said, in the report already quoted, "they follow in the track of the army, traf[f]ic in its blood and barter the cause for which it is fighting with all the baseness of Judas Iscariot, but without his remorse." Vive la loyalty!

The notorious Anti-slavery Society, which has troubled the country for thirty-five years, is about to close its dishonorable career. Garrison, who has been the chief conspirator in its destructive work, has turned his back upon it, and is now laboring to terminate its existence. He has become interested in Abraham Lincoln, and has constituted himself Lincoln's apologist. His declarations before the Society, and in his paper, go to the extent "that the President can do no wrong." But many in the Society, and among them the most eloquent and influential members, true to their old instincts, indulge in severe criticism of the President and his administration. Garrison has in vain tried to stem the tide against his favorite, but failing in the attempt he has resorted to stratagem to break up the Society. He sold it out and all its influence to Mr. Lincoln's party, and he is angry that his former followers will not ratify the bargain.

These are the facts disclosed to impartial observers in the recent meetings of the society in the Melodeon. The Garrison and Phillips wings stood in battle array against each other. The Phillips faction proved the strongest, because consistent with their past history and declarations. The mantle has fallen from the anti-slavery leader. He is no longer recognized by them. He is shorn of his strength. They who worshiped him have had their eyes opened, and find that he is weak and like a very common man.

The discussions at the meeting yesterday afternoon and evening took a wide range. Mr. Stephenson, a man active in freedmen's aid societies, hoped all personalities would be laid aside. He contemplated the negro in his condition as a "freedman," as so much clear gain to New England manufacturers. The slaves are not good customers; the efreedman [sic] is a liberal purchaser.

Dr. Knox, who had been down South, at Beaufort, among the islands within Saxton's lines, and who said he spoke the literal truth, from actual experience, declared that the whole idea of "freedmen" was a hideous joke, the President's emancipation proclamation a sham. The so-called freedmen of the South were, to-day, as bad off as they were in slavery; worse off than before the war, for the Northern men who have gone down there and undertaken the charge of the "poor negro," in the name of philanthropy, were full as wicked, as oppressive, as tyrannical--yes, more wicked and avaricious than the original slaveholders. The day wages for a negro on the Sea Island cotton fields is worth $4 a day, at the present prices for cotton; but they who hold the plantations make the negro work for fifteen cents a day, and if he dares to complain, is treated with the foulest language, abused in various cruel ways, scourged, told he is not worthy of freedom if he complains, and threatened with immediate enlistment into the army. In this way they are forced to submit to the most galling servitude.

Dr. Knox then turned his attention to the Freedmen's Society. He characterized it as "The God Forsaken National Freemen's Aid Society!" It was a humbug, a cheat; obtained funds under false pretences to buy goods, which they sell to the negroes and then pocket the money. The society, united with new Northern slaveholders, were grinding the negroes to the dust, in the name of humanity, and growing rich out of the sufferings of the blackman and the miseries of the country. As for General Saxton, Dr. Knox declared in the most emphatic terms, and repeated the declaration; that "Gen. Saxton, who is a coward and a rascal, stands at the head of this oppression, and is, practically, the leader and the head of the slaveholders at Port Royal." [Cries of shame! shame! it's a lie! it's a lie! put him out!" hisses, groans, applause, &c.]

Geo Thompson in the course of some remarks offered by him, agreed with Mr. Philips that the liberties of America should not be entrusted in the hands of politicians and Generals in the army. If the people do not see to it that the negro has given to him the full measure of his liberties, then the American Republic cannot stand. The wrath of God will be upon them. He said that in the light of the Declaration of Independence, America has lived a lie from the 4th of July 1776, to the present time. Give the negro justice, full justice, and the American Republic will stand forever.

Mr. Philips wanted everything to be laid aside at present to make way for the great question before the American people at the present time, shall Louisiana be admitted into the Union with her present slavery? The duty of this meeting was to send out a strong and unanimous No. We must demand of Congress to repudiate the so called freedom but in reality the slavery of Louisiana, and refuse her entrance in her present state.

After other remarks, the resolutions of Mr. Philips were adopted and the meeting was dissolved.