Special to the New Orleans Crescent
Washington, February 22, 1861
The “natal day” has been celebrated here in grand style. People from the adjoining cities and counties gathered here by thousands, more to witness the parade of the small federal army than anything else. This came off about 3 o’clock P. M. on Pennsylvania Avenue. The troops posted themselves opposite the Center Market, near Seventh street, and made an imposing display with their cannon and horses. Suddenly the bugle sounded a charge, and away the cavalry and howitzers dashed up towards the President’s House, making a great noise, kicking up a mighty dust, but eliciting no cheers. The populace was too scared for that. All feel as if war must come, and that a military despotism is inevitable. Out of some thousand citizen soldiery (including the militia) only one company refused to join in the celebration. The National Rifles turned out, but took no part in the general procession. The men who compose this company, by far the best drilled in the city, are Southern, and do not intend to light for Marse Abe. Lincoln’s speeches at Trenton and Philadelphia leave little room to hope that he will not practice coercion. “It may he necessary to set the foot down firm.” And the New Jerseymen, the truest of all the Northerners to the South, applauded loudly and long. He is willing to live and die by the “indiscreet things” he uttered at Indianapolis, and would “rather be assassinated—even shot“—notice the anti-climax ! ” than abandon the principles which gave liberty to all the world”—negroes not excepted, of course.
That villainous sheet, the Washington Star, thinks that Arkansas has initiated the counter revolution in the Confederate States, and the States and Union quotes a recent Union-shrieking article, letter or item, which appeared in the Picayune of your city, the tendency of which is to confirm Lincoln in his coercive policy. Nothing would please the fanatics of the North more than to see Southerners cutting each other’s throats for the sake of getting back into this glorious Union.
That incarnation of mendacity, the New York Times, asserts that a letter has been received from a member of the British Government, which says that not only will there be no recognition of the Southern Confederacy by Great Britain, but everything on her part will be done to discountenance disunion. Stuff! Disunion is the dearest wish of England’s heart. But, supposing it to be true; grant that John Bull takes sides with the Yankee; what then? Why, as Senator Wigfull says, when they tell him the Southern army will have to encounter a million of men the moment it touches Northern soil, “the more the merrier.” The more war, the more glory; the greater the odds, the better the fun for the Louisianians, if they are as plucky as Gen. Lane pronounces them.
A Pennsylvanian said some time ago, ” The people of the South are honest, but d—d simple.” The course of even the strongest Southern men in the Peace Congress proves it. They have suffered themselves to be completely fooled by the Northern men, who pretend to be always on the eve of doing something, but really mean to do nothing except to keep the Congress here till the 4th of March, and then patch up a pitiful humbug compromise. The shameful fact is known that in this Peace Congress Southern men got up and told their enemies not to give them the Crittenden Compromise. Summers, I am informed, is one of them. And now we behold the Virginia Convention waiting anxiously to see whether Lincoln sells himself to Seward or to Chase—to coercion outright, or to the cunning sapping and mining policy of the arch-traitor of the Universe, It makes me sick to think of it.
Recent elections in New York show the true animus of the people. In spite of the split between Weed and Greeley, and in spite of the financial pressure and distress which prevails everywhere, the Republicans have gained largely in the vote for Lincoln on the 6th of November. Rest assured, the Yankees think they can crush us, and intend to try it.
Holt, the apostate son of the South, now Secretary of War, received a suspicious box from South Carolina yesterday. He declined to receive it, for his guilty conscience smote him. When opened, there was seen a wreath of beautiful flowers, which the express-men feared to touch, lest an explosion should follow.
Extensive arrangements are being made for Inauguration Day. The big ball-room in nearly ready. Every precaution will be taken to save Old Abe’s life. After his arrival here to-morrowv, they are going to keep hint caged till the day of his glory arrives. Old Buck is more scared than Abe is. The crisis is at hand. It will be a relief when it is over, war or no war. Three months of constant suspense is more intolerable than death itself.
Rarey, of equine fame, gives a horse-taming exhibition here next Wednesday night, in a building erected expressly for him, on the site of the old National theater. In the absence of other excitements, some enterprising Yankees have set up a number of shops on the Avenue, where you can get anything on earth, from a fine hat down to a complete “service of massive silver, inlaid with pure gold,” for one dollar.
-Malou
New Orleans Daily Crescent, New Orleans, LA
Editor’s Note – Malou
Malou was one of the pen names of George Bagby, who contributed copy to several southern newspapers during the war under various pseudonyms.