Southern Notions of the North.
the Southern States have heretofore known little enough of the North; from which we infer that our summer visitors from those regions have either been too intent upon their juleps, or too much engrossed in purchasing merchandize, to carry back for the enlightenment of their stay-at-home neighbors much valuable fruit of intelligent observation. We remember to have met and to have conversed with a clever Yankee woman who undertook to teach the ideas of half a dozen boys and girls to shoot, upon a Virginian plantation. She told us that the general opinion of those about her was that we are so poor and so mean that we are ready to do almost anything for a shilling, and absolutely anything for two shillings and sixpence. So we find at this time the Southern newspapers roaring in a fussy and fiery way about “hordes” of Northern “mercenaries” sent to cut the general Southern throat. Upon these two words innumerable changes are rung, and of them two comments will dispose.“ A horde,” according to our idea, is a gang of men intent upon plunder; and “hordes” usually go where there is something beside “niggers” to steal. Rome was a fair prize for the Goths; but all the Confederate [145] States together would hardly furnish “loot” enough for a pair of rapacious regiments — certainly not enough to tempt men from the comforts of home to the discomforts of the field. Nine-tenths of the wealth of the South is in fancy human stock; of no particular value to the soldier of fortune — of no value at all to the patriotic Northern volunteer. Mercenary, indeed! These noble soldiers who have just left home and comfort and their loved ones to fight the battle of the Constitution, asking no recompense but the consciousness of rectitude — mercenaries! If so, then Warren and Washington, then Hamilton and Schuyler were mercenaries! If so, who would not be a mercenary?
The men of the North know indeed the value of money. They know what it will do; and they know, as Southern rebels will find out to their cost, just the right time to spend it. History hardly records such a profuse, yet enlightened liberality as that which the Northern States have exhibited. It is hardly an exaggeration to say, that the entire wealth of cities and towns, of private corporation and of individuals has been tendered to the Government upon its own terms. We do not believe there are ten thousand persons in Massachusetts who have given nothing or done nothing for the cause. And that which is true of Massachusetts is true of every other free State. Mercenaries, indeed! We do not have to put the screws upon our bank directors here to obtain a public loan, There is a race of giving and a competition of munificence.
This in time will, we hope, satisfy our quondam [146] brethren in Virginia, South Carolina and other territories of the United States, that we are not so miserably poor as they have been kind enough to suppose. After all we have given to the sacred cause of Law and Order, we have still a dollar or so left; and can even borrow a little should our present stock fail us. But we have hardly touched the popular pocket yet. So the sooner the subjects of Jefferson Davis stop laying that particularly flattering unction to their souls — that silly notion that we are exceedingly poor — the less they will by-and-by be disappointed. Our property is n't fugacious — has n't two legs — does n't run away or get sick and die.
Another Southern notion is that the moment we begin to be pinched and bread to grow dear we shall all be under the domination of King Mob and his army of starving artisans. They do not seem to take into account the fact which they will be sternly compelled to take into account ere long, that war will make employment for our able-bodied men. If there should be mobs the law will putt them down, just as at the South mobs put down the law.
Still another Southern mistake is that the rebellion has a powerful party at the North. Slavery once had such a party; but men, whatever may be their Pro-Slavery views, do not care to be themselves slaves. The North is pretty well united now by a common danger. Here and there a grumbler pursues his avocation, but he is careful not to be loud in the indulgence of his favorite pastime. Thus far, there is really no difference of opinion worth mentioning. [147]
One Southern newspaper now before us says: “The North is mad.” In one sense, it certainly is — somewhat angry it certainly is; but we have all around us at all hours of the day and night, cumulative evidence that there is a method in this Northern madeness. For Lunatics, we are getting on remarkably well. From that eminent lunatic, Winfield Scott, down to private dotards in the ranks, there is no alarming evidence of insanity. Northern theories of liberty and of human equality seem to be hardening/un> into pretty substantial practice.
The tone of the Southern newspapers, when speaking of the wealthy, intelligent and patriotic North as one great anarchy, and of the Northern people as “a godless mob” of “Puritans, Freelovers, Abolitionists, Mormons, Atheists and Amalgamationists,” has given the gentlemen who have cast away the slave-whip for the sword quite a mistaken notion of our resources as well as of our character. Consequently, having said to us in the elegant language of Marshal Rynders. “We do n't believe a word in your d — d philanthropy,” they consider that by saying, so they have floored us. We beg leave to announce to them that they will find, no free-love in our fire-arms, no irreligion in our revolvers no theories in our bombardments no Mormonism in our musketry, no cant in our commissariat, and no niggardliness in our military chests. We are not wild Indians--we are not all mulattoes — we are not all mere shop-keepers — we are not all misers — we are not all mobocarats — some of us at least are honest [148] men, with no particular inclination to be beaten, but with a decided inclination to resist injury.
