Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 25, Number 3768, 20 April 1863 — A CAPITAL UNION LETTER FROM MISSOURI. [ARTICLE]

A CAPITAL UNION LETTER FROM MISSOURI.

"The letter published below was written by an unflinching Union man of Wayne county, Missouri, to a friend in Tehama county. We find it in the Red Bluff Beacon, and the editor indorses the writer as an honorable and truthful gentleman. He draws a picture of the condition of society in that portion of the State where he resides, which shows the terrible condition into which Missouri has been plunged by the horrible atrocities perpetrated by men who claimed to be fighting with Jeff. Davis for Southern independence. The savage barbarities which have been inflicted upon the people of Missouri by rebel guerrillas or, more properly, robbers and murderers, as Missouri had declared by vote of her people to remain in the Union which this man details, were caused by the attempt of a few reckless and bloodthirsty Secessionists to place the State under tbe military rule of Jeff. Davis, by subjugating or murdering the Union majority. And notwithstanding the vote of the majority to remain in the Union and under the stars and stripes, the cut-throats who composed the minority would have succeeded in placing the people of Missouri under the military despotism of Jeff. Davis, as completely as Tennessee was, had it not been for the assistance furnished by the United States. The volunteer soldiers who rushed to the aid of Missouri from the loyal States on her northern borders saved Missouri from the iron rule of the rebel Confederacy. The Union men ofthe State, at the commencement, were anxious to avoid war and bloodshed. They desired peace ; they shuddered at the thought of a war with their own neighbors, and for months declined to take up arms even in their own defense. The consequence was that thousands of Union men were plundered by the rebel hordes of Price and other rebel officers, and hundreds ofthe same class murdered or carried into captivity. For months this species of robbery and murder prevailed in a State which had steadily refused to join the rebel Confederacy : the soil ofthe State was invaded and moistened by the blood of her loyal citizens ; millions of property belonging to Union men was destroyed ; the horrors of a civil war were forced upon men who were quietly at home attending to their business and to such an extent were the atrocities of the rebels carried that the Union men of the State found, by a sad experience, that they must organize and arm in self-defense. They did organize about a year ago, and called on the National Government for arms. They were furnished; and since that date the Missouri State militia have, with the co-operation of the Federal authorities, very effectually crushed out treason in that State. They have driven the guerrillas out of the country, and many of them, as the writer of the letter below states, are now renegades and thieves, with no home and no friends among their former neighbors. Those men, he says, can never live among the people they have so wickedly wronged, as if they attempted it they would be " shot down like dogs." It is undoubtedly true that those who turned rebels, armed themselves and shot down their Union neighbors and fellow citizens in the name of the Southern Confederacy, will never be permitted to return to Missouri. The Union men remaining will shoot them in revenge fer the death of some relative or friend at their murderous hands, or they will do it as the only means of protection in the future. By the Breckinridge Peace Democrats in California the Union man who wrote the letter from Missouri would be called an Abolitionist, because he is in favor of annihilating rebellion and sustaining the Union and the Government of the United States; because he is ready to lay down his life for his country ( and has been imprisoned and robbed by rebels in the service of Jeff. Davis. All such men are styled by Breckinridge, anti-War Democrats Abolitionists. But if the Union men in Missouri are to be classed as Abolitionists, the rebel guerrillas who murder and rob them must be classed as genuine Copperhead Democrats. We have not the least doubt upon the point that before they became rebels they were Breckinridge State Rights Democrats in good standing. When they aimed to cut the throats of Union men, they ranked as anti-Coercion Democrats, and undoubtedly denounced all those who were for supporting tbe National Government as Abolitionists. In fact, the rebel guerrillas in Missouri as habitually denounce all the Missourians who have taken up arms to defend themselves, their families and the Union from the torch, knife and bullets of traitors in their midst as the meanest kind of Abolitionists, .as the Breckinridge anti-War Democrats of California do all those who sustain the war and the Administration. So far as applying | epithets to their opponents can go, the rebels ' ofthe South and the Breckinridge Peace Demoj crats work hand in hand. The rebels denounce j all Union soldiers as Abolitionists, and the Breckinridge Democrats denounce all Union men, all men who stand by the Administration I and sustain the war, as Abolitionists. Union j men everywhere should note the coincidence. It is striking, and ought to prove impressive. A rebel and a Copperhead Democrat are just about as nearly related as a rattlesnake and a copperhead. It is difficult to determine which is the more dangerous in a community. The letter upon which we have commented was introduced by the Beacon as follows : We have been kindly permitted, by the gentleman to whom It is addressed, to make the following extracts from a letter written by a prominent citizen of Greenfield, Dade county, Missouri. AYe are intimately acquainted with the — have known him for fifteen I years and a more honorable and truthful gentleman !we have never met. He has been a prominent man in ! that section for over twenty years, having been a 1.-ad-I ing merchant, for many years Postmaster at Greenfield, j and at one time a member of the State Legislature. j We state this much ('and there are thirty persons in Tehama county who* will indorse us) for fear some rebel will say this letter was gotten up for the occasion : " Greenfield (Mo.), March 2, 1563. "My Dear Sir: I was glad to hear from your letter that you was free from the troubles that surround us. i Language would be Inadequate to describe the sufferj ings of this community. Neighborhoods are broken I up, the peace and happiness of families destroyed, old and l~.ng-tricd friends alienate d, besides a thousand-und- ! one ills, too numerous to mention. Guerrilla hands infest j the country, robbing defenseless women and children. |No man is safe from the marauders. Hundreds of rene- ! gades from the rebel army are scouting through the country, some of them trying to get home, broken down in fortune and spirit*, but so demoralized that they i scruple not to rob a woman or a child of her food and j raiment. Some of them are our neighbors — boys that i grew up with you. Poor deluded fellows '. they were ! enticed and allured into the rebellion by designing i demagogues for their own pecuniary benefit and | aggrandizement. They are now lost and ruined in j character. To steal a horse, or rob a Union man, is to them a sacred duty. I will mention the names of a j few only. [Here follows the list, but as they areknown I to only a portion of our readers we omit It. as the wri- \ ter might not be pleased to have us place it before the I public. — Editor Beacon.] These men can never live ; here again ; they would be shot like mad dogs. " My friend, 1 have seen sights since 1 last saw you. I I have been three times a prisoner, and robbed so often that I cannot enumerate it. I have been taken out of i my bed undressed, and held a prisoner until I was robbed. That, too, in the face of my family, and all in ■ the name of Jeff. Davis and the Southern Confederacy. ■ General Sterling Price sent all the way from Lexington i to have me arrested, because I hung cot the glorious \ old Stars and Stripes. I did hang that national emblem ; out. It was the £Ug of my fathers and the flag of 1 hii.gton. I was raised beneath its broad folds, ; have been protected by It, and with the help of God I . will die by it. I want no prouder winding sheet than the Stars and Stripes no more honorable grave than a '. grave by the side of the Union. " I know not how you stand upon the unfortunate affairs that now shake the country of Washington from center to circumference; but there honethiog I do • know.and that is, that we were both taught, on an inj teresting and solemn occasion, 'that in the State we | were to be peaceable and quiet subjects, true to our • : country, and just to our Government ; that we were . not to countenance disloyalty or rebellion, but patient|ly to submit to legal authority.' lam sorry to know , • that many — very many — of those who were taught ; likewise, have wandered far from the path of duty, and 1 are row in open rebellion against that country and • that Government that they had so solemnly pledged themselves to support and maintain. May God forgive ; them ! , I "I said that I had seen sights since I saw you. Yes, I have seen the strong armed man, who had left his home, ' his wife and his children, to meet the enemies of his i Government, fall at his post. Pale and sad I have seen , him bow his head, and was no more. In vain may his ; little children, who looked to him for support, with arti ; less Innocence demand his return. Alas '. no more shall his wife, hi* children, his friends, or Ids sacred home, ; beholl him again. * ''Nathan McCleur was a lair exemplification of the

imperfect picture here drawn. He fell at his post while nobly doing his duly, in defense of the glorious old stars and stripes. He commanded Company M, Eighth Missouri Volunteers, and. participated in the memorable battle of Prairie Grove, and died at For sythe, on the 16th of January last, honored by all who knew him, respected by his superior officers, and lamented by the whole army. His brother Timothy was in the rebel army, and In the battle of Prairie Grove. My God ! what a commentary upon the damnable doctrine of secession - The Pacific Railroad Question in San Francisco. — We are pleased to see the following sensible article in the San Francisco Call on this subject. The CaU in this matter is in advance of some of its city cotemporaries, which are doing but little else than throwing cold water upon an undertaking which bids fair to add to the business and general prosperity not only of San Francisco but the whole 'of California. Those who set their faces against this enterprise from feelings of local jealousy and private interest will be considered as opposing the true interests of the State, and appreciated accordingly : Despite the opposition of the close communion set in this city, who oppose every measure and enterprise that does not originate with themselves, and which they cannot control and appropriate the profits, the Assembly has passed, with only a few dissenting votes, the bill submitting to a decision of the people of this city a proposition for the county to subscribe one million of dollars to the stock of the Central and the Western Pacific Railroad Companies. The bill will doubtless become a law, after which the matter will rest wholly with the voters of this city. It will be for them to agree that the proposed subscription shall be made, or to decline it; and the day of election will determine whether or not the people coincide with the narrowminded views of the close communionists, or whether they are more potent than these opponents of general improvement. One fact is certain, and that is, in the present condition of the country and with the high rates of interest which money commands in this State, the road cannot be built by private enterprise, not even if it could be positively shown that when built it would pay twenty-five per cent, per annum on the cost of investment. Eastern capitalists might take stock in the road to a large extent, but their assistance would be a detriment, because they would pay their assessments in greenbacks, and it would be impossible to establish any system by which labor could be employed in this State with that sort of currency. Every thousand dollars they would pay in would not really amount to more than six hundred dollars ; therefore, should they take all the stock the road could not be built. If the road is to be built, it must be constructed by public aid — by aid from the countries through which it is to pass, and which are to be most benefited by it. It rests with the people to give or withhold this needed aid. If they say yes, the road will be built; if they say no, the great enterprise upon which the future prosperity of this State depends, and for which we have all clamored for years, must fall to the ground. Of all the towns and communities in the State, none will be so much benefited by the completion of the Pacific Railroad as Sun Francisco. All the wealth the road will create, all the commerce it will call into life, all the industrial enterprises to which it will give birth, must center in this city, and will, of course, add directly and indirectly to the wealth and prosperity of every man residing here, be he rich or poor, merchant or laborer, landed proprietor or journeyman mechanic, opulent capitalist or modest tradesman. Such being the case, every voter should give the matter a careful consideration, so that when the time comes he can vote on the subject intelligently and free from all narrow-minded and selfish influence and considerations.

Mining in Esmeralda. — A correspondent of the Union, writing from Aurora, April 12th, says: There has for some months past seemed to be almost a mania for tunnels in this district, and scores of them have been located and are being prosecuted— many of them day and night — running into Last Chance, Middle and Silver Hill. Some are run for the purpose of working at a great depth ledges that are known to be rich. Others are being run solely for the purpose of discovering blind ledges, or ledges that do not crop out on the surface. These tunnels are, by most of the old miners here, considered very safe investments, and by many, as the very best that can be made. They are unlike similar investments made in Virginia, Gold Hill and Silver City, where there is but one main grand lode. The truth is, that where there is one well defined, distinct ledge of gold and silver bearing quartz rock in the districts named, there are scores, and perhaps hundreds in this, many of which, like the famous Pond, do not crop out at all, and are found at least thirty feet below the surface. Several tunnel's here — among which is the Nevada, Discovery and Tucker — have each already struck valuable lodes in the prosecution of their work, which, of course, tends greatly to enhance the value of their stock. Other tunnels again, such as the "Union," "McKinstry," "Boston," "Phoenix," etc., etc., are being run to strike their own ledges (already known to be rich) at a great depth under ground, with the chances of finding other ledges, defining and developing their own; also, of obtaining water and draining their mines; While other tunnels, still, are being prosecuted in favorable localities simply for the purpose of discovery, and are being prosecuted day and night. The Aurora Water Company's Tunnel, which has been run day and night ever since it was commenced, is now into the hill west of the town about one hundred and fifty feet. They have already found some water, and expect soon to strike the large springs which are known to exist in the hill within the next fifty feet, and seem very confident of finding in that distance a sufficient quantity to supply at least the present wants of the town with pure and wholesome water. I think this will prove a profitable investment for the owners.

In my rambles on Silver Hill yesterday I found a new tunnel just commenced, and was surprised that the location had been so long overlooked, as it is doubtless one of the best on the hill, even if it is surpassed by any. Among the locators are some residents of Aurora, and several prominent citizens of San Francisco and Sacramento, who have honored the enterprise — or the Governor— by naming it the "Governor Stanford Tunnel and Gold and Silver Mining Company." This tunnel in its course will run through many of the richest ledges here, such as the Antelope, Locomotive, Lucy Jane, Utah, Blue Bird, Jenny Lind, Winnemuck and others; and it would be very strange if several blind ledges were not discovered, perhaps equally as rich as those named. And even if none are struck, the fact that the ore from so many ledges can be taken out through the tunnel will of itself render it highly remunerative. The same company have also located a mill site at the mouth of their tunnel, and secured some springs of water above them, in the same gulch or ravine, which will probably yield a sufficient amount of water for mill purposes, and if so it cannot fail to be among the best property in the district.

Land Claims. — the United States District Court lately a decree was made approving the official survey of the rancho Guenoc, in Sonoma county. Archibald A. Ritchie is the claimant of this rancho, which was granted May 8, 1845, by Pio Pico to George Rock, and the grant was confirmed December 18, 1852. It comprises six square leagues, or 21,220.03 acres. A decree was also made confirming the claim of Cayetano Juarez to the rancho Yokaya, in Mendocino county, which was granted May 24, 1845, to the present claimant, C. Juarez, and comprises eight square leagues.

The Union Meeting at the Pavilion Saturday night was an imposing demonstration. The

number present was very large, in proportion to the population of the city. The effect in ths State cannot be otherwise than favorable, as numbers of the prominent men in the State were present and addressed the meeting.

Petition for a New Mail Route. — A petition, numerously signed, has been forwarded to the Post Office Department, asking for a triweekly post route between Shasta and Copper City and Pittsburg, in Shasta county, where the new silver mines are situated.

Those who are expected to move in the j ! nomination of Trustees and city officers ought j I certainly to be moving in the premises. It is time that steps were taken to place proper names before the public. House Blown Down.— The town of Jackson was visited Wednesday night, April 15th, by a severe storm, and a frame building belonging to Charles Stickler, half finished, blown down. We hope the Taxpayer*' Association will not think of nominating a ticket for Trustees st the meeting called for to-night. .