from the rebel paper. Modern warfare among civilized nations is not a system of cunning and cowardly approaches to unarmed and defenceless men, quietly occupied, with a view to mere brutal murder and revenge. Let the world judge of the sense of honor and propriety of those who can propose, execute, or approve, such savage and barbarous conduct as is disclosed and boasted of in the following article.

"THE DEATH OF MAJOR RAWLINGS.-The Petersburg Express' says:-We have heard from a source entitled to the fullest confidence, that one of the most daring feats of the age was consummated near Newport News, on Friday last, by Confederate soldiers. Ever since the killing of the much-lamented Lieutenant-Colonel CHARLES DREUX, four of his men have resolved to avenge his taking off. With this view, they obtained permission to leave their camp, and providing themselves with several days' rations, proceeded stealthily through the forests until almost within sight of the camp at Newport News.

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They laid in ambush for five days awaiting an opportunity to avenge the death of their Colonel, but none presented until Friday last. On that day they espied a party of seven Yankees, three of whom were evidently officers, engaged, at a small stream, measuring with lines, and seemingly preparing for the erection of a bridge. They were all unarmed, and the Louisianians resolved that the prey they had so

long and perseveringly sought should not escape them. Knowing that the report of their guns would alarm the camp not far distant, they speedily determined to rely solely upon the use of their bayonets, and crawling upon their hands and knees to within a convenient distance, they suddenly sprang forward, each man selecting his victim.

"Two officers were killed, but one of them, a Major, not dying at the first thrust, was struck over the head with the butt of a musket until life was extinct. The other five men were secured, one of them severely wounded, and carried into camp at York town. The wounded man proved to be a Captain, and when our informant left Yorktown, it was thought that he would certainly die, having received a severe bayonet stab in his breast, and other cuts in different portions of his body."

Of a piece with this base transaction is an event more recently recited. A small party of residents of the North consisting of three or four men and one female, known only to be quiet strangers, and subject to no other charge, wished to proceed towards their home. The men were stripped naked, and inhumanly beaten and lacerated. The woman was stripped to her waist, and forced to undergo a like bloody castigation. A war thus carried on, well becomes a power that can resort to the expediency of offering a reward of $20 or $25 a head for prisoners, whether men,

women or children, taken, dead or alive. This is stated in substance in the British House of Commons on the 15th of July. These various proceed. ings are all more or less disgraceful to civilization. If war is an honorable and manly system, resorted to only in extreme cases, such as it has been described long ago by Cicero; and military virtue as that great orator says, excels all others, how shamefully is it perverted by acts which are made a subject of boast. Unarmed men are secretly crept on and bayoneted and knocked on the head "with the butt of a musket," and it is a proud exploit.

Such results are scarcely to be wondered at, when the manner in which the ranks are filled is understood. Impressment was once a heartless practice in a great foreign naval service. Here troops of whatever allegiance are forced into the army by illegal and cruel means. It is well known that in New Orleans numbers of British subjects have been rescued from their tyrannous treatment by the interposition of their consul. No matter what the inclination of the individual may be, he is forced if possible into the service which he often abhors, and from which he deserts when he is able. A proud difference in this last fact is found between the different forces. The message of the President, in high official responsibility, asserts that "While in this the Government's hour of trial, large numbers of those in the army and navy who have been favored with the offices, have resigned

and proved false to the hand which pampered them, not one common soldier or sailor is known to have deserted his flag.

While some of the proceedings of the present administration have been severely censured in certain quarters, and a liberal construction is perhaps required in a position of great delicacy and almost entire novelty, a suggestion was made not long since by a few gentlemen of Philadelphia, of the expediency of an unofficial advisory council. This it was thought might properly be found among the persons who occupy in retirement relief from employment as past Presidents of the United States. A meeting was accordingly proposed to take place in the Hall of Independence, with the approval of the Government, from which it was thought that good might result. From whom could the country hope for better advice than from some of those who had been selected by their fellow-citizens for the higher stations, and now enjoyed the advantage of long experience in dignified repose? Some of these gentlemen were addressed on the occasion, and it was believed that the arrangement would be carried into effect. More than one of the public papers, not exactly understanding the object, expressed strong opposition, and for some insufficient reason the project failed. It may still be thought that good would have come from such a measure. Seneca advises to consult a friend on all things, and he considers that grief, as

light which can take counsel. A wiser than Seneca goes still farther. We are taught by Solomon, that "he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise," (12: 15,) And "with the well advised is wisdom." (3: 10.) And "in multitude of counsellors there is safety." (24: 6.)

With or without external advice, we are bound to treat the constitutional head of the Government with deference, and as a general rule, to conform to his official measures. The result of the last election was an almost immediate rebellion. The candidates of the Republican party were chosen by Northern votes. It is remarkable that the whole South where the bitterest hostility exists, and the present chief magistrate is repudiated, like its debts, must be looked upon as responsible for the fate of the political controversy. In an ill-judging confidence of success the party which has been generally successful divided its strength, and according to a well-known maxim it was conquered. One of the separated candidates misjudged his position which as a candidate for the highest elective office, was one of dignity, and compromised himself and his position by stumping for a vote. It is to be hoped that the bad example may never be followed. Perhaps the exertions of mind and body made by him contributed to his death. The other Democratic candidate has lived, it may be believed, in disappointment, for his career as a senator and a citizen has been a continued effort to thwart legislative proceedings, without a hope of success, and to disturb