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Show 174 ROEBUCK. - he comrnis ionea Pete to convey :t private intimntion to .Can1pbcll thnt J\fr. Pahncr deRir a to con nlt hinl confid0n1 ially, and ·wonld be plc[l,. c1 to r ccivc :t vi. ·it fr01n hin1 at his own house by night. The invitation 'vas accepted, and thus nt a late hont· one night those two natives of the North were sitting in ~Ir. P~tln1er's parlor, 'vith the doors locked and the 'vincltow-shutters closed. "I have now intrusted you," ~ir. Palmer 'vas saying, "'vith a candia exposition of n1y real sentin1ents respecting the rebellion, and of the urgent reasons for disgui ing thcn1 at present. May I rely upon your friendship to make this explanation in the proper quarters 'vhcn you return to the North? I hope my conduct and moti vcs will be kin ell y appreciated there. If the forces of the Union shoulJ. hereafter reach this p_art of Virginia, as of course they ,vill, it may be destrablc that the commander shall be informed of n1y views, but you 'vill perceive that, for the benefit of our cau e, it may even then be prudent for him to rc7' tain the knowledge in his O\Vn breast." '"I understand you, I believe" responded Campbell d 1'1'1 y. ' ' . "Then there is a report current that my son Albert, who 'vas a quartcr-Jna::;tcr in the State service for a short tirnc, has resigned his office, and visited the Unio.n lines. Yon 1nay n1eet hin1 nt the North, and, I bel.ICve, you 'vill find that he is as loyal as I am. Pos. 1bly he 'vill de ire to enter the Federal service. If !ou C[tn pron1otc his plans in any way, you ·will oblige me by doing so, and 'vill render service, no tioubt, to the cause." "I understand you." ''Then rnay I count upon your friendly offices~" n 0 En U C IC. 175 "That question, 1\ir. Pal tncr, must be answered with solen1n reference to Jny parmnonnt duty a a loyal citizen of the United t:-ttc . vVhen you ' ol!cit tho favor of onr bcnjgn govcnunent it appear:-; to lHC that yon 1nay reasonably he rertnired to give Rome tangible proof of yonr loyalLy. This is a n1ost \Vickeu rebellion, anclncutr[tliLy is a great offence." "vVhat can I do here ancl now for the Union~" "1\iuch. You have a glorious ficl<1 for n. ·cfulness in your situation. The confidence rcpo ·cd in yon by yonr rebel neighbors, under the belief that you sympathize ·with thctn, will enable you to operate effectively, secretly and sn.1ely. You have a glorious opportunity." "I do not understand you." "There is in the South. a population of four milliont- 3 who should be loyal supporters of the Union canso. rrhey require only to be stiinulaiecl nncl guided. \Vhy nrc they not smn1noned to the ai<.l of tho c anns \Vhich are to strike fron1 their li1nbs tho manacles of bondage~ rrhey arc 'vithin the rebel camp. They sleep in th c ci tadol. They coul<.l gra. p tho keys. They can disband Southern armies, by destroying Southern homes. If they have not guns, there is the knife and the torch. 1\Iany of thCJu are aronna yotl. With th01n you can serve the Union." ' 'V oulcl you resort to servile insurrection-to univcr ·al 1na ... acre-to the a as ination of f!:unilics-to the viol:ttion of \VOn1cn-to the 1nurdcr of innocent children-to''-- " Enough, J\lr. Palmer. In a ·word, all means are lawful to :-;uppre::;s this unprovoked, this 'vicketl, thi::J atrocious rebellion ao·ninst the best !!Ovcrmncnt tho 0 ~.J world ever saw. It is a rebellion of slavc-holJcrs. It |