Henry D. Barrows to Dib, April 10, 1862

a \ 1 E Brig. Gen. GEORGE WRIGHT,

SIR: May not the Union citizens of this section ask that greater rigor be exercised toward secessionism, or the expression of it, im Southern

*See Wright to Lippitt, April 7, p. 992.

Our local State, county, and city officers, with very few exceptions, are avowed sympathizers with it. 1tis popular here, and the Union causeis very generally despised. Ought not the Army to do all in its power to reverse this state of things? Ought not the officers here to use all their influence to accomplish this—to make the cause of treason disreputable by abstaining from associating with all those who, whatever their social respectability, are known to sympathize with it? Whatever people’s sympathies with the South may be, ought not all expression of sympathy with the rebellion, with secession, to be absolutely and entirely suppressed? Else the task of crushing it out on American soilis going to be Herculean. Union men feel that they cannot live here if something is not done to attack and destroy secessionism here, which is strong, insidious, and specious, and far too crafty for the policy that would do nothing against it unless it be a clear case of some overt act. That policy is utterly inadequate. Secessionism will always thrive here so long as it is followed. It is as much as a Union man’s life is worth to unflinchingly expose secession doings here. Society will be against him; the civil Federal authority is powerless. He hardly knows where to look for countenance. Must this always be so? Is Southern California a part of the rebel Confederacy that loyalty to the Union is neither respectable nor safe? May we not ask that the commander of this department be instructed to attack secessionism in any phase whatsoever that it may present itself? I assure you, General Wright, that there is a very general dissatisfaction amongst the Union soldiers and Union citizens that this is not done. A great variety of information has come to my knowledge bearing on this subject that I have felt it my duty to present both to you and to the Attorney-General at Washington, but I refrain from including it here. I shrink from making issue with the commander of this department, whom I respect notwithstanding his policy is not aggressive enough, or with the secessionists, whom I despise, unless forced to do so. I will mention only two instances. A. J. King, under-sheriff of this county, who has been a bitter secessionist, who said to me that he owed no allegiance to the United States Government; that Jeff. Davis’ was the only constitutional government we had, and that he remained here because he could do more harm to the enemies of that Government by staying here than going there; brought down on the Senator Tuesday last a large lithograph giltframed portrait of Beauregard, the rebel general, which he flaunted before a large crowd at the hotel when he arrived. I induced Colonel Carleton to have him arrested as one of the many dangerous secessionists living in our midst, and to-day he was taken toCamp Drum. He was accompanied by General Volney E. Howard as counsel, and I have but little hope that he will be retained in custody. Yetin whatcountry would the display of portraits of generals of the enemy in war be tolerated—especially in a disaffected community as thisis? He might about as well have displayed a rebel flag. Would fine portraits of General McClellan or President Lincoln be tolerated in the rebel States? Very likely you may learn what disposition shall have been made of him by the steamer which leaves to-morrow. Lieutenant Buffum was ia town Monday. While here, one Powell (captain of a company fitting out for the Colorado mines, or, as some of its members intimated, for Dixie) was standing near him, who said, “There is one of those UL forms; I make it my business to kill just such as them.” Lieutenant B. could do nothing, and he had so little confidence that any notice would be taken of the insult that he declined to report it. I beseech you in behalf of the handful of sincere Union men in this community to have the strings drawn tauter here on that insidious secessionism against which Union policy too often is no match. I am, sir,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,