And these people know just enough to make them _dangerous_. They have read in some of their county newspapers that Vice-President Hamlin is a negro, and that Lincoln is waging this war for the purpose of liberating the slaves and killing their masters. This they believe, and any amount of reasoning cannot convince them to the contrary. It seems to be enough for them to know that they are _Virginians_; upon this, and this alone, they live and have their being. They are by far the most wretched and degraded people in America,--I had almost said in the world. The women, if possible, are worse than the men; they go dressed in a loose, uncouth manner, barefooted and bareheaded; their principal occupation is chewing tobacco and plundering Union troops by getting ten prices for their eggs, butter, and corn bread. And these are the people our children--and their fathers before them--have been taught to regard as the true _chivalry_ of America! The people of the United States are beginning to see that Virginia and her sons have been greatly over-estimated. That Virginia has produced true and great men, no one will deny. There are a few such still within her borders; but, taking her as a whole, the picture I have drawn is a true one. By my soldiering experience I learned some things which it would have been impossible to learn had I never 'gone for a soger.' First, I ascertained--shall I say from my _personal_ experience?--that a man dressed in soldier-clothes can stand twice as much bad liquor as one clothed in the garb of a citizen. Secondly, that to be a good soldier a man should be able to go at least forty-eight hours without eating, drinking, or sleeping, and then endure guard-duty all night in a drenching rain, without grumbling or fault-finding. Thirdly, I _think_ I have discovered that the martial road to glory '_is a hard road to travel_.' * * * * * A CABINET SESSION. _The President: Secretaries Seward, Chase, Bates, Smith, Blair and Welles. Enter Mr. Stanton._ _Mr. Lincoln._ Gentlemen, I officially present Mr. Stanton! [_Mr. Stanton, bowing with graceful dignity, seats himself at the table._] _Mr. Seward (breaking the momentary pause in his jocular way)._ Remember, Mr. Secretary of War, you are now in the old chair of Floyd and Davis: and sit thee down as if on nettles. _Mr. Chase._ Aye; but out of the 'nettle danger' pluck thou 'the flower safety.' _Mr. Stanton (with emphasis)._ Believe me, I appreciate not so much the honor as the responsibilities of my new position. I claim a good omen, for, as I turned just now towards the gate, a little boy, seated upon one of the granite blocks for the new building hereabout, trolled out as my salutation the lines of the national air,-- 'Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just, And this be our motto, In God is our trust.' _Mr. Welles._ Amen!