The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-11-08
A Word TO our Friends.


Our friends are aware that from the COM
menccment of this most unnatural war m
which our country is engaged, very con-
siderable portion Of our time hasbcen devoted
to the cnlisting of men to aid in filling the
quota Of troops required by the President
from our State. One entire company OF In
fantry was enlisted early in the season, aud
We have subsequently, participated in the
enlistment Of two other companies in the
same grade OF service. All OF these CON-
panies are now in the service OF the govern
ment. When the first company was raised,
neither tho state OF our health nor our business
matters, nor our position US Postmaster OF
Biddeford. would allow us to follow out our
convictions Of duty to tho country by con-
Meeting ourselves with the armies of the Re
public. Improving health, and the generous
permission Of the head Of the Post Office De
partmcnt, carly sought to continue us in the
Post Office without requiring our personal
attention to il details, with other considera-
tions haveopcned the way for us to fulfill the
convictions Of duty we owe to the eountry,by
entering its military service.
Tho company Of Cavalry recruited by our
direction in this county, having by a unani-
nous vote recommended us for their first
officer, We have felt il our duty to accedc to
their wishes, and have been commissioned as
Captain Of the l, Company, LIST Rcgt. Me.
Volunteer Cavalry, joined the Regiment and
shall 90 with it into actual service.
In entering ON this new field Of action we
have been prompted by no other feeling but
that of acting in obedience to the demands
Of duty. No considerations Of personal
nature inconsistent with that sincere fidelity
which the citizen owes to the government to
whicl, he owes allegcnce, and whose generous
protection he has shared, have prompted u,
to take the step, nor have we been lei TO
take il from desire of military glory, or
from any belief that we, more than u thou
sand Others, our ncighbors and friends, had
the aptitude or ability for military command.
With little experience in military affairs,
and Boosting no superior courage, we shall
strive to do our duty, and by tle assistance
Of the God OF Battles we hope to 50 conduct
rs to bring no disgrace ON the fine body of
man who have rcposed their confidence in us,
and will endeayor not to dishonor the county
from which they principally 80.
The step taken by US necessarily carries
with Il a suspension in part, though not
wholly, for the term Of service OF enlistment
g years, IL the war is not sooner closed) Of
our labors as Editor the Union and Journal.
Having been charged with its management
for now nearly seventeen years we feel that
new scenes of action and new duties, though
even attended with personal danger, and ac-
eompsnied with unavoidable privations and
bardshipS, may in some degree compensate
Us for the sorrow we feel in parting with
those with whom we have held weekly com.
munions since the paper was cstabllshcd.-
We are also cheered by the thought that we
leave to aid in defending those principles OF
constitutional freedom and popular rights,
which have been inculcated through the
columns OF the paper, and which, whenever,
howsOcycr, or by whomsOeycr aSsailed with
violence, it Is the duty " the patriot to stand
by with physical strength and il needs be to
consccrate TO their defence his hearts blood.
And we leave with less reluctance because we
arc Confident that the tone OF public senti-
ment in relation to those principles is fully
cstablished.on the right foundation, and can
not be shaken by the miserable sophisms or
wicked misrepresentation OF traitorous and
designing men who have no sympathy with
popular institutions, and who are coycrtly
or openly working to tear down the pillars
Of the republic. The power of such men for
mischief and evil is gone, and whether they
70 on unrebuked, or are silent before the
august majesty Of patriotism. they are as
impotsnt for evil Us they are incapable OF
good. The demand for our labor is now in
another direction. though in the same cause,
ane We chccrlully comply, meaning to strive