Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-04
MORNING LEADER.
N RIrht KInd ID Commnnder.

The RiGht Kind OF Commnnuer.
The following correspondence speaks for
itself 1t is between the Memphis Typo
graphical Union and Gen. Hovey, COM
mandlng at that city The letter of the
General is one Of the best documents of
the war;
Brig Gen. Hopsg, Commanding Uaitsd States
Forces,
GENERAL: Knowing you TO be valiant
soldier and a gentleman Of generous sent
iments, am requested by the members Of
the Memphis Typographical Union IA body
Of men who have remained neutral during
the present civil war) TO relieve them from
the oath prescribed by you, as they desire
10 have no part on either side in the pres
eut conflict They are working men and
not politicians, aud hope their names will
not be mixed up in civil strife. Their oc-
eupation is to disseminate knowledge, and
not to create ill-will among the great fam
lily Of a mighty country.
Yours respectfully,
J. B. SYN0TT, Sec. Mem, Typo. Union.
HRADoUARrERs UNITED STATES FoRcEs,
DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,
MENPHIs, July l9, 1862.
J. 3 SyR0ts, Secretary AsmpAis 1yPogrdPhi-
cal UnioH.
The respectful tone Of your letter, the
body Of men you represent and the COM
plimentary manner in which you have
thought proper to mention my name, all de-
mand a serious consideration and respect
ful answer to your request.
You ask me to modify Order No. l so as
TO relieve She members Of your association
from taking the oath Of allegiance. Now,
what is the substance Of that order?-
Briefly ansWered-it gives you the right
to leave the city without imposing any con-
ditions, and take up arms against our
country il you wish. It throws the gaunt-
let down and dares you to the conflict, or
simply requires you 70 swear 30 support
the Constitution your fathers made. Sure
" this is no hard rule in times Of war.
Let us enc moment contrast il with the
course adopted by the sO-styled Southern
Confederacy Where they have power,
men who have dared to whisper words in
fayor.of the Union, have by brutal (chiv-
alric q force been hung-decrepitude and
wears could not shield them Even in
sight Of this city, an old gray-haired man
Of sixty, lone, friendless, and helpless,
was hung by n chivalric mob, because he
dared 10 adhere to the Government that
gave him BIRTH aud was the pride Of his
declining years. Aye, even in this city,
if report be true,) the ball and chain in
the aYigilance Committee room was used
to intimidate the fearful, and shackle the
limbs Of freemen who would not bow down
TO tho Southern idol. The barber shop
100, is hard by, where they administered a
clean shave to all who would not shout fol
the uchiTalry' and Davis.
"You didn't do it2' Hundreds Of yOul
ahigh-toned gentlemen didn't do it? Nc
but you stood BY, raised not hand tC
shield the helpless, and dared not even
whisper one kind word to console the vic
tins of the mob. THIS loas neutrality, ana
this sras taking no p2rti Look to Missouri
Virginia. Maryland, and East Tennessee
and the robberies perpetrated under thG
color Of the Confederacy's act of confsca-
tion, and humanity will shudder and blush
No one, with my permission, shall serve
two masters. You are for US or against
US. and manly course is to choose youI
side. Ten secret foes and spies are worse
than one hundred open enemies. If you
ask tho protection Of the broad wings Of
our old eagle, you must help to feed and
support the bird. The day of kind words
good desires, much talk, and ne sincerity
has passed. Officers will be compelled to
pull of their long silken gauntlets, and
return the salutation Of pretended friends
with the stern grip Of war.
The city is now filed with treason ant
traitors and that Officer Is surely unnat
urally kind who viii permit them to re
main and hatch their unholy schemes
within his camp.
No class Of men exercise such vast in
auence over the public mind as the Graf
to which you belong, and you owe it tC
yourselves and posterity TO advocate anC
aid the right. The printer, philosopher
and statesman franklin is your pride. H'
was no neutral Follow his example, sup
port the cause that he supported, and up
hold the Constitution that he labored t
construct, and your children and chill
dren's children may be proud Of you il
future days.
have spoken earnestly, freely, but viii
no intention Of casting the least insinua
ton upon any member Of your society
Believing Order No. l to be just as well a
polite, it shall, as long as have the homo
to command, be strictly and rigidly en-
forced Respectfully yours,
ALVIN P. HOVEY,
Brigadier-General Commanding
-S-D-s- ..-.
Tho ptfrsufr Of FueftfVe slaves unds,