Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-07-17
From washInrron.

-WAbhlNoIONi y. u, July Ia, 1852.
EDs. LEADER'-since the disaster to our
army near Riohmond, there has been.
among public men here an evident change,
in opinion as to the manner OF conducting
thew This change is more marked, of
course, in conservatives, both Of the Demo-
cratic and Republican schools but the
earnest men, who have heretofore advo-
Gated n change Of measures, have been
stimulated in energy. auHaT
Under this feeling, Congress, as you
have heard ere this, have passed a very
good COnfscation Bill, one clause of which
allows the President to enlist and use
slaves In such capacity as the necessity of
the cause may require. If they are used
as they may be, building entrenchments
and doing The heavy camp work, 1t will be
great relief to our unacelimsted soldiers
during the warm weather, when they are
exposed to malaria and fevers. .fs-.
But this is not the only way in which
the slaves can be used to our advantage.-
Heretofore we have been advancing into
strange country, our men wholly unac-
quainted with the general surface, roads
or paths, and contending with an enemy
we'll acquainted with all these OF course
we were often taken at disadvantage
Who would be more competent to act as
guides or spies than the negroes who have
lived in the immediate ueighborhood all
their lives and travelled every By-path
nights as well as days This they will do,
when stimulated by the hope Of freedom,
for it has been done in some cases already
when they had no certain benefit to stimu-
late them.
The Border State influence has been our
bane in this matter. These politicians have
always obtained Office through the slavery
combination, and they would have us feel
that slavery is too sacred to meddle with,
even in the hands of rebels. But thank
God the scales are falling from our eyes,
A prominent politician from Illinois, here
tofore Democratic Member of Congress,
now General in our Army, says "Slave-
ry is not satisfied with equal rights in the
Government. It killed Douglas, and is
now trying to break down our free insti-
tutions altogether" and that he will not
sheathe his sword "until the slave power
is broken, and has received just retribu-
ton" This feeling is growing among
public men Of all parties who are earnest
in the support of the Government, as they
see the desperation and hatred manifested
by the rebels, without cause, against the
Government.
The different associations for the relief
of soldiers, here, from the several States,
are doing a good work in stimulating at
tention to the sick and wounded. Ohio
men, here, were the first to move in this
matter.
Mrs. Secretary Smith, in her earnest e. I
forts to devise ways and means to contrib
ute to the relief Of our sick and wounded
soldiers, has inaugurated a kind Of Select
Social Fair. was present at the inaugu-
ration, last Thursday evening, and found
our patriotic Secretary's house turned into
q house of merchandise The parlors were
neatly trimmed with flags; on one side
several booths were erected, the counters
covered with toys, fancy articles, bouquets,
&C., displayed for sale. Mrs. Smiths
daughter was the graceful head of a galaxy
of saleswomen, who wed with each other
in their efforts to attract customers to their
several booths to purchase articles.
In the rear Of the Mansion, the yards
were decorated and lighted with Chinese
lanterns, of the red, white and blue stripe,
as were also several tents which. contained
refreshment stands. Secretary Smith, al
though scarcely recovered from a severe
illness, and lady were indefatigable in their
efforts to entertain the company, which was
made up of Senators, Generals, Foreign
Ministers, Heads Of Bureaus, SC. Several
balloons were sent up during the evening,
and various amnsements furnished for the
entertainment of the social customers. OF
course, liberal prices were paid for refresh
ments and all articles offered, Competi-
ton ran high, at times fifteen or twenty
dollars being paid for some of the splendid
bouquets Gentlemen patroniEed their
fsEorite salesWomen, and there was a good
time generally.
Thus has Mrs Smith made q public in
stitution semi-social, and contributed an
other method to raise material for aid so
cieties, and furnish comforts and delioa-
cies to our soldiers in hospital here whore
this excellent lady is known as the soldiers
benefaotress.
The border State Vsllandighams kick
some ct the passage of the Confscation
Bill, but the earnest men of all parties are
tired of listening 10 their scare-crow sto-
ries, and give little heed to them.