The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-08-19
INDEPENDENCE, August l4th, 1862.

INDEPENDENCE, August 18th, 1862.
Mn. EDITOR will you oblige me by
publishing the following extracts from
Capt. Lees letters:
The first is taken from letter written
to G. F. Leaviu Esq the one from which
the Cirilian copied the extracts entitled
" A soldiers opinion"
The others are taken from letters of a
later date addressed to myself.
CAMP NEAR CoRlNTH, Miss. !
June 18th, 1862.
As for myself / stand now where | ever
have stood, and ever expect to stand, by the
Constitution, and expect to act with the party
that makes that its chart and to oppose all
parties wheresoeyer found that seek to violate
it," My belief is, that the old Douglas Dem
ocratic organization is a sound one, and modi-
he'd to suit the times, or present emergencies
Is Just what we need, and all we need but do
not let it fall under the control of the Mahony
clique of Dubuque, if you would save it from
HE'LL
BIG SPRISG, Mss, July 23th.
g did not join the army for the purpose of
being used to protect rebels in the enjoyment
OF their wealth, and homes, while loyal men are
required to undergo the fatigues aud hardshps
of Il soldiers life. half clothed and poorly fed
to say nothing of being deprived of home and
friends, and the common comforts of life. As
to the negro question" | care but very little
about 1T, any farther than they can be made
useful to the service of the Government, and
their employment by our army cripples the re-
sources of the rebels. which should be done in
every instance.
1t Is all folly for our members Of Congress to
quarrel over the passage of laws for the aboli.
ton of Slavery. 1t is /" labor lost" The pol
icy Is hard one, and is productive of more
evil than good not on account of its effect up
on the people of the rebel States, but upon
those of the loyal States by dividing and dis
tracing their council and their efforts to put
down the rebellion. Let Congress Danish the
question from her halls adopt measures to aid
the President in prosecuting the war with Wig
| or, by giving him men, and means, and push
our army into the extreme South as fast as pos
sible, with instructions to seize and apply to
its use every thing available, .and to cripple tie
resources of the enemy whenever it can be done;
and in six months time after such policy is
put IN operation, Slavery in the South will be
numbered among the things that were but are
not" The simple march Of an army of north
ern freemen through slave State, care not
what their political proctivities are, or have
been, or with what party they may have acted
| would prove more disastrous, and destruct-
i've, to the institution of Slavery, than all the
laws Congress could pile upon the statute
books. The influence of the army, in spite Of
the efforts of some of its officers to the contrary
has effectuaIy killed Slavery in Missouri, Ken
lucky, and Tennessee, and it can never be re
suscitated in either of those States.
| cannot pursue the idea farther, for want of
/ time DDt rpmpn her ha
subject"
And again, July 9th.
81 am pleased to notice the prospect of
decided change on the part of the Administra-
| ton, in its manner of conducting this war.
see that the President has finally concluded
that magnmity towards rebels in arms is not
quite the thing to compel respect for power or
affection for good government. Had this poll
cy been adopted at the outset, this war would
now have been over, and all of us at home
with our friends, and thousands of brave men
saved from undmely graves.
hope the President win not permit himself
to be deceived by Abolitionists into the adop-
| tlon of measures, and the establishing of pol
| icy which will defeat, rather than accomplish
the end proposed.
| observe that the Aboltionists in Congress
are bent upon having their own way, and that
too at the risk of destroying the Government
| itself. / hope for the good of the country, for
the safety of the Constitution, and the liberties
OF the people, the president will stand firm in
his place and not permit himself to be turned
| from the conservative course he has chosen.
| trust that he will not NEEDLE with it any
farther than is necessary to carry ON the war,
and to deprive the enemy of the means of ma
king resistance. That is enough, and it will
accomplish all that is desired and by the time
this war is over every border State will be free
In my opinion, an interference with slavery, by
Congress at this time, would drive the border
States from our cause, and from the support
of the Government
These extracts are, | think, sufficient
to define the position taken by Capt. Lee
with regard to slavery, and the manner
of conducting the war.
especially yours,
FANNIE LEE.