Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1862-10-30
Signs in The Filmameut

We publish below twofletters
addressed to the Chicago Times,
one from Memphis .andthe other
from Columbus. They Indicate
very elearthe sentiments produced
in the army by Lincoln's procla'
nation ss5-ei 5aliss. q -
--,>T 81. r3s ,lssessri, s6s Ia SD .sas
MEMPHIS, September 2S--The
newspapers of the 2Sth brought te
our army the celebrated abolition
proclamation Of President Lincoln
"A few of the gallant armyrof the
Southwest were prepared fer'it
while the great mass of them are
astounded and chagrined. { L have
never had a doubt from the first
that it would come, soenerer later
Ofcourse Mr.. Lincoln had toomuch
good sense to issue such thing
until after all the Denaocrats and
conservative men that would enlist
had done So, He knows that the
new levy of a600,000 men was
nearly if notquite full, and now. he
issues his edict, without even a
shadow Of reservation in favor of
the loyal men Of the South:
True, he says he will recommend
to Congress that they be paid, but
throws the burden of proof upon
the owner to show clear record.
This shallow pretence OF payment
is a.mere "catch penny" from the
fact that it compels, owners to part
with their property, and rely up.
ON an abolition Congress for re
muneratioil. Under such cireum-
stanceslitsis not difficult TO discov-
er that few, if any, wilseyer be paid,
and if paid, it will be a mere farce
so far as the valuation is concerned. |.
This proclamation Of the Presi-
dent fails like wet blanket upon
the loyal men of the SeutlI.
Heretofore they have insisted to
their friends, that Mr. Lincoln
was conservative, and would with
stand the pressure being brought
to bear upon him bypthesf'mger
worshippers, and now those friends
veryA Justly confront them with
this abolition document, to which
there is of course no answer.
There is little else talked of
now amongst officers and soldiers,
and at times their discussions be-
come SO heated that it requires the
interference of friends to prevent
collision; in fact, hatred and bit
terness are the necessary results
of this unwarranted assumption
of the President, and every day
develops such a dissatisfaction with
a large portion offour army that
fears are entertained as totbe re-
suits. Already the soldiers are
excited, and improve every oppor--
tunity toevent their indignation
upon the ihordes, of negroes who
are strutting the streets of Mem
phis, many of them wearing the
uniform of a soldier of the Uni
ted States. e p
Our government is issuing at
this point over 4o0G rations pei
day to support contrabands, while
not over one thousand Of them
can render any service return
the remainder being old men, wo
men, and children. In addition tc
this, the scamp followers anG
"thieves' have organized a system
of robbery, through the assistance
of the negroes, that is disgraceful
beyond description. Theyemploy
them to go outside our lines, tray
cling through defenseless neigh
borhoods, armed with reyolvers
stealing horses, mules, and any
thing movable they can find
This propertyis brought by then
inside the lines, without op
position from our pickets, and solo
to these thieves at mere nominal
prices. 1t is unnecessary to say
that the owners, whether loyal o.
not, are unable to recover then
property, it being invarlablywse::
Ecreted or sold be6orethey eanreach
lit. - s5s -
Iassure you it is huniliatingg to
see the amount of robberytllat Is
perpetrated in this way, and stf
more lrnnniliating to know that, IN
many Instances, officers and sob
.diers in. the army are parties tr
the villai1ies. s7iaH snS
The excuse for this Conduct i: