Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-04
Gen. Wilcox I'm DetrOit-A Brave Speech
by n Brave Soldier.


by Brave Soldier.
Gen. Wilcox, who was captured, incarce-
rated, and released by the rebels with Gen.
CorcOran, met with hearty welcome at De
troit on Wednesday last He made a very in
teresting speech, but we have room only for
the following extracts:
Gen. W. said that large numbers of south
ern people-men, women, and children-for
no other crime than supposed loyalty to the
country and constitution of their fathers, were
incarcerated in dungeons, and treated even
worse, if possible, than they had been. The
masses of the people south would gladly re-
cognize and return to the Union, but so close
ly are they held in bondage and terror that no
demonstrations of their loyalty can be made.
They are thoroughly enslayed, through fear,
to JEFF. Davis, Robert Toombs, Howell Cobb,
and others, men whom they now and always
have thoroughly hated and despised.
Said Gen. Wilcox, the south is fighting for
the most absolute despotism on the face OF
the earth-freedom of speech, freedom of the
press, and even freedom of thought through
the secret ballot is entirely, and always will
be, denied. They hate free government, they
hate free schools, colleges, and institutions of
learning, and they intend to wage an eternal
warfare against them all. They desire a
strong goyernment-an 'front.' clad government.
It's foundation IS to be that Scaly, Sling non
Stey, SLarery-that mean, hydra headed mon
Ster, Slarery; and ats cap that scum Of c1ea-
tiOn, southern chirally. | knOW of achdt
speak. Ihare talked icith these men and l
learned their riewS. am a democrat, and
sag upon this issue ace democrats can grasp
and join hands auth the abolitioniStS. This
war is crushing slavery, and will continue to
crush it until its vitality is gone; and l cry,
Amen | go for the president and killing
policy. He is right, and l will stand by him
so long as he carries the flag. l spoke these
sentiments in Washington, and the senators
and representatives told me that that was just
what the people wanted. Now, my friends,
let us close the books for the past year, for
get all, and open new books for the new year,
and go at them with a will-with gunpowder
and shetland this wretched, unholy rebellion
will be crushed, and its authors consigned to
death and infamy.
Let us not underate their power. They
can bring 1000, 000-yea, La 0,O0O-men
into the field. They take all from 10 to 55,
and then each regiment is provided with from
rs to 100 negroes, which aggregates an I'M
mense ditch digging, cooking, aye, fighting
better drill than our own. They keep their
regiments full, and thereby make great gain
over us. When one dies or is killed, another
is drafted and put in his place. Now let me
bring this theory before you. Let me urge
upon all who enlistto go into the old regi-
ments. Yon will find the position every way
more advantageous. Thus many of them
have gained national renown. This you
will share with them. You have men at your
side who have experience, and from them, as
well as your officers, you learn your duty
1t gives you confidence when engaging in the
bloody strife; and this is great thing. The
rebels understand this, and act upon it.
In the south they have town organizations
to aid in carrying on the warm furnishing
men and means, and more especially hunting
out those whom they regard us inimical to the
rebellion. These organizations existed before
the war; and by them they are enabled to con-
troll public opinion. Here is an example for
us. Let us act upon it. We have traitors
here in our very city of Detroit. Let us have
organizations to watch them-to stop them
to put them out Every day there are thou
sands of messages streaming over Mason and
Dixon'S line to the enemy from northern trail
tors. We must make up our minds that the
last drop of blood must be spilled, and the last
rich men must give your money, and we sol
diers will give our lives to crush it. Is this
not right? Is your money OF more value TO
you than our lives to us? The enemy are full
of hatred and rancor. We must return it
with interest. l am in favor of civilized war;
fare; but when they outrage every principle
of civilization, we must give them a touch of
their own mode OF warfare. They have taken
twenty-nine of Pope's officers and confined
them in dungeon. Your own Williams is
thus served. He is compelled to eat his fam
inc rations out of his fingers, and wipe them
with his hair. l feel that l hate these men
l think ought to hate them. l am sure it is
a virtue to hate them.
These rebels practise all sorts of self-de-
NAL, even to giving up their liquor! If they
thus give up what they hold most dear for sla-
very, can we not do as much for freedom? l
shall continue this fighting as long as life con-
tinues-tO the bitter end.
Gen. Wilcox then called upon his gallant
LIST to go back with him to the strife and they
responded with a unanimous Eyes" He also
paid beautiful compliment to the gallant and
faithful Corcoran. He was with him for u
months. A more dauntlesS hero, truer pa
triot, or a nobler gentleman does not live.