The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-09-06
A Soldiers Views.

lUeSSrS. Editors I'm our arrival 10
camp few days since, friend, apparently
anticipating our anxiety for news after a
three months campaign on the Western
prairios, handed me few back numbers of
your paper. After careful perusal / am
inclined to favor its orthodoxy, not only on
the policy which should control the Gov.
ernment, but also, in conjunction with, l
may add, large majority of the rank and
file of the army, most heartily endorse
your preference Of GEORGE A. CRAWFORD,
Of Bourbon county, to fill the next Guber.
material chair of this State.
What mighty responsibilities now hang
lowering over the future destiny of this
Young commonwealth, and how important
the necessity of selecting honest men to
govern its affairs. l deny that Kansas is
not possessed Of eminent material to make
good officers. Let your convention which
meets on the 18th day of September next,
at Topeka, be composed of delegates select
cd from among the few hardy yeomanry of
the country, and not from the worthless,
broken-down politician or lounger who lives
by stealing from his fellow men.
1t is to be hoped however, that before the
convention or election for officers arrives
that portion, at least, of this human drift
wood of society will be where they should
have been long since, by draft of Govern
ment, in the army. We don't want to see
the convention select candidates because of
their remarkable talent. Wisdom improp-
erly directed is a powerful lever in the
hands Of corrupt and designing men. Let
the doctrines enunciated by Jefferson and
other Fathers of the Republic once more
prevail, and let the interrogatories be: Is
lie honest is he capable? 1t is with re-
gret We are compelled too often to witness
at this day the Government, bequeathed to
US by our ancestors and by them transmitted
as rich legacy to US, invaded by hordes of
dishonest officers, not only in the army bat
in civil life.
Did 1t ever occur to you, Messrs. Editors,
that our Government is predicated on the
cardinal doctrines of mankind for self-gov-
ernment; and further that all sovereignty
emanates from and reverts to the people :?
On the virtue and intelligence of our people
depend the perpetuity of this Government.
How essential then is it that every true
philanthropist from down the hungry leech
es who hang like an incubus on our National
Treasury, threatening it's sure and inevita-
BILE destruction, unless soon thwarted.
Now We hope the people exercising the
elective franchise, as We cannot vote, being
soldiers, will support and elect George A.
Crawford, whom know from acquaintance
to be an honest gentleman, and will make
q good Governor. 1t would have been
infinitely better for not only the service in
which We are engaged, but for the honor of
the State, had the judiciary declared his
election valid last fall.
President Lincoln is using every means
in his power to administer the Government
honestly and in good faith, and to enable
him to do this, he should be supported BY
every loyal citizen. Our whole body polite
needs purging; let tie guillotine be put
to work amputating, especially with gov
officials. If the fountain head be
corrupt you may look for the stream to be
impure. Our country has heretofore suf. |
fered from the unjust policy of appointing
inefficient officers over men who should |
have the right to choose for themselves
What miserable subterfuge to assert that
or jurist will make . good
officer without the experimental knowledge
If camp life. The same magic power that
would make them Efficient would make Z
carpenter or mason good jurist We
Rant discrimination IN these matters, and
L