Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-09-12
gen. wilcox ON The war aud slavery.


General Wilcox, who has just been released
from Imprisonment at Richmend, made stirring
speech at Detroit few days since, in response
to an address of welcome. In the course of his
remarks, he spoke of the war and slavery in
these emphatic terms:
"The South is fighting for the most absolute
despotisn 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 de-
sire a strong government--an iron-clad govern
ment. Its foundation is to be that scaly, slmy
| monster, slavery; that mean, hydra-headed, NOM
ster, slavery, and its cap that scum of creation,
southern ehivalry. l know of what speak. I
have talked with these men, and learned their
views. / am democrat, and say upon this is
sue we democrats can grasp and join hands with
the abolitonists This war is crushing slavery
land will continue to crush it until its vitality is
gone; and | cry Amen / go for the President
and killing policy. He is right, and win
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
and gOa 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 underrate their power. They can
bring l,000,000s-yes, ,400000-men into the
field. They take all from Is to IS, and then
each regiment is provided with from rs to 100
negroes, which aggregates an immense ditch
digging, cooking, aye, fighting force. These
men are better organized and better drilled than
our own. They keep their regiments full and
thereby make great gain over as. When one
dies or IS killed, another is drafted and put in
his place. Now let me bring this theory be-
fore you. Let me urge upon all who enlist to
go into the old regiments. You viii find sho
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. Ii gives YOU confidence when engaged
in the bloody strife, and this is great thing
The rebels understand this, and act upon it
an the South they have town organizations
to aid in carrying on the war-in furnishing men
and means, and more especially hunting out
those whom they regard as inimcal to the re-
| bellion. These organizations existed before the
war, and by them they are enabled to control
public opinion Here is an example for us. Let
us act upon it. We have traitors here In our ye-
| ny city of Detroit. Let us have organizations
TO watch them--to spot them-to put them out
Every day there are thousands Of messages
streaming over Mason and Dixon's line to the
/
up our minds that the last drop Of blood must
be spilled, and the last dollar spent to put down
this rebellion. You rich men must give your
money, and we soldiers viii give our lives 10
crush it. Is this not right9 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. ! am in favor of civili-
zed warfare; but when they outrage every prin-
ciple Of civilization we must give them a touch
of their own mode Of warfare. They have TAX
en- twenty y-nine of Popes officers and confined
them in dungeon Your own williams is thus
! served. He is compelled to eat his famine ra-
tions out of his fingers and wipe them with his
, hair. feel that hate these men--I think
ought to hate them. am sure it is virtue to
, hate them.
aFhese rebels practice all sorts Of self denial
even to giving up their liquor II they thus
give up what they hold most dear for Slavery,
can We not do as much for Freedom9 shall
continue this fighting as long as life continues
10 the bitter end.