, 1862-10-27

r. casually appended to busiress letter Hom
one OF our merchants TO his correspondent in
the country, "By TIC scay, aolte,e do vuu stanl
polisieally7" We think that our readers will
agree that the party ADDRESSED gives q good
reason for "the faith that is In in:''
PoET BrRos, lis, Oct. 2s, 1862.
R. ". Smith:
DEAR S1R: You as! me where stand po-
litically. This Is easily answered at tue
lint booming of lebsl cannon at Fort SUM
tions, and indifferent as 10 wh=re future
events might lead me-, then 1elt, and yet
feel that it7wss my duty to use what power
God had given me to sustain the government,
and do ali could to assist IN putting down
and crushing out forever this wicked re-
bellion.
1t is not for me to halt, cri,iclse and discuss
nice constitutional questions, while this gf-
ran1ic rebellion is progressing, and rebels are
inhumauly butchetiug, hanging and lmprtson-
ing your and my neighbours and friends. have
a sors Of general idea from bible and profanc
history in what manner wars have b=en coz
Quoted, and that war, to destroy both the en-
envy and his property, upon all and every oc-
cssion. am not prepared myself to march
up and face the rebel, while they hold the
constitution in their left baud, and slay me
with the right, neither will ask my neigh
bore so to do; but with all due Difference to
the views OF some our Northern politicians, I
must Guy that 1hil a years carepa!gn in the
field, and perhaps Imprisonment In so1ne
loathson,e rebel dungeon, wonld very greatly
modify their views upon nice constitutional
questions IS 10 slavery.
Interpret, the seeming results of the late
elections differently from many. II they ap-
pear to condemn the administration At all 1t
il for the reason that 1t has not done enough
TO strike down treason aud crush rebellion,
rather than too much. Tampering will IN.
sn cr no longer, If we would exist as nation,
it has been indu]gcd in too long. AL the
means that the constitution, the usages Of
var and Gcd has given us must be used, and
used speedily and vigorously If We would con-
quer rebellion, and # not so used rebellion
will conquer, or if peace Is proposed they
will dictate the terms not us, ana have
France and Eoglaud to back them. In the
latter event does any sane man suppose they
will stop short OF controlling the mouth Of
the Mississippi River, and are VIZ Of the
northwest prepared for that in order to save
elayery to tour dear brethren South" as
Gov. Seymour, Judge Allen and the lesser
lights term them believe a. much as be-
lieve exist, TINT II Judge Douglas. whom
| warmly supported. hsd been president, that
| he would have crushed this rebellion long
| since; he never adopted any half way mea-
sure. # slavery stood in the way Of saving
the Union, 1 believe he would have
swept it from existence at breath. When
| he said there was no ''neutra1 ground to stand
| upon; that IN this great struggle there could
be but two c]asees-patriot5 or traitors" he
| meant Just what he said. Times hav. not
not changed since. Rebellion means now
| What it meant then, and still exists In all its
h;decus deformity. It has become very CON-
! mon to call all persons aholitionfsts who sup.
Eott the presidents proclamation. Well, be
| it SO. What docs the proclamation propose to
do? 1t proposes to preserve the Uaion at
tie expense Of slavery; nothing more-no:h-
ing less. It has not set free one single slave.
nor can 1t, by It's terms, until the first Of jan
uary next; and then, If those in rebellion
| agaiust the government will lay down their
afrs md become loyal citizens, not q hair Of
slayrs' head shall be touched. It Is .optioosl
| with them; the onus is upon them, not ths
| ply, as they no doubt will, they then say to
| US and the world that they will flght this re-
| brl1ion to the bitter end. And eh1ll we, in
that event, Tor fear Of grating upon the ten
! der nerves Of some constitutional stick(er.
thrink back and fail TO strife blow that will
etich]crs know full well that the blow .is not
struck through the constitution, but
over It, under, and by virtue Of, the war
power as old as the world. Ths
war power gives the president
as commander-in-ch1.f Of the army aud nssS,
! the authority to destroy. propsrty. tear up
railroads, burn and demoliah buildings, seize
your house and convert ttlsm into
hospitals. but the constitution docs not. 1t I
] am a 10y citizen Will be compensated tor
my property; ii am rebel will no. aud
| shout, not bc compensated. By the consterna~
tion manifest In rebeldou1, tha proclamation
hes evieently struck the jnslar rein Of treason
and why in the name OF Heaven should we
! Of the North step forward to bind up the
! wound and nurse It into full strength again
that it NAV still strike its deadly bio rs at our
| lives aad liberties and our national existence?
| Again the proclamation says to treason at the
! North that it must be DONE II q person Is
| loyal md dcvotes his energies to the support
| Of his lis government, no order or proclams-
| tiou will molest him, but lip service will no
| lorgcr pass current for patriotism,
| Entertaining such views I cannot vote for
! any man, hoxmucbsoeyer may esteem him
| personally. who would vote to ahortenItha et.
eeu'iye arm one jot or tittle in putting down
the rebellion. Tho CRY of executive assump-
| tion has 10 terrozB for me.
| JAMES A. BELcuER.