Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-08-22

Major 0ss~ss B. r 1ssssv. 0bn'~osdi"g The D.
pass~~ss D ~ 0sH:
Sfa:-rao commusie .t,ous from you
of this date have this moment been re-
ceived. One of them rsfers 70 the Fais-
| ing Of voluntary or militia forces, stat
ing that / "must desist from the form
alton Of any negro military organizations
and the other declaring, in . spirit con-
trary to oil usage Of military service,
and to oil the rights and Liberties OF
citizen Of free government, that my
resignation will not b accepted BY you;
that leave Of absence until its accep-
lance BY the President il granted me,
and that l n ust see to it that your or
ders-which could not obey without
becoming slave myself-are "faithful'
ly and diligently executed"
It can be of little consequence to me
a. to what kind Of slavery l am 70 I've
subjected, whether to African slavery or
to that which you thus SO offens'veIy
propose for me, giving nc an oroel
wholly opposed to my convictions OF
right. AZ we'll as Of the higher scale OF
public necessities in the case, and m
si.tioe upon my complying with it faith
fully and diligently, allowing no room
to escape with my convictions OF pr,n
cipIe, at any sacrifice that l may make.
| cannot submit to either kind Of slave
~. and cannot, therefore, for . double
reason, comply with your order OF the
Slst Of July, in complying with which l
should submit to both kinds-both to
African slavery and tothat to which you
resort 10 it's defence.
DESTROYS to the last of saving the pub
lie interest involved, l appeal 70 your
sense OF Justice to reconsider your de-
cision and make the most of the canse
out of the sacrifice which l offer, by
granting the quiet, proper and custom
~ action upon my resignation.
BY refusing my request you would
subject me to great Inconvenience, With
out, IS far as l can see, any advantage
either to yourself or to the service.
With the view Of securing myself q
tsrdy justice IN the case, being remote
from the capital, when the transmission
of the mails is remarkably irregular
and uncertain, and in order to give you
every assurance that my resignation is
rendered in strict compliance with par
agra h twenty nine Of tho regulations
to be unconditional and Immediate" l
herewith enclose copy for the Adju-
,ant General Of tie army, which l de-
sire may be forwarded to him, to be laid
before the President, for as early action
in the case as his Excellency may be
pleased to accord and as my position,
sufficiently unpleasant already, promises
to become much more SO still by the
course OF action which am sorry to
find that you deem it proper to pursue
l urgently request his Excellency, by a
speedy acceptance Of my Commission
to liberate me from that sense Of suffo-
catiou-from that darkIing sense Of
bondage and enthrallment which, it ap.
pears to me, like the snake around the
muscles and sinews Of LAGOON, is en-.
tangling and deadening the energies Of
the government and country, when a
decisive act might cut the evils and lib.
crate us from their baneful and fasciuat
ing influence forever. In conclusion o.
this Communication, and l should also
hope Of my services in this department
| deem it my duty to state, lest it Nigh,
not Others wise come to your notice, thai
several parties Of the free colored men o
New Orleans have recently come Il
consult me on the prop1iety Of raising
one or two regiments of volunteers frou
their class of the population for the de-
fence of the government and good order
and that have recommended them to
propose the measure to you, having nc
power to act upon it myself.
l am, sir, very respectfully, your OBJ
dent servant,
J. w. PHELPS,
r