Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-07-23
The Policy Of Consultation 20 Restore ''The
Union as Il Was.n
20TH BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS, !
CAM ON PINE CREEK, ALABAMA,
July 10th. 1862.

Union az Il Was"
20rH BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,
CAMP ON PINE CREEK, ALABAMA,
July 10th, 1862.
EDs. CLEVELAND LEADER The policy
Of our Army and the Administration is
still to pursue cOnciliatory course toward
the revOlted States, and as cur armies
march through these hostile States, fur
nish guards for the houses and property
Of rebel owners, under pretext, in many
instances, that they are occupied only by
women and children, while the men are in
the rebel army. The only real friends of
the Union in all these States are the slaves
The proprietOrs are either open secession
lists, or what is worse, claim to be neutral,
the latter of which go to our commanding
officers and invariably procure letters of
protection We would inquire about the
propriety of giving letters of protection to
any neutral man or rebel under any cir
cumstances. What business have they to
be carrying documents in their pockets to
shield them from arrest and investigation
when outrages are committed What
right has any military officer to grant such
documents? It is endangering the lives of
our noble, brave boys, in the idle hope Of
conciliating traitors. You might as well
attempt to conciliate a mad-dog. We can
never purify a foul atmosphere by sprink-
| ling lavender and rose-water on the sub
stances whose efluTia creates the offensive
odOr. Lightnings and sweeping tempests
are the agencies ufed by heaven to consume
and expel these noisome and poisonous ex-
halations We have had soft zephyrs sigh
ing around us long enough, as well as the
cooling of the sucking dove, and still the
miasma hangs around and ofFends US
Now let the lightnings and tempests of an
indignant nation retribution execute their
mission and inAict righteous vengeance
Let our officers be instructed to give no
favors to rebels nor neutrals, especially to
those who are eternally besieging the loyal
authorities for favOrs and indulgence and
exemptions. If men will not be loyal to
government that has shielded and pro-
tected them in all matters, slavery includ-
ed, let them starve.
A most injurious system of fawning on
the part of rich rebels, and of indiscreet
indulgence and favoritism on the part of
our officers, prevails in this Army of the
Ohio. All our Colonels and Generals (even
including our good anti-slavery men at
home) make no hesitaney in allowing these
scOundrels to come into our camps, and is
sue them passes, allowing them free ac-
cess to search our camps for slaves. While
1 write, such an order has been issued by
the Assistant Adjutant General of this
Brigade, and is this moment carrying
slave back past my tent.
A wealthy and aristocratic traitor, whose
whole sympathies are for the Southern
Confederacy, and who has aided it liber-
ally, on the arrival Of a regiment, brigade
or division in his vicinity grows alarmed,
lest justice should take hold Of him; so he
sends off Immediately for the officers, talks
very politely, and acts obsequiously, and
puts on especially the sudUitor in Rlodo, as
sures them that he always did oppose Sc
eession, " that their county voted largely
against the State going out of the Union"
and that he has never borne arms or taken
any part in the rebellion, and invites the
commanding officers and their staff to dine
with him. He treats them to a sumptuous
dinner, treats them TO cigars and liquor,
(which truth eOmpels me to say even our
temperance men indulge in, rides them
about his plantation, asks them to come
often, and concludes by asking for guards,
papers Of protection, passes, SC. The ac-
eOmmodating officers, not to be out-done in
courtesy, and hattered at the attentions
shoWered upon them, grant all his re-
quests ask If there isn't something more
they can do for their Southern friends
Letters are Immediately dispatched home,
saying that they have discovered leading
planters who have been regarded as Sym
pathizers," but who really are at heart
loyal men. The delightful announcement
is at once re-published in Northern news
papers, and the officers fall into delightful
reYeries over the beautiful sentiment,
"Peace hath her victories no less renown-
ed than war"
This worse than ridiculous policy has
been followed in Kentucky, Tennessee,
Mississippi and Alabama. Meanwhile the
only lOhite Union men in the slave
States, belong either to the poor or middle
classes, who are unable to rival the planter
or merchant in giving elegant dinners, or
furnishing costly liquors and cigars; they
areearly showed aside, and if they come in
and complain Of the treatment they have,
and are receiving, they are told they are
troublesome and officiOus. Thus loyalty in
Eastern Tennessee and Northern Alabama
is discouraged, while treason is petted,
courted, encouraged, and actually pros
pers.
Yesterday we received news that the
rebel cavalry had made dash into Deca-
tur, Just four miles in our rear, and killed
two of the Provost Guard at that place, and
these good loyal citizens aghom tOe had psttsd
made no sort of resistance, but looked on in
differently, if not approvingly A week
ago, in Mt. Pleasant, Lieut.. Col Foster, of
the Tennessee Volunteers, was shot down
by q notorious band Of desperadoes in open
day in front of the hotel, and these same
pseudo Unionists looked on his death
struggles with the same feelings, whilst he
was weltering in his blood, as they would
have looked on those of an OK, if not with
secret delight.
Prospects look gloomy for conquering
slave-holding traitors on the present rose
water and sugar-plum plan, and don't
promise rich harvest Of success. 1t may,