The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-02-18

stituents.
WAsHiSGroS, Jan, IL, 1862.
My DEAR SIR am IN receipt of yours Of
the 18th. will make a very short reply
First. rs to why our army does not strike at
some other point than the stronghold OF the
enemy here, We cant withdraw any consid'
cradle force from the army Of the Potomac,
without weakening our line and we have
yigilant toe ready 10 take advantage OF any
movement OF the kind. They can ahJrd 10
have their wings turned il they can force our
centre, Trust my dear sir, to the SkllI 81
men quite as anxious for victory ~ you or
can be, with more knowledge Of W" means ny
which il can be attained, JOINT committee
has been in session for the last lew weeks 1t
was created by those opposed to the manner
in which the war has been conducted. OPP
posed il but that was among my mistakes
Ii has done good the plans Of the army have
been disclosed 90 this committee They must
keep the secret thus communicated, but |
know they are now satisfied with the plans /;
/ Mcclellan has been before them. The pres.
ident stated the other day in my presence
that there was probably but one man in the
country more anxious for battle than him.
self, aud than man was Mcclellan. lie re-.
pudiated, ia words Of whitening rebuke 10
NllhNt WIN HMM Nllt IHiIef lHNl lt VI WI
Seward, or Gen. Mcclellan were tau 3ering
or delaying out of any consideration for rebels
or rebel Institutions or that they INDUCED any
! hope Of ending the war otherwise than by
! conquest on the battle field. ! wish every
man in our land could have heard him.
This brings me 10 the second subject Oi
your letter That this rebellion must be put
down by force Of arms. That i exactly where
al 1 I,.Itl. .. All Apr
!, more than you, believe that the sword
must stay this rebellion. That is not only the
best way, but it i the only way to do it. aud
the constitution gives the government this
method IN all its rigDr You would seek 10
do it, il understand you right, by passing
laws, and by DEGREES and orders Of, At least
doubtful constitutional authority, You can t
but know that Law or decree contisca,ing
property is imperative while that property is
in the hands of an armed enemy, You would
coniiscate and then capture. would cap
ture aud then coniiscalc. But that is not the
main difference between Us. Let Us be frank
! aud state it in the plancst language. would
. prosecute this war Tor the restoration Of the
/ union You would prosecute it for the ubD'
! lition OF slavery. When the war Is over |
would leave the people that should be left in
political rights they possessed before the re.
/ bellion-prescrying all the states aud to all
Of them equal political rights.
You would reduce u portion Of the states
to dependencies, aud deprive them Of the
constitutional right Of regulating their do
nestle institutions. | am for restoring the
union-you for impairing it. don't now ar.
que which theory Is ia" best | only want "a
make clear the point Of difference You may
say OF mine that have too much respect ior
slavery deny that have any respect tor
slavery Ny respect for the constitution
however, j. supreme. Whenever and wher.
ever -iaycry stand, in the way Of conquest by
our armies, ! would not spare It, and car'
not how sorcly it may be impaired by thu
conflict, or whether anything OF it be LEFT
when the war i over; bat the right Of each
state to DO with it just ~ heretofore when
the var j. over mus, be- preserved, or you
see, it j. no restoration. Those who, with
me, are for complete restoration OF the old
union can take NJ other ground. You who
are flr change may be more wise than we,
and once breaking through .or ,titutiuual re
,tratnts, YOU may make all the improvements
- Won think best, but your action l. revolution
k urv. not constitutional.
1 \ gu say the rebels have broken the cunatl
tuition: certainly they have, and would pun
=. lsh them H. the constitution provides. 1t
e. provisions are ample for crushing them b
arms and hanging them 10y law. Law breai
'y err are punished 10y the laws they break, an
I'd those who execute the Laws aud lnthct ii
punishment should not themselves bccon
~ law breakers Let me close with an extra,
II Of a letter from Governor Spragu", III ausw'
t. an invitation t. the lat" New England dir
ny ncr at the Aslor House ~ trust that "
* shall not forget that this rebellion j. based ~
. on mistake; that the masses Of the sout
" have been deceived by reckless and ambition
men, touching our sentiments and purpose
It Il should be- our object. while vigorously pro,
o ccuting the war, to give the lie 10, and no
uhstautiatc. the statements by which thOnS
= ands OF honest men ia the south have beer
- mlsled. Let Us see to it that when the wa
,c is ended the southern people shall blam
their own leaders for not having couirme
the stories these leaders have circulated wit
\. reference to our motives,
In this way, only, it seems to me-" can W
restore the union, n union Of hands and
~ union If hearts, and become again happ,
an prosperous and powerful nation. For mysc
at do most heartily dlsayow any other Wis
nd than that Of bringing together these now be
H. ligerent states without the loss to any one
H. them Of single right or privilege which
has heretofore enjoyed.
rn think these views should be Published
r. connection with our former correspondence
l. defining the issue between us. | have II
." attempted to defend my position nor ASA
., yours; only to present the issue
q 1t is one upon which have foreseen thel
b, was to be a division. | had hoped it migE
er be postponed until after the war, when W
rs come to determine what use we will make
our victory over rebcllion. But the abolition
IN lists are determined to make it now.
- Yours truly \ :. OWEN