, 1862-04-01
Surgeon Bowman and the sTimes.s'
On Board STEAMER T. L. McG1LL,

On Board STEAMER T. L. McG1Lz,l
Near Island No. 1u, March 27th, 1862.
Editors Chicago Tribune.
4 gentleman Of the 27tll has just handed nle
4 copy Of the Chicago Times, containing an
article headed "Negro immigration" in
which some very sore aud weak headed NOR
tai, who signs himself "a Douglas Man,
makes display Of himself, as III, supposes at
my expense, Now let lis sec what this man,
(W1onl I suspect to be traitor at hearty,
this valiant stay at home, wants to be at.
The first charge is that am Circuit Clerk
Of our county, and get have the assurance to
serve my couutry in the field as Surgeon OF
the gallant 27th Illinois Volunteers This is
simply t1Ee. But Why "a Douglas Man.
should Whine On that account am at 4 loss
to imagine, unless he and all such prudent do
lncstic patriots feel sore that I did not resign,
to give their stay-at-lo1ne patriotism L chance
for reward By getting into the c1erllship.
simply, IN this. avaled myself Of the provision
in our State Constitution, which permits me
obliged to waive IN official trust at home, but
permits its discharge by deputy. This, I ;lm
happy to Eay, is done to the entire satisfaction
Of the court, tie bar, and the general public
The next Charge is, that 1sent home negro
woman to do housework. Exactly true. I
left my wife with six children to care for, aud
no servant to lelp her, while /. went to the
war. At Cairo found muscle and brain Ca
serly seeking the means Of living, willing to
work and capable Of learning, 1 sent it to my
wife, in just the shape God lad made 1t-a ne
gro woman: pay her wages, just and full
equivalent for her labor. Would the Rock
Island "Douglas Mani have been outraged
in the least if some traitor WAS compelling
the ]aboF OF the woman IS slave, With scant
clothing and food us her sole return for her
toll5 ] fear be would not But if Union
soldier, recognizing every human being s right
to his OF her own labor, hires negro and pays
1t wages, "a Douglas Man,' raises his eyes in
holy horror at the outrage. I can tell him
Dlore. My little daughter, only seven years
old, has already volunteered to teach the negro
to read, and tho poor black is eager to learn
and taste Of Gods fountains Of knowledge, al
4 ougll dispensed By tile hands Of child.
So the outrage grows apace:
Howl away, poor man. Yonr case is hard
you. and if you don't get to believe more
firmly and practically in d God Of Truth, jus
tice and Love, ] am afraid, when he sums up
the qnantum Of soul between you, the negro
will come out ahead. You give evidence Of
possessing at present ono painfully small to
tricl binding its own eyes and then imagin-
| ing no one else could see it, You initiate the
| poor bird. Let me advise you to quit it and
lake better model Pray for the ability to
| zee yourself as others see you, aud then yon
| Will begin to come up to better Level. You
! }
suppose The man WHO can be SO Ignorant and
malicious that he can only show the r.1ukcst
and lowest party venom in times like these,
can lay any just claim to be considered loyal
man :: You charge mo with violation of the
laws which !, us an officer, have sworn to
| support. Is it perjury to hire q negro to labor
il, 1py family in my absence? Do our laws
| forbid it? think not. The law prohibits
the introduction Of free negroes into tue State.
This law I hare not violated. I found the
| negro in the State, I know not her anteced-
ents. / employed her to do labor that my f;ami-
| y needed, and she had to sell. have not
stolen or entieed slave from its master. Since
the second week i'll September last hare
becn diligently employed IN my duties as
| Surgeon Of the eth regiment Illinois volun-
tctrs, according to the best Of my ability, Civ
| ing my whole time and mind to my bust
ness. / hare had neither time nor inclination to
| attend to other affairs. I have felt too pro-
| foundly the Importance Of our national strug-
| gle, to think Of party or to care for it. /
would advise s.Douglas Mar'' to leave out
| the Douglas and be what he should, man in
the true and noble aeceptation Of the word.
When be does that he will find better employ
mcnt than trying to damage men who are
away serving their country. Then, when the
"Douglas Man, has ontgrown the habit oj
pinning himself to the coattail Of the depart.
cd statesman, he will probably be able to see
how it viii be righteous to punish traitors
treason. Let him shoulder his musket, &c
into the field, experience the hardships and
dangers Of the soldier, ond see the havoc madt
bY treason, MS we slW at Belmont, in the TORI
and manglcd bodies Of his countrymen, ant
then LIT him (if he can debase himself SO low
bow down his little soul and worship the Da
suffers In his property E. H BowAAS.
Surgeon of eth Ill. Vols.