Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-04-17
For the Journal.

| DEAR Sir We have never known each
other except as personal friends, and l do not
now expect to say anything that is unreason-
able or offensive. You are certainly sensible
of the fact that you are creating division
of sentiment as to the necessity of vigorous
prosecution of the war, by condemning every
measure and effort of the government to quell
the rebellion. You know that you oppose
the leaguing together of unconditional Union
men to support the government. You are
firmly in opposition to the Presidents Procla-
nation of Freedom, AID are using all your
power to intensity feeling Of hatred toward
those who believe it to have been just and
necessary, and denounce them as abolition
lists. You have declared them equally guilty
with the rebels in arms ....
1t makes but little difference whether your
or my speculations or declarations as to the
causes of the war are correct. You declare
the war to have been caused by the abolition
lists, and that it has been perverted into war
for the freedom of the slaves. You advise
the soldiers not to fight in such a cause, that
they would be better employed in fighting
abolitionists. RI
If you love slavery more than you love
your country, why not say so plainly p
Whatever were the leading causes oil the war;
Slavery, Abolition, non.execution of the Fu-
gitive Slave Law, Democratic Compromises
with their natural consequence of new de-
mands for concession to the slave power, re-
sistance to Slavery extension, antagonlsm
between slave Aristocracy and free Democra-
cy, or other latent and hidden causes, your
duty and mine is to endeavor to make the
bond Of Union indissoluble, even if slavery
goes down in the struggle. Why have you
no anxiety in this war of ideas concerning
the perils of enslavement for the white race,
in your carefulness to preserve slavery for the
black? You know that your teachings and
those of other politicians of your kind tend
to prolong the war and increase the expendi-
lures of blood and treasure.
But you say your policy is that Of peace.-
Do you not know that peace now means dis
union? The rebels will not accept peace I'M
less their independence is recognized. Were
hostilities now to cease, do you think the
Peace Democrats could win them back to the
Union if they had the settlement of the diff.
concessions as would only prove legacy OF
shame? Would you have freedom sacrificed
to slave holding despotism Permit me to
say that if can form any opinion from your
language "let us have peace on any terms"
that such settlement would not be likely to
shock your moral sense. To be in favor of
such peace as is now attainable is in my
Judgment one of the worst forms of treason.
Whatever you may do or say concerning
this struggle, it is satisfaction to me that
you cannot alter the course of events that
are now so rapidly composing our national
history, or turn aside the onward march of
great principles. $50
Having enjoyed the advantages Of a New
England education, you ought not to be so
blind as to think that the Government should
always be controlled by corrupt and unprin-
cipled demagogues Why should you do all
in your power. to kill enthusiasm and para
lyze every effort to preserve government
that is so good that all the powers Of evil are
combined in their efforts to: destroy itr Does
your hatred of Abolitionists absolve you from
your obligation to support its laws when
slavery gets in the way?
You and l are distinctly at issue upon the
question whether Abolitionists caused the
war, and whether all are Aboltionists who
Internationally support the Government
The prominent reason why your warfare upor
the Abolitionists produces but little effect, is
because your baseless assertions carry with
them the conviction that your love of slavery
and Jour sympathy with the rebellion in its
behalf are greater than your love for the
Union.
Hoping we both shall live to see great good
come out Of evil, remain truly yours, s.,
OLDEN BARNEvELDT.