The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-02-27
The 2fsf Mr.. nnrns.

ports cITcuIatCu III tnls Viclnl'y tbH'
the 21st were anxious to lay down
their arms and come home--that
ihe officers and men we're opposed
to the policy OF tie Administration
etc, , ere lnost ,fectually and Gun.
phstically refuted, ind in such 3
manner ss to set the matter OF rect
forever. The 21st, privstcs and OF
ficefs, is eound, as is every other
regiment IN which Hancock is rep
resented.
HEApo'Ts. 2tst Reg't. O. V. II
February 10th, 1868.
Fo JEFF: Ny attention has been
called to the following extract from
the Hancock Courier Of the 9Th in.
stan,:
"But the testimony OF Mr.. Croninger is
contra1icted, by another witness, whose
word IS as good aS that Of Mr. G. Nr.
Burns, who was al MutfreeSboro OF the same
time with Mr. O., gives o different version.
lie says, that in conversation with Col.
Neibling, the Colonel told him that II the
proclamation would have the effect of set
/ ting the slaves ffee--as we claimed by its
advocatet--it might do some good; but tha,
the Union could never be restored, nor the
slaves set free by lighting; and that had the
question OF slavery not been mixed up with
the war, and the Crittenden resolutions, as
passed by Congress, and upon the faith OF
which the boys volunteered, been strictly
adhered te, the w0r would have been ended
before this. But now, If the Union was ev-
er to be restored, it would have 10 be done
by the people at home, by compromise; that
in no other way could the Union be restored
and the war ended. That Lieut.. Col. d..
NJ. Stoughton and Mai. Geo. F. Walker,
both of whom, il is known by everybody y
here, ore, or were, Republicans, coneurrt
with Col. Neibling. And this, Mr.. Burns
says, is the opinion of all with HON he
conversed, both officers ard privates. They
are tired OF the useless shedding of blood
and sacrifice OF life. They wish to return
TO their homes, 10 their families and their
friends. They want compromise, as the
only means by which the Union and peace
can be restored.
| deny the right Of the E iitor OF
the Courier or any other Journalist,
to define my stains in politics, and
above all, to impugn my motives
as a soldier, or to question my pat.
riotsm. AS citizen ! have been
known among my friends as o Re-
publican, and | now see no resson
to change my views. As a soldier
| am eolely responsible to the mill
tary authority ofthe Government
| deny ever having expressed the
sentiments imputed to me in the
above extract. II spoke at all to
MIR. Burns in reference TO tie Proc
Iamation or any othec measure,
deny ever having uttered any such
opinions or sentiments as the Cour.
Ter gratuitously attributes 10 me. -
On the other hand, now esy that
endorse the Proclamation as we'll ca
any and all measures which have
been suggested by our military au
thoritiee for the suppression OF this
ineXcusab'e rebellion. Indeed | 20
further; | would suppress just such
journals as the Courier. would
blockade the mouths OF such men as
the Editor OF That delectable sheet,
who, by their malignant and scurril.
lions attacks upon che constituted
authorities Of the United States gov
ernment. by their unmitigated per
version of facts, by their poisonous
appeals to the "dear tax ridden peo
lple;' 10y their cowardly submission
by the warmth which they iurnisl
the adder which is gathering all it.
energies to strike them--all in thu
name Of democracy" are doins
more To perpetuate war, and spreaC
bloodshed than any number OF jeff
Davis emissaries. The Coursei
misrepresen's the feeling Of the Ohio
troops. 1 have not talked with
single officer or soldier who does no
universally and unqua.iiiedly en-
dorse any measure which has for it
object the suppression OF this rebel
lion and the final restoration of th,
Union.
No cowsrdly mixture such al
made by Vsllsndigham and Olds
however skillfully applied by sucl
Iquacks as DR.. Courier will restor,
peace and Union. Rebellion wa
born and matured IN an aimospher,
OF hatred to the Government.
received nourishment from a larg,
family OF sympathizers in the North
1t burst upon the country a hug,
monster. clothed in an armor, bris
Ting with bayonets and cannon, i
Exhibited it's love Tor peace, and th
United States Government, by arm
ing aud tquipping large srmes to q
tack and destroy. With such
monster kid gloves and Aminida1
S eek sentences avail nothing. Yo,
must meet it with forcs, FoRoE