The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-05-07
Letter from Brig. Gen. German.
Posi- FAD QUARTERs
HELENA, Ark, March II. 1863.
ESQ. Milwaukee. Wis.

M. H. CARPETER, ESQ, Milwaukee, Wis.
SIR Il have read with SO much ~satisfac-
ton your letter upon the subject of the duty
of the democratic party in the present crisis
of our national affairs, that | venture to ex-
press the hope that all may see the subject ex-
actly as you have so powerfully expressed it.
In my judgement your manner Of disposing
of the points of objection is so clear and SO
eminently adapted to the crisis that no sue
cessful reply can be made.
The south set the house on fire; you and |
were lodged in its apartments, and must stand
by with inexcusable indifference and see the
edifice utterly destroyed, or manfully try to
extinguish the flames. How utterly destruc-
tive is the policy Of calling a jury to try and
convict the incendiary before the house is saw
ed. Before half the witnesses can be exam
ed, the edifce will be in ashes.
We must not allow any body to make peace
until aUthe states resume their original status
under the old flag and old constitution. And
whether the status of the local Institutions Of
the south is to be preserved or not, depends
greatly on the duration of the war. All mil
itary DEGREES of the president must be under
stood as a means to accomplish the end-a
restoration of the Union as it was. The OBJ
.iect of the government in prosecuting the war
has been officially declared by congress. The
proclamations of the president declaring the
blockade of our ports, and emancipating the
slaves in the insurrectionary states are only
means to the end. If we keep out supplies
and munitions of war by the external block
ade; and if we can effectually keep an inter
nal blockade on these states by keeping the
enemy from planting, sowing and reaping
supplies at home, the war must soon end. II
the emancipation proclamation withdraws
twenty-five or fifty thousand laborers from
their Notifications and rifle pits, 1t is active
and ~effectual means to the desired end.
In my Judgment we ought to capture as
contraband of war, every effective negro IN
the insurgent states that we can reach, and
hold them as a means of weakening the en-
envy and closing the war. In fact every OBJ
lection made to the presidents proclamation
can best be settled after an honorable peace.
All ideas of peace with the states in active
rebellion are d~elusive, at present. The Ia
mented Douglas with prophetic judgment
gave us the true idea of this wal when he SAID
fthe surest road to peace is the most stupen-
dous preparations for war" | would urge our
democratic friends from Que end Of the north
to the other, to adopt this as their motto, and
it will prove 'fbread cast upon the waters
to be found 'after many days" Let us prove
our patriotism by our works; any other
course is weakness and madness as | view 1t.
We all want peace, but when it comes, the
whole Union must come with it. We are near
the hour of our final success l firmly believe.
With the capture or occupation of Vicksburg
by our forces, peace must and will speadily
come.
I am with great respect,
Your ob't. servent,
w. A. GoRMAN,
Brig. Gen U. S. Vols.