The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-06-12
THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR
AND OTHER MATTERS.
Oa.ieus and Sarcastic Letter Of Emerson
Ethsridge.
3& Southern Clerk Of she Republicans U. S. House
Of Representatives.
WARRINGTON, D. c., May ls, 1868.

WARRINGTON, D. c., May l8, 1868.
Gsntlsmsa--I have just received your letter Of
shs 7th inst, inviting me, in behalf Of the Wash
ington Union Club Of Memphis, to join in n
public celebration Of the anniversary OF the sur
render of that city to the Federal arms. You
also speak kindly Of my past efforts to induce
Shs people Of West Tennessee to consent cheer
fully to sthe restoration Of the national author.
ity throughout the South"
If believed that by meeting you on the oc.
sasion referred to, could be Of service to o
single honest, law.abiding citizen, or truly re-
psntant rebel, or that could contribute to the
lsast extent in ending the war and restoring
shs blessings Of peace under the Constitution,
] would certainly attend but have no such
faith in myself, and therefore shall not 60.
In your letter you express the opinion that
BY ''direct personal appeal" might ''encour-
age the loyal or reclaim the disloyal." con.
Isss my astonishment q. such statement, and l
can attribute this opinion Of yours to nothing
but failure or your part to comprehend the
nasterly policy Of our great and good President,
and the wise statesmen who aid him in shaping
and directing the civil policy Of the Govern
msnt. When you have fully studied and un.
dsrstood the grand purposes Of our most God
fearing and law-abiding President; when you
are more familiar with the profound military
strategy whica, a. sCommander.ln-C Chief OF the
Army and Navy Of the United States" be is
now displaying; and when you further remem.
Der the astonishing success we have had in re.
claiming our misguided countrymen," and in
eonquering our wayward sisters" shall be a.
nased If you continue to believe it necessary to
encourage the loyal ON ''reclaim the dsloyal."
Why encourage the loyal. Is it possible they
need encouragement in Memphis when, for near
ly yesx, you have been inside the Federal
Lines; when every night tattoo is substituted
for ''Hush, my baby, don't you cry and
at reveille "Hail Columbia" arouses the people
10 consciousness Of the great security which
Il afforded to the property OF the loyal people
in Memphis, and all the country round that tpo.
Etical) Jordan. How can you or encourage
she loyal when our matchless President, the
kss Congress, bis saga counssllors and his peer.
less military subordinates have already done
and promised all which wisdom can suggest,
which our sacred constitution authorizes, and
vhich tho christian religion tolerates or ap.
proves There remains nothing for us to do,
unless it be to obey our incompatible President
IN all his wise measures to conquer a glorious
psacs. True we have among uscroakers and cop
psrhsads--silly, brainless mcn--who are so un-
wise and unpatriotic as to question the wisdom
Of our indefatigable President. If you have a.
ny such in Memphis, you should at once de-
sounce them as in sympathy vi he lebels; you
should send them to their friends ''down South
Or to the Dry Tortugas, which is understood by
many to be place where everybody is sortur.
Cd With thirst for rifle whisky, and not a drop
can he obtained. No good Union man will
eomplain Of the conduct Of the wise men who
direct our public affairs. They should be
taught to remember that scandalum .nagaatum
was forme ly a high crime--it is a most helm.
ous offence now -and nothing saves such cop
per colovcd wretches but the Christian charity
sf our most pious President
At your proposed meeting you should SO ar.
range matters as to secure list of all who fail
70 attend or omit to render suitable apology,
and you should adopt resolutions Of the most
''loyal" kind Allow me to suggest that the
committee on resolutions be selected from con-
tractors and oticeholders particularly sug-
gest ono Cooper, who has recently been appoint
cd assessor for the large, rich and populous
district Of West Tennessee. He was originally
from New York. True, he was never in West
Tennessee until sent from this city onhis official
errand but he no doubt knows by intuition the
srue value of the goods and chattels, lands and
tensments, &C., of people he never knew and
. country IN which he never lived. But he is
20 loyal--so much 80 that doubt not lie is bet.
ter fitted for the office than any one Of the ma
tive born sons, brothers or fathers of the thou
sands Of soldiers who, before the 22d of last
September, West Tennessee had furnished to
,lhs Federal army Let the committee initiate
shs "Loyal Leagues" of Baltimore, and resolve
shat you not only approve all the present wise
and patriotic administration has done, but that
you will sustain and uphold it in everything it
may hereafter do.
Let the committee make an elaborate report,
accompanied with resolutions denouncingal who
find fault with our most excellent President.
For instapce:-The last Congress lin july, l86 }
passed law to confscate the property Of certain
rebels. That Congress, though very wise
body, did not possess as much aggregated wis
dom rs our great and good President. In proof
Of this we need but refer to the fact that the
Congress aforesaid provided that, undar this
law, trial should precede conviction and forfeit
urs, and that guilt should be proven andnot pre-.
sumed Worse still; it offered an amnesty to
repentant rebels; is ismercifully gave them sixty
days in which to accept it and provided, fur.
shsr, that our most noble President might sus-
pend for period the operation of this law as
our armies advanced southwark, so as to afford
sll an opportunity TO accept pardon. Worse
ssiil; this lsw actually applied to no one but
- yshslS. And il 10 astonishing that it ap-