Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-10-16
zna pOrtant Letter from Gen. Sigel.
HIS OPINION OF REAR
ENEMIES OF THE GOVERNMENT.

READING, Pa, Sept. 25, 1868.
Hon. L. D. Campbell, Hamilton, Ohio:
Dear Sir:-Your kind invitation, by Mr..
Hume, to be present at a meeting in Hamil
ton, on the Both Sept is received.
Moth ng could have prevent, me to comply
with your wishes, if could dispose of myself
and my time according to my own will, but as
| am here on miitsry duties which demand
my pers nal att ntion, and cannot have the
pleasure Of see ng our friet ds in Ohio How
ever, wish it to be known wherever my SEN
lments and my opinion might be of any in
t1uence, that | would regard the election Of
Mr.. Valandigham not only a national calam-
'ty, but an immortal shame to this Republic,
because his election would be pronuncia-
IN nto against the common sense and patriot
ism of the people of the great STATE of Ohio
it would be ratification of all those openly
avowed ideas, or secretly working practices
by which one fraction of the PEOPLE Of the
North has tried, and is trying to annul all the
sacrifices OF this war, and to Illustrate all the
results gained by il; it would be ilstifica-
ton OF class OF men who would spit uron
the soldier Of Ohio now fighting and divine
for the redemption Of his country fr m the
traitorous ands of JEFF. Davis and his follow
ers II would be the eginning and glolific
ton of reaction thousand times more
costly, if successful, than ever tbs war has
been or can be-
Men Of Ohio who do not wish the dismem-
berment and ruin of their own country, built
up with 50 much wisdom, energy, ard bravery
of their ancestors, do not quarrel about ques-
tons lii regard to State rights, whilst the
knife of a murderer threatens your very
existence Drive out the rebellious host
from your house and premises, and then set
tie these questions, which are Of little impor-
tance as ong as you are in imminent peril to
lose your lives, your tolt tunes, and your honori
Nhatevef you are--l suppose you are pa
trsots. You wish to show, before the word,
that the American people is strong and pow
erful enough to uphold its integrity, and to
prove that republican government is not
mere eXper ment, but fixed fact, an immov.
able keystone 10 civi ization and progress -
And you will show that to be nation is i'm
possible wi hout being free; that an immense
country like this cannot be held toge her
without the maintenance, universally, and
supremacy of these prihc; piles. which have
been from the times of the pilg, i'm fathers
and the Huguenots-from the ii ne of Roger
Williams and mn Hutchinson, from Nathan
iel BACON and Lei-ler up to Franklin, Jeffer-
son, and Th mas Paine. the great elements of
attraction for all the nat Qualities now COM
prisirig the basis of North American society.
You must hold out and destroy your ene-
mics in front and rear; you are strong enough
to dive out Jeff. Davis, and not to let come
in his friend from Canada.
1t is better to have struggle of four years
than of forty; it is better TO di~miss four mil
lions of slaves than to dismiss justice and
honor, your national prestige, and the Repub-
lie itself, for which your forefa'hers have shed
their blood and sacrificed their fortunes
l hope the Canadian candidate will not only
be handsomely repulsed," but ousrwheln-.
ingIy and dsastronsiy defented.
Truly, and respectful ly yours,
f. SIGEL, Major General.