The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1863-10-31
The President's Letter.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON. Oct. 5. 1868 (

Inc freQ0e0tS 3 Letter.
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WAsnINGroN. Oct. S. 1868
Hon CAas. d. Drake and others, Com
GENTLEMEN: Your original address,
presented ON the 3Oth ulimo, and the
four supplementary ones presented on
the 81 instant, have been carefully con-
sidered. hope you will regard the
other duties claiming my attention, to-
gethor with the great length and i'm
portance Of these documents, as con-
stitu;ing sufficient apology for my not
having responded sooner.
These papers, framed for comm On
object. consist Of the things demanded,
and the reasons for demanding them.
The things demanded are
First, That General Scho6eld shall
be relieved. and General Butler be ap-
pointed as Commander of the Military
Department OF Missouri;
Second. Tha, the system Of Enrolled
Militia in Missouri may be broken up.
and national forces be substituted for
it; and
Third. That at elections persons may
not he allowed to vote who are no. en-
titled by law to do SO.
Among the reasons given. enough Of
suffering and wrong to Union men is
certainly, and | suppose. truly stated.
Yet ths whole case. as presented. fails
10 convince me that General Scho6eld,
or he Enrolled Militia, is responsible
for that suffering and wrong. The
whole can be explained on more char.
liable. and as think. more rational
hypothesis. 4fs
We are in civil war. In such cases
there always is main question; bu, in
this case that question Is Perplesisgs
"cs~.-.-- not Of two sides
merely. but Of al least four sides. even
among those who are for the Union,
saying nothing of those who are against
It. Thus, those who are for the Union
scifA. but not rillom sisvery-those for
ii 1ithom but not riM those for il witA
or uikhout. but prefer it scstA. and those
for i. oitA or witho&s. bu, prefer it ritA-
out.
Among those again, is q subdivision
OF those who are for gradual, but not
for immed,ate, and those who are for
immediate. but not for gradual exiinc-
ton Of Slavery. n
II is clear TO conceive that all these
shades OF opinion. and even more, NAV
be sincerely entertained by honest and
truthful men. Yet. all being for the
Union, by reason Of these differences.
each will prefer diiferen. way Of sus.
taining the Union. At once. sincerity
is questioned, and motives are assailed.
Actual war coming, blood grows hot,
and blood is spilled. Though, is forced
from old channels into confusion. De.
ceplion breeds and lhrives. Confiderce
dies. and universal suspicion reiyns.
Each man feels an impulse to kill h;si
neighbor. lest he be killed by him. Re.
venge and retaliation follow. And all
this, IS before said, NAV be among hon.
est men only. But this is not all. Ey.
cry foul bird comes abroad, and eyerv
dirty reptile rises up. These add crime
to confusion. Strong measures deemed
Indispensable, but harsh at best. such
men make worse by NAL administration.
Murders for old grudges. aud murders
or pelf. proceed under any cloak ,ha,
"Ill beat cover for the occasion. al ,
These causes amply account for
what has occurred 10 Missouri, without ,
'scribing 1t 10 the weakness or wicked. ,
less OF any General. The newspaper ,
lies. those cbroniclers of current events. ,
wi show that the evils nov complained q
Il were quite as prevalen. under Fre
mont. Hunter. Halleck, and Curtis. as G
'nder SchofeId. II the former had 4
'reater force opposed to them. they
$50 had greater force with which to Y
aeet 1t. When the organized rebel n
fmy ieit the State. the main Federal
'rce had to 80 also, leaving the De- 1
artEent Commander at home, relative Il
no stronger than before. Without 1
'sParag'ng any, l affirm with conf. 81
ence. that no Commander Of that De. g,
artment has in proportions 10 his means. K,
'ne better than Gen. Scho6eld. sil q 81
ihe first specific chargeiagainst Gen. to
al Schoheld is. that the Enrolled Mill "a
was placed under his command ia
hereas II has not been placed UNDER VI
command of General Curtis. hTheI pr
It, l believe is true; but you do not an
INT out, nor can l conceive how that oil
!. or could. iujare loysl men, or the ar,
lion cause. 81 I'D = .aA, siAsG lev
Y GU charge that upon General Curtis co,
ng saPerseded BY General Scho field. Bs
ankiln A. Dick was superseded BY era
mes .. Broadhead. as Provost Mar. b. 4
! 0eneral. No very specific show. nv
10 smade as 70 how this did or could las,
are the Union cause. IL recalls. &c
'ever' The c"ndi'ion ofihings, ,as pre-tA Il