Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-05-05
Letter fre n Mr.. Chase,

attenu the oumpLeF lDeeHn5
washington, April Q. '69.
"Gentlemeni Imperative demands on
my time compel me 10 deny myself the
qualification Of attending the meeting TO
which you kindly invite me.
/ "You will meet TO send words Of cheer
to our braye generals and soldiers in the
field; to rebuke treason in our midst, CIV
ing, in the garb of peace, aid and comfort
to treason in the panoply of war; TO main
tain inviolate the integrity Of the national
territory and the supremacy Of the national
constitution and laws; TO strengthen the
hands and nerve the heart Of the President
for the great work to which God and the
people have called him. For wbat worth
Ter purposes can American citizens now as
semble9
at is my fixed faith, gentlemen, that
God d es not mean that this American re-
public shall perish. We are tried as by
fire, but our country will live Notwith-
standing all the violence aud all the mach
nations of traitors and their sympathzers,
on this or the other side of the Atlantic,
our country Wi live.
"And while our country lives, slavery,
the chef scarce, and cause, and agent Of
our ills. @il die The friends of the union
in the South, before rebellion, predicted the
destruction Of slavery as a consequence Of
secession, # that madness should prevail.
Nothing, in my judgment, Is more certain
than the fulfilInent of these predictions.
Safe IT the states, before rebellion, from all
federal interference, slavery has come out
from its shelter, under state constitutions
and laws, 10 assail the national life. 1t will
surely die, pierced by its own fangs and
stings.
"What matter now how it dies Wheth-
er as a consequence or object Of the war
what matter! Is this time to split hairs
Of logic. To me it seems that Providence
indicated clearly enough how the end OF
slavery must come. 1t comes in rebel slave
states by military order, decree or procla-
nation; not to be disfegarded or set aside
in any event as nudity, but maintained
and executed with perfect good faith to all
the enfrauchised; and ii will come in loyal
slave states by the uncoostrained action Of
the people and their legislatures, aided
fleey and generously 10y their brethren Of
the free states may be mistaken in this,
but if am another better way will be re-
vealed.
"Meantime it seems to me very necessa-
ry to say distinctly what many yet shrink
from saving. The American blacks must
be called into this conflict, not as cattle,
nts now. even as contfabands, but as men.
In the free states, and, by proclamation; in
the free states, they are free men. The At
tofney- General, in an opinion which defcs
REPUTATION, has pronounced these freemen
citizens Of the United States. Let. then,
the example Of Andrew Jackson, who did
not hesitate to oppose colored regiments t.
British invasion, be now fearlessIy follow
ed. Let these blacks, acclimated. familiar
with The country, capable of great endur-
anee, receive suit bic military organization,
and 10 their part. We need their good
| will. and must make them our friends by
showing ourselves their friends. We must
have them for guides, for scouts, for all
military service \ camp or field for which
they are qualified. Thus employed, from
burden they viii become support, and
the hazards. prisations and labors Of the
white soldiers will be proportionately di-
minished.
"Some viii object, Of course. There are
always oljectors to everything practical.
Let @perience dispel honest fears and re-
flute captious or disloyal cavil.
above all, gentlemen. let no doubt rest
on our resolutions to spstain. with all our
hearts and with all our means, the soldiers
now in arms for the republic. Let their
ranks be filled up; let their supplies be suf
ficient aud regular; let their pay be sure.
Let nothing be wanting to them which can
insure activity and efficiency Let each
brave officer aud man, realize that bis coun-
try's love attends him, and that his coun-
try's hopes hang upon him; and, inspired
by this thought, let him dare and do all
that is possible to be dared and done.
$50. gentlemen, with the blessing Of
God, will we make a glorious future sure.
| see it rising before me-how beautiful
and grand There is not time to speak OF
it now; but from all qu&ters of the land
comes the voice Of the sovereign people, re-
buking faction. denoupcing treason, and
procaiming the indivisible unity of the re-
public; and in this Heaven-inspired union
of the people, for the sake Of the union, is
the sure promise Of that splendid hereafter.
with great respect, yours very truly,
IS. p CHASE
"Hon. George Opdyke, George GriswoId,
Esq, and others. Committee Of the Loy-
al National League, New York.
In pnvate letter accompanying the
above Mr.. Chase uses the following words,
the latter of which may well be adopted as
a motto by every Loyal National League
in the land:
"What said the Roman orator when
Catiline armed against his country: Let
what every man thinks concerning the Re
public be Inscribed upon his forehead"
-
EE The latest accounts from Mexico do
not confirm the advices Of French success
/ u Dt,a1l, rnwfs fL, X,