Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-03-05

~The following letter which We
copy from the Wheeling Intelligencer.
is well worthy Of perusal on part Of
our readers. coming as it does. from
a citizen of West Virginia. one who
may be presumed 10 know something
of the peculiar institution" and It's
direful effects upon the nation.
"the great conservative party or
ganizsd for the purpose Of eounteract-
ing the abolition influence by which
the present Administration is con-
trelled," the wholesome truths set
forth by Col. LATHAM ought to prove.
how miserably mean and detestable,
their acts and arguments must eventat
ally appear in history.
But alasr in their blind party zeal.
they can see nothing in our Govern.
ment worth preserving except the trea-
sonable. corrupt dregs Of the once pow
erful Democratic party:
BrvxRLY, VA, Feb. 16, 1863.
Capt. S. Burdsf, a. C. s.:
DEAR SrR:-F was disappointed, and
regret that had no further Interview
with you while in Taylor county
The conversation INDUCED in at Pruhty.
town was unsatisfactory and iuconclu-
sive, and left so the more willingly on
my part. as Iexpected to meet you the
next day. After, however, canvassing
your position as understood by me,
from the best information I can obtain.
L am tis6ed that you have attached
yourself to "the great conservative party
orga1ized for The purpose of counterde-
ting the abolition Influence By which tie
present Administrafion is controlled"
with which party / cannot cooperate.
Without impeaching the motives or
discussing the compositions Of that par
ty, l will pass to the principle topics
mentioned in our conversation, and de-
fine my position with regard tothem,
and my reasons therefor.
1st. The Presidenfs Emancipation
Proclamation. II l recollect right, you
asked me, in connection with this, il /
had become an Abolitionist My poiiti-
cal opinions are as they always were;
but regard the Emancipation Proela.
matioa issuing from the President. not
in his capacity as Chief civil magistrate
OF the ration, but as military order
issuing from him as Commander-ln
Chief Of the Army and Navy Of the
United States. And lido not look to
the Constitution to ascertain whether
he has the right to issue such an order,
but to the law Of nations for the gov
ernment OF civilized 5e2igerents. We
have been compelled to accord to the
rebels the rights of belligerents, which
gives to us the corresponding right to
iDjure, weaken and cripple them in
every vulnerable point. Slavery is the
cause and strength Of the rebellion:-
The proclamation strikes at 1t as such.
and as such l give it my hearty and
cheerful support-not because it frees
the slave. but in spite Of it. and because
1 regard it as a powerful engine for
crushing therebellion. l view it from
a military stand point only, and as a
military order dictated by necessity.
Cd. The rem otal ofMe C1elzdn, dc.
I have not the data from which TO
Judge Of the wisdom or propriety Of this
act. / thought l could speak knowing
ly OF Pope's capacity. but the disclo-
sures of the Porter court martial salts
fed ME tha. had estimated wrongly.
i believe the President is honestly
doing his best for the country; that he
has ssnse enough to think for himself,
and that his conclusions are generally
correct; that be Is not "cst's psw"
for any party or faction, but has inde'
pendence enough to act for himself
upon his own conviction; that his Cabi-
net contains more than an ordinary
amount Of ability, and that they are
doing the very best they can under the
circ instances. / think il is not eur
province to criticise where we cannot
know the facts; and iftbe administra-
ton falters we should strengthen it by
our constaucS; If it blunders we should
re-assure it by our patriotism, and If it
succeeds land succeed it must) we will
share with it the glories ofthe triumph!
Sd. The Nev State. You oppose
incorporating what you term a Republi-
can doctrine in the Constitution, and
thus laying yourself open to the charge
of A5oltionism. As a matter Of fancy
more than political preference. pre-.
fered that the Constitution should be
silent on the subject Of slavery-thst
fifty years hence our grand children
might not be able to ascertain by read
ing the instrums Mt, that such an institu-
ton as African Slavery ever existed. 1t
is, however, with us an institution with
out controlling influence; could never
be made profitable, and would soon cease