The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-04-02
NUMBER 50.
Letter from J. O. Banks.
Musrarrsnoso T..r m...h n

IT
MuRFREEsBoso. Tenr., March 10, 1859.
DEAR BROTHER Your last came
to hand few days since, and this will
inform you that l am in good health
and in as good spiri,s as the circum-
stances, by which I am surrounded
will permit. In fact, I enjoy my
well the most of the time; true it is,
clouds intervene to obscure my path
at times, and sometimes almost yield
to the thought that / never shall again
enjoy civil and religious privileges.
But this I believe a temptatiouAwhen
| reflect upon Gods goodness and his
precious promises, can but believe
that the Lord win spare me to enjoy
these privileges again, and meet you
all face to face in the flesh, and though
my faith is strong in this respect / must
say that have no particular desire to
enjoy these blessings until see this
rebellion crushed out, root and branch
until the primary cause, .'human bon!
dage," shall be forever done away
until the inhabitants Of these United
States shall breathe free, whether
sohite or black. GOD sA4 ~ - Z .i--'
The system of human bondage, Aft.
can Slavery is the most iiabolical Of
all--in the language of Wesley, it'sth
''sum of all VilIanies" What has been
said in reference to one half Of these
United States remaining slave, and the
other half free, is true in one sense and
that is this, aud it has been effectuaily
proved that it cannot ecist, one half
slave and one half free. The very
system breeds, generates and promul-
gates aristocracy and monarohy. The
conscript law of the so-caIled Confed.
eracy and whiclrs SO many Copperheads
in sheep's clothing in the North are az
most, if not even quite ready to accept
proves this to demonstration to every
thinking man. Anyman being able to
hold twenty Negroes, or in other wordr
owning SO many his blessed self is ssxs
empt from military sdnty and the poor
whites must fight andswage . warfars
founded on African Slavery as its
"chief corner )stons."; aYet some eon-
tend, that they have fairly won their
independence, and the SO called con.
federacy be or ought to be acknowl.
edged. Have the people Of the North
forgotten the history of the past? have
they forgotten that every nation on the
globe that have held human beings in
bondage has either been ruined or they
compelled to do away with the system ?
What caused the downfall of Rome :
those that can read aud inform them!
selves. Still, Rebels at home say we
can't conquer them, and the Country
will be ruined; well, grant the latter,
and what of it.? II will be ruined, and
eternally SO if this system is allowed to
exist. African Slavery is bad enough
God knows, but to see what ! have
seen in Kentucky and in this State !;
men and women that are full one halt
white, and as good at heart as you,
brother. or any other white man, held
in bondage. -
This part of the system is the worst
of ALL. Young men from l6 to 90
years of age using the opposite sex Of
this race to CRAFTY: their brutish pas
sions. In my opinion, God Almighty
never will permit this people to again
enjoy peace until this system shall be
done away. Do you desire to die and
leave your children undera governments
that tolerates such a system |? Who
knows but your own kin, the blood of
your own relations may be mingled with
this race, pray the Lord to let me
and mine die, before my eyes
behold this state of things existing
throughout these United States. Yet
Northern men cry, peace peaost and
offerto compromise with these treacher-
ous villains. l admit that therc has
been seemingly blood enough spilled
and treasure enough wasted. But /
say, cost what it may, it must and win
be put down. So far as the South
maintaining ground or having fairly
won their Independence, ! consider it
lyet far from it, we have re-possessed
and hold nearly all the forts on the sea-
board; our blockade is efficient; we
have cleared Missouri, Kentucky,
Maryland, part Of Virginia and North
Carolina the most of Tennessee, 9
great part of Arkansas, and portion
Of Louisiana, and still some will claim
that they have won their Independence.
am satisfied in reference to lighting,
desire TO do no more-yst expect
to. and under the circumstances hope
the Administration will call ont GOO, 600
men and equip them tor the ield im'