The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-02-11
Letter from Hon. James N. Ashley.
Correspondence of the Fremont Jounsl.l
w ,s,uxorox Crrv Januarv l6 l9G2

have not had an hour to spare, but have
not forgotten my promise. The, disinter-
ested and generous support you gave me
during the late canvass ought TO have been
publicly acknowledged at an earlier day.
Permit me to do So now. On behalf of the
Emancipation Democrats and Republicans
of the Tenth Congressional District, whose
representative was in the contest, | ten
der you my hearty thanks and the gratitude
of the anti-slavcry electors, aye. and of
thousands also who are not electors. for
your cordial cooperation and support 1t
is an honor of which any man ought to be
proud, to have, "a had, the hearty support
of the earnest Christian men and women not
only in, hut outside of my District. This
very circumstance nerved my arm, strength
oned my purpose and encouraged me in the
contest Tho remembrance of this fact
lightens my labors. doubles my diligence
aud causes me Ia strive more earnestly to
he worthy of their support
The decree against Slavery, so joyfully
hailed by millions at the opening of the new
year is still the theme of earnest discussion.
That il is the greatest act of the nation,
since the PRONUNCIATION of the Declaration of
Independence, no sane man will question.
Let US hope ihat the results which will
speedily flow from it will prove this. A
feeling of satisfaction, amounting almost to
certainty, that this event will restore the
nation to unity and freedom, pervades all
unconditional frieuds of tho Government.
Tho anxiety entertained by many, both
North and South, as to the action OF the
President is now appcascd cd-and Southern
friends of the measure need no longer hes.
itate for want of policy or assurance OF
protection. Only few weeks ago col
ored man made his appearance III this city,
who had under his command, in The depths
of the great Dismal Swamp which lies in
North Carolina and Virginia. over two thou
sand black men (many of them armed), who
had been ready some time to assist and
maintain the doctrines of the proclamation
as soon as they knew it would be irrevo-
cable. This army have been gathering to-
gether for mouths ON the very spot made
memorable by Mrs. Stoves black hero ,Dred.
This man. q slave. had heard Of the Trom-
iscd proclamation on the first day of Jan
nary, 1863. and his anxiety WAS so great,
lhat to satisfy himself aud his men, he
hraved the danger necessary to pass the
lines OF both armies in coming to Washing
ton and returning, 20 learn in person whether
the proclamation would certainly be issued.
lie was answered that it would he, and he
returned with Joy, and doubtless ere this
the welcome intelligence has made glad the
hearts of his army and ncrved them to
assert the freedom they have no long con-
templated. This is but Il single instance;
many other individual cases of great hero
ism and bravery are well known. Hun
dreds could without much trouble he equally
we'll authenticated, to show that the Pro-
cIamaton even to the slave is to he some
thing more than mere paper decree--that
tits, indeed, to bo the rallying point of re-
Moved effort for restoring the National
! unity, upon grounds wnlch can not Iail 10
command the Judgment of the world. If
Justice, if humanity, if mercy have yet All
abiding place among men, we must be sue
cessful-and the word spoken by the Pres
ident eau never return void.
Tho great victory of Gen. Rosecrans
filled every patriots heart with joy. Let
! us hope that it is but an earnest of better
things to come. For the moment it over
whemed everything by its magnitude and
grandeur. The defeat of Sherman, in his
attempted capture Of Vicksburg, which 80
soon followed, was a terrible misfortune.
Had he succeeded, the entire Southwest
would have been ours. The army of the
Potomac is still inactive. but ! trust ere
long to sec another, and as fervently hope
a more successful, effort of this unfortunate
hrauch of our military service. The Fred
| cricksburg battle, failure as it proved, ex-
nbitcd some Of the greatest displays OF
personal courage and acts of heroism and
daring of which history gives any account
The only deficiency was i'll the plan--not
| in the soldiers-and for the mistake in the
| plan feel less inclined to blame the gallant
! Burnside, than those upon whom he was
| dependent for means TO make the advance
at the time and place it should have been
made One thing liz certain, the army was
but slightly demoralized by its repulse,
and our soldiers are now anXiousy await
ing another opportunity to meet the enemy
! The proclamation gives them courage, for
among the great mass of our soldiers slavery
has ceased to be anything hut an object of
| hate. Could our soldiers all over the
| Union be permitted to vote, as they should
| be, the efforts set on foot by Gov. Seymour
| and Ex-Alayor Wood, of New York. and
other rebel sympathizers in the North
would be overwhelmingly defeated. As it
is, your readers will rejoice to learn that
! these Northern conspirators have been
most unequivocally snubbed, IN quarter,
where they least expected II, by no less a
| parsonage than jeff. Davis himself, Iou
| have doubtless read the impudent letter OF
| q. \. Sanders 10 Gov, Seymour and his old
| political friends in New York. Well, m ad-
lition to that, it is said that Seymour has
received a letter from Jeif. Davis which re-
fuses all overtues for reunion, aud promises
as a reward for their contemplated treachery
| 10 the North only such commercial arrange
ments az may place the North on an equal
footing with the rest of mankind i'll the
purchase of Southern products. This uli-
! expected rebel rebuff leaves these Northern
| rebel allies at loss what course to pursue
to maintain political power, for they know
/ that without the cooperation OF these South
crn traitors they can never again obtain
| UossessiOa Of the National Government, and
! to obtain that the leaders are willing to sur
! render Internationally to jeff Davis. Sey-
| monr's actions with reference TO the New
! York City Police Commissioners has lost
! him the esteem of honorable men, and &C.
cured the contempt of that class which make
| up the swell-mob of the city. 1t is now
\ thought that he will be content to throw no
! obstacles in the way of the Governments
prosecuting the war, and that for the pres
ent he viii cOn6ne his open opposition to
| Government to u simple Reputation oil What
| he terms arbitrary arrests But though
snubDed by Jeff. Davis himself, the attempt
of this party at national dsOrganization will
not stop even though the traitors continue
| to kick aud curse them as they do. Wit
ness their action all over the country, and
especially in Congress- Instead of permit
ting these traitors TO howl about their :" ar
bitrary arrest" the Government should have
arrested more Of them, provided tribunal
before which to try them. and executed the
guilty. and in no event permitted the guilty
TO go free on parol, 10 repeat win iour iold
| violence their treason aud denunciation of