Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-02-18
The Views of a Fighting Democrat.

itor in this State. and always 4 party man
of the strictest sort. 1t shows in what
manner the manifestation of the anti
war Democracy are regarded by those of;
their late associates who are now in the
army:
HEADoUA RTERs lsT BRIGADE, 81 DIVISION
lsTH Army CORPS. MURFREEsBoRo, Tenn.
Jan. 9th. lSS-
HOa. H.. he Weigh, Ohio Senate:
DEAR COLONEL: | wrote you some time
since. but have not heard from you.
take it for granted my letter was lost in
some of the captured mails however
will now write you upon Il different sub
ject.
I Is it truth that we zeal in the ARM
that our Democratic friends at home have
so far forgotten the principles of our fa-
theirs as to abandon their Government in
this hour of peril and need?
Surely we must be misinformed, yet it
comes from such reliable sources that |
am almost compelled to believe it. | am
told that some of them even wear 1" but
ternut watch chains to show their de-
rision and contempt for the Government.
Can it be possible that Democrats, who
have ever boosted that they were the pc
culiar friends of the Government in time
of war, have so changed that they can so
publicly express their sentiments against
the prosecution of the war, as | have
read in the Ohio Eagle, in Vallandigham
and Odds speeches, and receive applause
from Democratic audiences? Is Critch-
fields speech correctly reported? If so,
and they are sustained by the Democra-
CIV, don't let them get in the power OF the
soldiers, for we nave no such Democracy
in the army.
You and |, both, we'll remember the
time when it was the grandest boast OF a
Democrat TO assert that his party had
fought all the wars to that time, and he
was in favor of the next one. Yet | lind
men getting Judgeships in Ohio because
they changed politics, or rather parties,
to get among his kind, anti-war. l find
men elected to the Ohio Legislature, who
make anti-war speeches, and, after months
of Imprisonment, trim it n mellow 1t
down, and vet leave it so that every sol
dier him an ass or a tory
Democrats in Ohio led by such men as
Odds, Trump, Vallandigham, Shaw, Ro-
land & Co., shan't say to me l am no
Democrat. | present a clean record,
, which none of them can do on voting
except Vallandigham, and perhaps he
can remember the time when he was
very lukewarm. As to the others, when
they were doing their best against the
; Democracy | stood for them, and now
predict | will stand there again. Democ'
racy arrayed against its government In
time of such rebellion as this!
Some were so silly as yet to talk about
compromise, others talking treason and
= writing it. Surely the time Is fast ap-
preaching when these mems mouths will
be stopped, if not by force, by the friends
of our Government at home. You may
t EXPECT to occasionally hear from soldiers
? upon politics, as well as services in the
field. .'Anti-war Democrats what a
term. Never shall it be said of me In
time of war or rebellion, | was found ar,
rayed against my Government. Dothese
A, men think because the President | don
say he has), makes a mistake, that there
! fore Democrats must 60 against theii
Government! /, as Mr.. Wright says
. = don't belong to that wing" The great
, bugaboo is the Niger n slavery. My
doctrine is, let them take care OF them
selves, and we will try and take care o
the Government and, III doing so
l should it become necessary to crush the
institution of slavery, l say crush it,
Let us first see whether we have a gov
: eminent, and then take care OF mino
matters.
If rebels assert they will not have on
laws or Constitution to govern them, tax.
from them both, and run their boat witt
their own rudder. This / understand I
h be the substance of the Presidents pre-
# clamation, and hence | argue it RICH
and lust, and as one of the most etfectly
means to break up rebellion that can b
used, and | am in favor of using all m
at hand.
Ask me to ride in a boat with such OIL
GERS running it, as will at a Democrat
supper say they care but little who rule
= jeff Davis or Lincoln won't ride, an
I assure YOU there ale thousands OF US /
the same fix. I'll run the risk OF my d.
s mocracy in company with General SteeC
L man, Col. Burk, Col. Cornell, Col. Choat'
Gen. Lytle, Gen. McCook, Wright, an
Dave Tod, and many others | could me-
ton.
/ suppose, in fact. | am told, Ranne
and Roland already count me out OF tn
Of Democratic party. Neither of them ca
say as much as l can. l have never V,
y ted any thing else than the REGULAR
ne nominated Democratic ticket for any o
fee, from Justice of the Peace up; whe
I'd they have been giving not only the col
shoulder to the ticket, but using thelrI
T. huence against it, | have been advoca
ing, publicly and privately, the cause
e. Let them say what they please, the tin
- is coming when soldiers, who are no
Sc feeling the effects of their course will a
tend to them. We will be at hon
to sometime, l hope and all such as pr
BY themselves in opposition to the war,
es its vigorous prosecution, by word or &C
or even silence, will be attended to, an
w receive their Just reward. You at hon
of do not appreciate the feeling of the SC
Id diers upon this subject | but EXPIRE
their sentiments, except 1t Is not IN stror
ia enough language. We look upon q
an such men as take the course of Valla,
to digham, Olds, and that class. as wor
n than Davis or Breckenridge while u
he former have too much cowardice to hgl
he US, like men and soldiers. they prote
in themselves behind the towards breas
We work, "martyrdom and persecution.
lie Truly they are fit subjects to NIL sue
'el trenches.
af Tell our wal Democrats to stand hrr
ed present the bold front, and push torwar
ng the column there is in reserve, and tn
ed will soon come to their relief, Will owe
Id whelm the rebellion at home, as 1t
en- surely but slowly doing now.
nd | nave written but little on this su1Je
to for some time past, as l much dislike
be and felt quite 10th to part hands WI
Democrats, with whom | have stood 4
ey wears but | think the time has con
he when loyal men should talk out, !
so rebels at home know they must aband'
a rotten bark or receive a traitors dooI
us Leaders of parties can get wrong, %
of principles never. Jacob Thompson,
ne Missouri johnson, of Georgia Steven
no Davis, Breckinridge, and many othei
be were once idolized leaders of the Demo
is, racy but who in Ohio, to-day is so io
no as TO acknowledge them their polite
all leaders now? but few. | have lost :
L O - : II -o,aIla fpa,oLlinp nOil