Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-11
M0RNINGLEADER.
FRIDAY NOR xING. DEC. II. 1863.
Tbs Chanrs Of opinion in The Army.

The Change Of OPlnion in the Army.
Truth has always been represented ss
4 ill possessing wonderful elasticity Of life.
Though crushed TO earth, yet she trium-
! 49, phantly rises sgain. The immortal years
/ s-s Of God are hers.
Bat especially is 1t in the wild clash and
elsngor Of great deeds that her victories
sTs most decisive Men who have allowed
their minds to feel the inspiration Of these
great days who have not permitted them
selves 70 be frozen into party prejudice or
selfish antsgonism TO the Government, are
not now found blOcksding the steps of Pro.
gress. On the contrary, head and heart
are abreast Of all the triumphs Of truth.
1his view is confirmed by considering the
remarkable change in certain directions
@ thst have taken place in that large class
Of our fslloW-citizens that are in the ar
my. unanimity Of sentiment on the
great Issues Of the day now exists among
them which is chiefly due to the suggestive
facts with which they have been brought
A face toface. When men see the same in
evitabie truth day by day, it finally OBJ
tsins g firm Judgement in their convic.
tions. And what is still more satisfactory
to all Union.lOving men Is the fact that no
political sOphisms will wrest them from the
conclusions they have reached through
much suffering They will be true to
their country, however much ambitious
demagogues here at home may deceive the
people. As cOnhrmstOry of this we ap-
s7ass pend the following from an intelligent
private in the Army of the Potomac
As 81 have been with the army from the
a-.i beginning Of the struggle, and, Of course,
some Of these things seem strange to me,
but by this experience have learned much.
go = Msn-Worship is at at end with us-nuw
men will be appointed for what they aetu-
80 30 ally do; we shall have confidence in men
go when IL Is found that they deserve our
confidence, not before. Mcclellan, by con- /
Meeting himself with trsitors-imbeoiles, !
49, II not traitors-has at length lost the re-
speot Of those who were inclined to favor
him in adversely. Opinions with regard 4
ar' to other things have also ehsnged-opin-
ions on that which is insepsrably connect
ed with this wsr-the subject Of slavery. |
For two years we fought to suppress the /
rebellion without interfering with slavery
OF rhsving any thing TO do with it. That /
was long enough to demonstrate the
impossibility Of efeoting anything in that
49, - way. Questions concerning the right Of /
.s.-s I. property would force themselves upon the
attention Of our Generals. Slaves would
s-s.s escape and cone TO cur lines fer protee-
han, often quickly followed by their mas
y ~ ters, who would demand their rendition
We have visited paris Of Virginia where
5gv We found the owners of the soil nearly all
in the rebel army, while their plantations
IN some cases are in state Of cultivation
and about to mature good crop for tb
Richmond market. The question arc se
.s--4 Shall we allow these slaves to remain nm
disturbed, and put bread into their mas
ters' mouths, ami they with arms in their
handsP We said emphsdoally, Sol there
is something wrong in this psliov of our
Generals TO let slavery alone We visited
towns and cities and found nearly all the
able bodied negroes OF those places gone
with their masters to the army TO fight. OF
70 do that which is Indispensable to the
maintenance Of sn army. Hence arose ,
ss-z the question fWill not these slaves set
as tesnsters and workmeu, and sllow SO
msny more men 10 take the field witt ]
muskets in their hands Why then. can
az not vs take these negroes instead Of send !,
ing them to the rebels and use them t.,
our sdVanisge2