Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-02-27
The Voice of the Army.
Ohio Soldiers to the People of Ohio.
NORTHERN TRAITORS REBUKEDI

NORTHERN TRAITORS REBUKEDl
.
telcgraphic report was recently published
ofan earnest and enthusiastic meeting of Ohio
officers, held at Murfreesboro Tenn, on the 10Th
inst, for the purpose Of taking some measures
to show the sentiment that exists in that army
with regard to the prosecution of the war, the
adoption ofdishonorable compromises and the
incipient treason which has developed itself in
the North. The utmost unanmity prevailed,
and acomn'ittee was appointed to draft an ad-
dress, to be presented to all the Ohio regiments
for their adoption or rejection. The following
persons constituted the committee: Col. ", B.
Walker, list; Col. E. H. Phelps, 18th; Col. j.
NJ Connell, 18th, and Lieut. Col f. w. Lester.
l7th Ohio.
Col Connell, lifelong Democrat drew up
the resolutions, which were heartily endorsed
by all members of the Committee, both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans. 1t has already been pre-
sentcd to half dozen regiments, and not sim
gle man has yet failed 10 endorse it, The cheers
with which the address was received by the
Ohio regiments, it is said. would have sent a
thrill ofjoy to the heart of every loyal man in
the country.
Below we give the address entire:
The Battlefield of Stone River,
- February, /.
TO Tie People of Ohio:
The Ohio soldiers of the Western Army, your
friends, brothers and sons, address you from this
field of renown, in urgent entreaty, upon mat
ters of such grave import to them and to the
country, as to demand your calm and patient au-
dience. Exiles from home for long weary
months, away from the petty strife of local poll
tics and the influence of selfish deinagogues and
party leaders, with the pure and steadfast faith
in the holy cause of defending our Government
which brought us into the field and has sus-
tanned us in perils, hardships, tolls and expos
ures, which have scarcely a parallel in history,
we feel none of the acrimonious bitterness that
now enters into the ignoble contentious ofhome
politics, and calmly view the condition Of the
country from that only true stand point-the
soldiers patriots devotion to the great Repub-
lie, ence blessed fall nations.
We ask, what means this wild, shameless par
ty strife al home why any opposition to this
war of self preservation why any but political
demagogues should wish a severance of the Re-
public wherefore foolish cry for a cessation
OF hostlites on our part give time to the trail
tor-rebels to strengthen their defenses and dis
cipline their armies why should the brave,
true men oil the great army of the United States
war-broken, toll worn and battle-slained be left
without sympathy or aid from you, men of Ohio
now enjoying the blessings of peace careless of
dangers of invasion and wars dread terrors, only
because We your brothers and sons stand I" be-
tween your loved homes and wars desolation."
Are we not in war ? Is not the whole force
OF the Government employed in defending the
nation against gigantic effort to destroy it p
Has not blood flowed like water and treasure
expended enough to make rich nation Is it
not worth preserving Can two or more States
be carved out peaceably from the present loved
Republic p? Can we give away its rivers, lands
and loyal people to its destroyers Can we af-
ford to odivide the republic into contending pet
ty States and be forever the victims of inter-
necine wars between small principaltiesf Can
we quietly, calmly, even cOmpacently, sit by
and see the grand Republic of the world thus
cut offand destroyed by innate weakness No
honest citizen of Ohio is willing that such should
be our fate.
What matters now the cause of the war By
whose fault, or by the adoption of what mistaken
| policyf 1t exists ! 1t must be fought out, or
ended by giving up all that it is waged for. For
the sake of peace; to be rid of the burdens of
taxation; for fear Of the shedding of blood:
would any basely give up his nation and be-
come the citizen OF ruined and dishonored
land?
Then wherefore the opposition to the war p
/
cause its policy is obnoxious Because it has
committed errors Because it has thrown to its
surface and given prominence to bad or incom-
petent men, or adopted political theories and
sought to make them practical, which are con-
demned by many men No the remedy for
all these evils ifthey exist at ALL may be sought
in the quiet but powerful means of the ballot,
which has power in our Government to change
dynastics, where the armies of the world would
fail.
1t is thought that peace and voluntary res
toration of the Union may be effected by COM
promise ? All that has been tried. Disdain-
fully the rebels flung back in our faces every
proffered olive branch before peaceful men be-
came armed soldiers and the booming of Fort
Sumter's cannon, with its terrible alarm, called
a nation to arms And now, insolent defiant
they laugh to scorn all thoughts of peace on any
other terms than recognition of their false ma
tOnalty. They are stronger now than them
The despots and money changers of Europe have
given them substantial aid TO destroy Repub-
| lie; they have more powerful armies, abler gen.
erals and firmer determination than when the
rebellion began. They know their strength and
APPEAL TO IT-not to the poor demagogues of
the North who are their allies They condemn
and despise THEM. Read their proclamations,
addresses, army orders and newspapers AT no
time have they ever spoken of Northern friends
except as allies in the war They deride The
IOOliSh appears OF Inelf northern allies LOT peace
and compromise, and preclude all hopes of the
restoration of the Union any terms.
What incalculable mischief is being done by
these Northern allies-their speeches and news
papers are quoted and results Of felections repor-
ted in Southern papers, as evidence, not of any
hope of restoring the Union, but to show that
the loyal people of the North are becoming will
ing to submit TO any dishonorable and humili-
ating terms ofpeace, based even on full recog-
milton that this tiendish rebellion right, aud
that it was well to destroy this Government.
People of Ohio But one alternative is left
you. You must pronounce this a justrebelion
You must say that it was right and justifable
to destroy this Republic; thata Republic is a
weak, helpless Government, powerless to sus-
tain itself, and to be destroyed whenever conspi-
rators enough can be allied for the purpose, or
you must show to the world the power ofself-
preservation in the great example of Confedera-
ted Republics. That it has quiet, dormant
force, which aroused, has gigantic strength and
energy. That it not only can protect its citi-
zens in all of their rights and privileges but can
sustain itself wellagainst foreign attack in
ternal treason.
We are fighting for the Republic, TO it we
have given our hearts, our arms, our lives We
intend to stand between you and the desolating
hosts of the rebels, whose most cherished hopes