The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1863-03-01

hiOhhohn, FeD ~, leb5.
MY DEAw Sin Your very friendly letter ,oG the "a
instant was this moment received, and hasten e
respond ~ iis contents. You seem 70 be desirous that
should write tl sou touching the interesting public
questions referred 10 In your communications and you
more than intimate wish that the views to which ]
may give expression IN my answer shall he allowed to
reach others besides yourself, Ia Oamnuning with n
friend whom have intimately known for more than
thirty Yeas, and Hh0e character and intellect havo
alwayH held IN the highest esteem, can have no
thoughts or feelings connected with the interesting
points Of your present inquiry which could desire to
conceal from the pnhcat large The truth Is, that
have ever been Of the opinion that there was far too
much OF mystiicaiion and seeresy among public men,
and certainly The ahCst and most useful statesmen
that have personally known, have been as dstin-
guished for a certain manly nanknoss and ndepeud.
tnce ln public intercourse as Tor the other high quali
ties Of mind aud heart which attracted TO them the
esteem and confidence of their countrymen and Of
The w,rld sort Of monastc reserve and guarded
relccnce both IN word and act N thenatura demean.
or Of political tricksiers aud demngOgues whose sole
chance 0f commanding even temporary respectability
und ihtucnte consists Ia the doxieity aud success
with which they may be able 10 hide their own demer4
ils from the public view and the adrolines4 which
they display IN shcltermg their schemes Of selfish.
and kpavefy from the observation OF honest and
pptllolic men. Admirlng at distance the august
models to which have just referred, however little
may regard my own opinions aud sentiments 20 be- en-
TITLED % The patriotic respect OF Others do not feel
on tis occasion. that should be iustiahe IN refna
ing 70 comply with the complimentary rcquestof one
Tor Whose Judgment aud good taste have ever felt
profound CelOfcute aud whuse lrendlyo ynrd for NV.
Sell has been constantly maniiosed both IN rrivnte
aud IN public intercourse for than 30 years past
Allow me 10 Fay too that ibis request comes stronrlv
sustained by tho fact that u emanates nom the bosom
OF community with which have Deem mo closely
aud eudcaripgly connected for the greater part OF
HE, now considerably beyond the meridan-a com
munily which has IN times past showcled upon me
inDumcrbe kindnefses, the grateful recollection Of
which can never pnss away until reason and sensih
ty shall have becomo extinct In DEATH
agree with you, my dear sir most fully IN the
opinion that whilst we should exercise the utmost
vigilance and activity IN keeping up The strength oil
0nr armies in the held. we should be far indeed fon
limiting ourselves 10 tho employment OF those means
nl defence and sccnry which the accumulation OF |
partition Of ships Of war upon the water, nay h ox
pecicd TO supply Every wise and phianthrjpic man
nllhs Hemisphere, whcrcsotver resident must desire
that thishoody and unnatural war should be brought
tn an early termination. My own wieh undoubtedly /
ls that u shoald terminate rs early a. would at al
cOmpott with the perfect preservation of onr hokOr
our freedom our separate independence. aud Uur per-
maneui safety. have never had any mere abstract
ielsh Tor the snihinE Ot bond upon tho battlefield,
aud could fee, no htrcst Whatever In thepiOsecu.
ton Of any war merely for the purpose OF gratifying
brnlalftyeuge, Ol with view 10 the needless mol.
iiplCutiun OF those hurors OF carnage, OF savagc
aud uf destlution which have In No striking q man.
ner marked a The tlnaps 8i thai siruerlc which we
are manIOy mantaiaingfor Al thar can render Rle
,esiabe of tlis earthly abode an Object of respect
And Of ratilnul affection.
"a alhe great question 10 he solved at prosru s how
'aa jhS wpf Dc brought 70 pn old without lucurflng
lhe sacrifice ofhny pniion o ihote llcelora bltasnga
pf which we haio been for two ycais 30 herocaly /
iinrriing ltls most obYlougto me- aud has been
Om thn hogignmg ~ tha thniCsi, that, u was not
ven rcsslble iortlic whole North however refirHlyl