The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-10-01

Letter From Captain wiae,nnn.

Tor the Lancaster GazgHo
Letter Iron, Captain wisemnn.
Every patriot, every freeman, every
one who truly and sincerely loves his
country, deeply dcplorcs the condition
we are now in, and thousands two
years since if they could have forescen
what has passed, would have made
every e%ertion within their power to
avert the great calamity which has be.
fallen us. No nation ever suffered
greater tribulations than portion Of
our once happy country has sin ce this
war commenced. There is not one.
either friend or foe, who would wish
to see the same heart -rcnding scenes
repeated. We verify balicyc there are
none save the most devoted lovers of
country. home and loved ones, that
would again make so great sacrifice.
Great indeed should be the punish
ment Of those who arc responsible for
this war The blood Of thousands of
the best men Of the nation call from
the very ground for justice, and it will
come. Every day it is mcted out to
those who We're the first aggressors
And those who are ut fault for the CON
tinuance Of this deadly strife ere long
will meet with their just deserts unless
they materially change their base cf
operations. This war might have
been ended long ago, if we had been
more united in the North. The fault
is not with those who have held the
reins Of Government, but with the
great mass of thcpcople whose duty it
is TO act when called upon. Our ru-
lers can do nothing unless the people
sustain them. How easy it is then for
the most laulablo efforts, the most
sanguinc measures, to fall to the
ground simply for the want of support.
Our Government, right or wrong,
should be sustained. This can be
done in a number Of ways. When
four country is in imminent peril, upon
the verge of destruction, we should
not let Slight difference Of opinions
embarrass our actions, or cause us for
Il moment to lose sight of that which
above all other things should be the
dearest 10 us viz; Our country's wei
fare. To foster such feelings, and let
such motives bias our actions, would
be the mcancst kind of cowardice. A
man Of the true loyal stamp first re-
pe!s the enemy that attacks his coun-
try, and settles minor differences Of
opinion atterward We should all
remember that our country is greater
and dearer to us than either party or
party issues. In all Governments
there must be head there must be
some one to lead in all great underta-
kings. How futile, how exceedingly
foolish it is for any one to say: l will
not 90 to the aid Of my country; |
will not rush to her rescue because |
do not like the leaders, or because
some measure adopted to crush out
treason does not suit my peculiar
views. How vain and inconsistent is
it to oppose the Administration, from
the fact that no good can result from
it. Peradventure you do not endorse
every measure. By silently acquies-
cling the enemy would notreccivc aid
and comfort as they now do by the
determined opposition which is made
in the North against the greatest
measure this war has yet produced.
Many are slow to believe that the
political issues which now agitatc the
North in any way affect the Army
! and when we tell them that the course
pursued by our party, that the prin.
ciples advocated by the same, have g
great moral effect, encourages the sol,
, dier to deeds of valor inmses q new
E spirit Of patriotism, and strengthen,
, the ties that bind the hearts of the sol
diers to Northern firesides, they laugh
:. us to scorn. And when our father,
tell that the course pursued by the
+ other party creates disgust feelings o
} rcmorsc and resentment, produces in
subordinhtion, encourages dcsertion
: and causes lis to feel as though w,
have dangerous enemy in our rear
{ when we tell them that their actions
| induce us to believe that they ar,
not only enemies to themselves but tt
. their country, they answer. us by say
4 ing, @wc are as much for the Union a
/ you are" We find that the principa
1 difficulty (which exists in the Noftl
e in this There seems to bca studied
o effort among certain class to reeoiv
|, everything that looks to the suppress
! sion ofthe rebellion with distrust, ant
c to disbclieve everything that tends t