Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-01-30
Le,ter from wn,hIne,on.
Correspondence Of the Fremont Journal.
WASHINGTON CRY. Jan. 16. 4

had an hour that l could sparc, but have not
forgotten my promise. The disinterested and
generous support you gave me during the late
canvass ought to have been publicly acknowl-
edged at an earlier day. Permit me TO do 50
now. On behalf of the emancipation Demo-
Gratis and Republicans of the Tenth Congress-
ional District whose representative | was in the
contest tender you my hearty thanks and the
gratitude Of the anti-slavery electors, aye and
of thousands also who are not electors for your
cordial cooperation and support. 1t is an hon
or of which any man ought to be proud to have,
as l had the hearty support Of the earnest
christian men and women not only in, but out
side of my District. This very circumstance
nerved my arm, strengthened my purpose and
encouraged ME in the contest The remem-
brance of this fact lightens my labors, doubles
my diligence and causes me to strive more earn
estly to be worthy of their support.
The decree against slavery, sojoyfully hailed
by millions at the opening of the new year is
still the theme of earnest discussion. That it is
the greatest act Of the nation, since the promul-
cation of the Declaration Of Independence, no
sane man will question. Let us hope that the
results which will speedily flow from it will
prove this. A feeling of satisfaction amounting
almost TO certainty, that this event will restore
the nation to unity and freedom, pervades all
unconditional friends of the Government The
anxiety entertained by many, both North and
South, as to the action of the President is now
appeased-and Southern friends of the measure
need no longer hesitate for want of policy or
assurance of protection. Only a few weeks ago
a cOored man made his appearance III this city
who had under his command in the depths of
the great Dismal Swamp which lies in North
Carolina and Virginia, over two thousand black
men, (many of them armed) who had been rea-
! dy some time to assist and maintain the doc
trines of the Proclamation as soon ms they knew
| it would be irrevocable. This army have been
gathering together for months on the very spot
made memorable by Mrs. Slows black hero
| Dred. This man, a slave, had heard OF the
promised proclamation the first day of jan
uary 1863, and his anxiety was great that to
satisfy himself and his men, he braved the dan
ger necessary To pass the lines of both armies
in coming to Washington and returning to learn
in person whether the Proclamation would GER
| tainly be issued He was answered that it would
be, aud he returned with JOY and doubtless ere
| this the welcome intelligence has made glad the
hearts of his army and nerved Them 10 assert the
freedom they have so long contemplated This
is but single instance; many other individual
cases of great her0sm and bravery arc well
known. Hundreds could without much trouble
be equally well authenticated, 10 show that the
| Proclamation even 10 the slave is TO be some
thing more than a mere paper decree-that ii is,
| indeed, to be the rallying point of renewed ef-
fort for restoring the National unity, upon
grounds which cannot fail 10 command the judg-
ment of the world. If justice, if humanity, il
mercy have yet an abiding place among men, we
| hf. al nd tba rl hx,
l the President can never return void.
The great victory of Gen. Rosecrans filed
every PATRIOTS heart with joy. Let us hope that
it is but an earnest of better things to come
For the moment it overwhelmed everything
| by its magnitude and grandeur. The defeat ol
Sherman, in his attempted capture of Vicksburg
which SO snon followed, was terrible misfor-
| tune. Had lie succeeded the entire Southwest
would have been ours. The army Of the Poio-
mac is still inactive, but trust ere long To see
another, and as fervently hope, more sue
cessful effort of this unfortunate branch Of our
military service. The Fredericksburg battle
failure as it proved exhibited some of the grea-
test displays of personal courage and acts of he
roism and daring of which history gives any
account. The only deficiency was in the plan
\ NOT in the soldiers-and for the mistake in
the plan feel less inclined to blame the gallant
and manly Burnside, than those upon whom he
was dependent for means to make the advance
at the time and place it should have been nrde
1 One thing is certain, the army was but slightly
4 demoralized by its repulse and soldiers are
now anxiousy awaiting another opportunity Il
meet the enemy. The Proclamation gives then
new courage, for among the great mass of ON
soldiers slavery has ceased to be anything bu
an object of hate. Could our soldiers all owe
the Union be permitted to vote as they shoulc
} be- the efforts set ON foot by Gov. Seymour anC
Ex- Mayor Wood of New York and other rebe
= sympathisers in the North, would be overwhe
t mingly defeated. As il is, your readers will re
joice to learn that these Northern couspiiator
I have been most unequivocally snubhed, in
d quarter where they least expected it, by no les
i parsonage than JEFF. Davis himself You havt
| doubtless read the impudeni letter ofG. N. San
, ders to Gov. Seymour and his old poliiica
friends in New York. Well, in addition to that
r it is said that Seymour has received lette
5 from JEFF. Davis which refuses all overtues fo
a reunion, and promises as reward for ihe
} contemplated treachery to the North only sucl
commercial arrangements as may place th
North on an equal footing with the "rest ofman
kind" in the purchase of Southern products
This unexpected rebel rebuff leaves these north
: ern rebel allies at loss what course to pursu
S to maintain political power, for they know tha
without the cooperation of these Southern trait
ors they can never again obtain possession o
4 the National Government, and to obtain that tn
/
. to JEFF. Davis. Seymours action with refer
enee TO the New York City Police Commission
: ers has lost him the esteem of honorable men
and secured the contempt of that class whic
make up the swell l-mob of the city. 1t is no,
e thought that he will be content TO throw no oh
: stacles in the way of the Governments prosecu
}, ting the war, and that for the present he Wi
9 confne his open opposition to the Government
to simple reputation of what he terms ~dy
blrdry drrests.' But though snubbed by JEFF
Davis himself, the attempt of this party at ma
/. tional dsorganization will not stop even thong
q the traitors continue to kick and curse them a
n they do Witness their action all over the coun
a try, and especially in Congress. Instead of PEI
: mitting these traitors to howl about their aarbi
r trary arrest" the Government should have al
n rested more of them, provided a tribunal befor
q which to try them, and executed the guilty, an
Il in no event permitted the guilty to go free o
o parol to repeat with four fold violence the
: treason and denunciation of the Governments
is now being done all over the country by thes
d released traitors.
T, Congress is very busy. II is the determine
{, tion of the Internationally loyal members
o meet all needfiil demands Of the Administrator
n and anticipate as many OF its wants as pessib
1t The war feeling among all earnest men nev'
Il was higher and there was never time, sine
e the war commenced that the people had so goo
= cause to entertain strong hopes of satisfaction
: issue All the money, all the men that may I
1t needed, will be readily granted. aud such add
tional legislation as may he necessary to facil
tate the progress of our arms and complete ii
y entire snhjngaiion of the rebel slaveholding a
% istocracy, viii be adopted. But Congress an
the Government will be powerless without Il
ali