Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1863-09-04
The Soldiers Opinions.

seS-Capt T. G. O., Is, Pa. Art, iu ser
vice near Williamsburg, Va, writes to us,
25th ult. He thinks tue soldiers in ser
vice moro absorbed in tho duty Of defeat
ing the enemy before them, than in poll.
tics. Still, they dread "men of the Val
laudigbsm stamp more than they do the
Rebels, wbo are openly q, war and iu arms.
The destruction Of the Government BY
JEFF. Davis is no longer feared, while Cop
perbeadism causes grave spprehensious,"
"Uuion Soldiers are enlis,ed aud sworn to
bear true allegiance to the United States"
BY their very oath they are bound against
such "opposers" Of the U. 8. as Vuilan-
digbam. "Woodward stands upon q plat
form supporting Vallsndisbam." "The
answers to your iuterrogations must then
be plainly and cmphatically as follows
IL. The Democrat side is, by its sfFia-
ity With copperheads, proppiug the Retell-
iou, aud does not honestly endeavor to put
it down.
"2. The proportion Of the 40 or so"
questioned, or Of tho universal Yankee
army, that "hurrss for Woodward, Low.
rie, and Vallandigbam, is as l to TO-"
Hovey, the Hero of Champion Hills.
This noble, gallant General, addressed
the following Letter to the recent graud
Indiana State Democratic Mas, Meeting,
convened at Indianapolis, Iud. 1t is in
the spirit Of one who ID riskiug everything
iu life fos his country, aud has in it much
food for profound thought
MoUNT VERNON, Aug. is, 1863.
Gentlemen-I regret that my short
leave Of absence from the army, aud So
we're iIluess 10 my family, prevent me lrom
accepting your invitation to address the
Democracy on the 2O,h inst. should
like to speak to the people Of the State,
aud presen, to them the opiuioIs aud feel
iups Of their kindred aud friends iu the
army iu which | serve.
With those who are facing our enemies,
where disease and death arc around them,
there is but little or no division Of opiniou,
aud they loox with wouder aud astsuish-
meut at reported differences at home. The
Army Of the Southwest is dctermiued
upon the su!juyutioa Of Eeblsdom, iu the
highest and strongest sense Of that word.
No halfway, simpering patchwork will
satisfy them, and the party that aueup,s
it will be swept into q hopeless minority,
like all the other combinations Of parties
that have formerly opposed the wars Of
our country. "Ths Constitution as it
was" Gao not be restored in the Rebel
States, uutil tho people Of those States
"shall fully prove their love for tho Gov
ernmeut, aud devoted loyalty" Until
this happens, the madmau must wear bis
straight jacket.
A little reflection will convince tho
most sympathetic that this must bo SO.
Suppose the Union restored: the Coosti-
tuition guarantees the right of trial by jury
in the district where the offeuse was com-
mitted; but broad indeed would DO the
farce where . rebel should be presented
for treason, and tried, by . rebel jury!
The Consultation provides that the writ Of
habeas corpus shall remain iuviolate ; yet
l need not tell you that rebel Judge
would release the prisoner, though charged
with the blackest crimes of murder aud
treason. The Constitution proclaims lib
erty Of speech and liberty Of the press.
This, with rebels, would include the right
to denouncs the Government, and keep up
an undyiug hatred Of one section against
the other, until another revolution would
inevitably follow. No, these sacred rights
eau not be conferred upon the madmeu Of
the South. They were given BY our
fathers TO men capable of self government,
and can not now be intrusted to those who
have so shamefully attempted to destroy
the institutions under which We live ga
long day of probation must await their re-
admission"
A word 10 regard to property of Rebels. /
10 my opinion, they have forfeited all, and
their wealth should be 80 used as to pre-.
vent a repetition of their crime. Their
personal property should be used in
defrayiog tho expenses Of the revolu-
tion-their slaves released and liberated
and their lands, as far as practicable, |
divided among our soldiers who have no.
bly, sustained the Government in the hour
of it's sorest trials. l have spoken thus
freely Of the policy that | think should be !
pursued, for these are the questions upon
which the people will soon be called to act. |
you stand in tho loyal States frm, aud |
determined to carry out this policy, the I
days Of the Rebellion are easily mum mbered;
but if you temporize, aud divide, the var
has scarcely commenced, and anarchy and .
bloodshed will cover our happy land. 1
coojure every one who loves liberty, to
forget party, and stand BY our country in
this dark hour Of it's trial. Your proper.
ty, your lives, and tho happiness Of your
family depend upon it.
know not whether these views will
meet the appreciation Of any party, bu,
can not refrain from giving them 40 open
expression. In my opinion, nine-tenths
of the army heartily concur in the views
[ have presented.
Yours truly, ALVIN P. HovEY.
Mass Meeting at Northumberland.
A meeting, to ratify the nominations of