The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-02-27
STEAMER Sioux CRY,


DEAR FRIEND E: r.
.,,,.,, STEAMER Sioux Cry e.
s.. NAPoLEAN ARK, Jan. lG :
am about to, do what will probably cqt ale
your triendship-write an honest letter No.
that haze hitherto written dishonesty nor
that you are accused Of hating candor, nlitself
considered. But candor upon the theme 1shall
treat of, differing, so widely as l now do, from
your well known views upon the same opic,
! can not tail to overtaX your patience, inydying
writer and epistle in one irrevocabie anatlhma
But the fact is, | can't write ut all without be-
ing trne TO my nature, which has become deep
Iy stirred with shame and Indignation bt my
eountry's folliesi how deeply stirred this bitter
will prove, since even your goodwill is pt q
bribe rich enough to prevent my writing i'll
Like many other Republicans, who, loving
the whole country, and deprecating coercioa as
the most likely means Of sundcrig it toreytst,'
wers vet firm in their allegiance 70 ihe-oil Hug,
however 10th to sec it committed to wroag
policy, long strove to justify this war, en-
ploying for that purpose all my little stock Of
learning and skill, both as a theologian and IN
amateur politician, though had the decency ~
ways, as my friends knew, TO keep politics ea-
iireiy out Of my Sunday lectures, When tie
increasing needs of country seemed to demand
the sacrifice, l heartily threw my person, IS
well as my voice, into the tide of carnage, vii
ling even to die that the Union might live, IN
the spirit of the dangerous maxim, ''Alrs wdl
that ends we'll" The negro-having STUDIED
him in real life, not i'll the pleasing fictious Of
tbo
turblng him, unless as 4 convenient maie-weight,
TO be thrown into the scale when better means
should fail. / was proud Of our regiment
had some lingering faith in the President
somewhat more though hardly full confidence
i'll the wisdom and virtue OF our Generals
Thus | went forth in hope, trusting mainly in
God and our vastnumbersfor success, and proud
TO find SO many old friends rushing with me 10
the field.
This was six months ago. Anybody with o.
pen eyes, campaigning even three months in the
Southwestern army, ought to learn something
that could not well be learned at home. Our
boys have been learning, and don't claim to
be duller than the rest. Ergo, my faith in Pres
ident Lincoln has changed from grain of mus
tard-seed to perfect nonentity; my trust in
Union Generalshp has dwindled to the verge
OF despair, as the machinery by which officers
are made becomes more bare, and their char
acters, when made, more visible and notorious.
Noble exceptions there are, but these are the
men that soon resign, or find themselves court
martialed. My sentiments touching the black
idol have changed from good natured inditfer-
ence to downright disgust; and l need hardly
add, my hopes OF the Union are reduced to
mere hope in some new political dynasty, which
shall now pray and toll for with all the
zeal and industry my nature is capable Of
Were alone in these painful discoveries,
might be inclined to distrust my own judgment,
Or at least to repine in silence. But when /
find the same views and feelings pervading our
whole regiment, and every other we are brought
i'll contact with, vented in louder and still loud
er whispers, burdening the letters to every home
seasoning the broth of every mess-table, and
deepening the murmurs around each bloody
grave--when knoV all this, have no longer
apretext for feigning ignorance of facts which,
If men could ignore them, would cause the stones
to cry out. 'a'.a 'af'i
What are we fighting for7 In the name of
reason and humanity, what is the sublime re-
suit, which can justify year after year of sack
cloth at home and .butchery here, of neglected
fields but thick strewn Golgothas, of empty
Churches, crammed hospitals, deferred bridals,
accelerated bankruptcy, and the ever-lengthen-
ing line OF pensioners, who for paltrY sti-
pend and puff of praise, must hobble arm
less, eycless and footless, to the pauper's gravel
For what were these things begun, for what
must they continue, without even the remote
prospect of an end? Nobody knows. But
from the many conflicting rumors on the SUBJ
ject, we, may examine four of the more common
and plausible; each and all of which, instead
of justifying the war, are conclusive reasonss
why it should be condemned, and at once aban-
doned "f its8fa sasiIgt a1 a3d'Q wed afi