The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-06-14
TENNESSEE SUNDAY, JUNE IA 1863.

!
in this corps, which constitutes but
small family in large community, had
to be so virulsntly attacked, but tho
whole German nationality be reproaohed
by those violent Know Nothines as
cowardly and dsstardIy race Even
those that have scarcely read the history
OF their own country, much less Of anoth-
er, are permitted to bawl and bark at the
nation that has bred Goo the, and Hum
boldt a Frederick of Prussia and
Prince Eugene, and the betters among
the Americans, if they don't feel entire-
ly indifferent toward this nation, say at
least bnt very little in defense of it.
And if the Germans in the 11th corps
had become panic stricken without their
just cause and without the fault Of their
General those terribly violent attacks by
the Americans on them and their whole
race, would still not be justified. Have
we never experienced in this war such
cases taking place among American
troops? We know such from the fields
of Bull Ban, Shiloh, Murfreesboro, etc;
and even from Fort Donelson; but do
you suppose that we Germans would
stoOp, therefore, TO the injustice of call
ing the whole American nation towards
OF even those 20 whom the disaster hap
pened. Never, on the contrary, shall we
ever be ready TO acknowledge that you
possess the best fighting material in the
world, and that you will before long oc-
cupy the proudest place among the civil
lied nations as to military affairs
Napoleon said nearly sixty years ago Of
his own brave French troops, that a
panic could easily break out among the
best body of troops at tho slightest sign
of failure. If such may be the case
now among French and American troops,
how natural is it that it mig hit also take
place among Germans? They can i'm
possibly be expected to stand above al
those human faults, TO which Americans
aud Frenchmen are liable. af
We Germans must therefore declare
those accusations of cowardice as slam
derous and calumniatlng, and as only.
serving TO estrange us from you, which
can impOssibly be your intent Ameri-
cans, If you mean your country's
welfare
make no denial Of the fact, that when
first heard of Gen. Sigel having ten
dered his resignation, l denounced this
step of his as tactless and unpremedi-
tated, being of opinion that every minor
object Of personal character ought to
disappear before the all-important cause
Of our country. And when heard Of
the disaster of the llth Corps, was half
inclined to charge Sigel with indirectly
being the cause; but when l see after
this disaster the violent Know nothing
spirb giving vent TO the most miserable
accusations and caiumnies, which the
most patient and enduring German
Michael would not be able TO stand,
am disposed to believe that Sigel suffered
as much as a man of honor under any
circumstances can do.
We ask, therefore, no act of magnan-
unity onyour part but merely Justice,
if we call upon you, to retrieve the
charge Of cowardice against us; aud IL
justice is not able 70 move q nation that
boasts Of the freest and most benignant
institutions in the world TO do so, why,
then the simple principles Of policy
ought to teach you that il is very unwiso
to treat the six riillions Of fepresenta-
tiyes Of nation that has, during tho last
eighteen centuries, led the van in the
civilization Of mankind, so barely and
unjust in spite of their former antece-
dents and history, page Of which
proves the Injustice and the fact that
these six millions Of representatives
have surely more than any other Euro
pean nation contributed to The prosperity
and welfare Of this country--as you
thereby, as have already above stated,
only estrange the masses Of the Germans
from yourself and your cause, and ex-
tinguish the noble fire Of patriotism in
their bosoms, which has hitherto probably
burnt hotter with them than with the
Americans themselves. Az such treat
ment they will ayOW indifference toward
the cause of this country, aud may, At .
critical moment, when all and everything
depends on them, abandon il in spite oi
any consequences, and their best and
most popular leaders will not be able 70
hold them.
therefore beseech you, Americans,
who mean the welfare Of your country
to abstain In your own interest from the
course you have already over q month
pursued toward the Germans. II is best
for you and them il you, instead Of
thrusting them from you by UNJUST treat
ment, endeayor 10 draw them nearer 10
you and 20 become more thoroughly ac-
quainted with their different traits Of
character, to enable them and to be
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