Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-03-17

NEAR STAsFoRD CoURT HOUSE. "a,
tesguarE 2Ist. 1868.

many thanks. | was pleased to find you
of such good cheer, with an abiding faith
10 the ultimate triumph Of the cause Of
right and justice. Ny convictions that we
were right, led me early TO the contest, and
| have net as yet had occasion to change
those convictions, but they have rather
grown and strengthed by time True the
war has assumed different feature in many
respects from its original course of policy,
and these changes have been grasped with
eagernsss by those who are en-
nifty with tbs administration and opposed
to successful termination Of the war.
But | cannot see that the more stringent
measures employed are more than the ex-
igencies of the case require. We have
certainly arrived at poiut now, where
true motives of the enemies Of cur country
everywhere are not to be misunderstood.
1.-THE Goyernm at ever hopes for success,
she must lay aside the policy of handling
with tender hands the political sensibilities
of parties and the claimed constitutional
rights Of the peculiar institution. Ii IS GER
tainiy plain and evident to eyary observing
mind that African slavery was tie true in
stigator Of the revolt and yet remains one
of the strongest elements of the rebellion;
now should We leave 1t untouched on ac-
count Gifts claimed constitutional rights,
while at the same time il stands with up
lifted hands defiant violator of the very
instrument from which it claims protection
This is too plain for further comment.
There are many objections to the Emanci-
patton Proclamation on the grounds Of its
tending TO kill whatever of union sentiment
remains in the reyolted sections. True,
there are many in those localities whose
every sentiment is in unison with Us, but
individual wrong andi losses cannot be
avoided ia crisis like this. You will per-
haps think ME Greely convert, but what
ever Of chance there is in me in regard to
taese things, is attributable to my own ex-
perience and observation. Mr. Cover, there
is and his existed in many parts of the
South, a slumbering aristocracy sentiment,
which will, if ever an opportunity affords
develop itself far beyond our expectations.
See if / am not right. The emancipation
Of slavery however, cannot be accomplished
without discouraging our political system,
commercially aud socially; and it is our
own and interest Of every one 10 avoid as
much as possible the evils growing out Of
such change. But ia it not better TO suffer
the evils of change for seasoa than TO
perpetuate an e,iIl The advantages of
free institutions over those of slavery are
too plain and well illustrated to be misun-
derstcod by those willing to acknowledge
when convinced. five would look to the
great increase of the general progress and
prosperity Of even France, to say nothing
Of other European powers, emancipation
is worthy of our earnest consideration.
TIE southern system Of domestic institu-
tons is within itself at war with republican
government, either slumbering or open +;
aud we should think open as present evil
deuces well attest; and il you can get the
honest fireside sentiment of men in the
South you will find them opposed to it;
land they constitute the real wealth OF the
country | mean those who are higgerless
and self-dependent. notice during an
imprisonment Of nearly four months, that
the rebels could not offeran ex use for re-
volt upon any other grounds than the
"nioger," and it was not so much upon
any great wrongs they had saffei cd, as an
tcipated wrongs from Mr.. Lincoln with
an occasional remark of dislike to being
any longer allied with the Yankees. !
cannot perhaps give you better idea OF
their real sentiments than by giving you
an accoent Of conversation | had with a
1t. Col. He said, "we were instrumental
in making the government and we run it,
SO lone as union with you was beneficial
or safe; but the great anti-slavery sentl-
lnent in the free states augmented by
hosts of foreign anti lavery emigration,
with a denial Of our rights in the Terrlto-
RES, led us to a separation, and that separ-
alton is final, and in this alone is our do
mestic institutions safe; and we will have
it or stain every hillside and swamp IN
the South With yours and our blood. Yoa
bad better withdraw your armies and stop
yopq vastly increasing public debt; you
wilIha to do SO in the end" dou't think
history furnishes parallel in modern wars
whore there was so much yindictiyeness
and desperation manifested as by the rebel
leaders.
AS to what she end Of all this will
BE-. am unable 70 fix upon any definite
carsusion; it seems that the God OF bat
Ties is against us, aad defeats and disasters
of all shapes are against US; but WHOM
the Lord loveth he chastiseth. Though |
vet have faith, | believe Hooker will ac-
compIlsh something with the Potomac
army; takiag everything into considera-
lion we have gained much in the last
twelve months. The army is somewhat
discouraged at the prospect Of affairs, but
moi entirely so. A move in the right di-
rection would encourage them much. The
prosp. ct Of peace and friendship With Eu-
rome seems better now than at any former
time Napoleon is nervous, but he dare
not move without cooperation. He has
doubtless found Mexicoa good deal warm
er than he anticipated. | think his Next
can war is only prelude 10 something yet
III