Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-06-09


man, and establish him as an opposer Of
lis country, am quite certain that many
friends Of the war and of our glorious
Union, would have long since been mark
ed as enemies to their country, for aid and
comfort given to the rebels by unguarded
expression, having no tendency but to dis
courage our brave and valiant soldiers, and
weaken the power of the heroic leaders.
Long since, | was taught by Jackson,
Clay and Webster, and lately by Douglas,
that with rebellion there could be but two
partes-one for the Union and the other
against it. For many years before the war
commenced, l fersently opposed the means
which, I really believed, were generating
the elements TO excrt rebellion. Thought
| could see secession, disunion and blood
shed the results of the means | opposed.
| loved my country; and when rebellion
came, | was among the first to speak to
the people and to call for volunteers.
But in the surprisingly sudden change
from peace to war, if | did feel little I'M
kind and say few harsh words which |
remember not, my fellow citizens possessing
ienient spirit, long since, by both words
and deeds, exercised the pardoning power;
and until the appearance Of your editorial
| never had a single hint that any man or
woman acquainted with me, even suspect
ed my loyalty.
ga tree is known by its fruit" Let ne
be known by this sacred and reliable rule.
have offered myself, equipped my chill
dren and placed them upon the altar.
When Abraham Of old offered his son
Isaac, even before single thrust Of the
Patriarch's knife, the angel Of the Lord
called unto him out Of heaven and said:
LAY not thy band upon the lad, neither
do thou anything unto him, for now |
know that thou fearest God, seeing thou
hast not withheld thy son."
The proof of Abraham's faith and ODE
dience, was established by his offering one
son. 70 my country secondin Importance
to Abraham's God, / offered my son; and
then another; and now my last4cQull he
ride horse or shoulder musket fhe too,
should 60. {
But the wonderful preservation of the
two, aIready passed through many bloody
battle, is an indication that my offering
for my country is enough; and God he
praised that my children yet live.
Had you known me, or had you gath
cred your information from healthy
source, you could not, after making only
flying visit to our quiet village, have gone
to an extreme part of our State, to prepare
poisoned dart, and have sent it back to
excite our people, injure my character
and give me pain which, if due, would
have been more properly inflicted by the
papers and people of my own county.
AS you seem to stand sentinel, aching 70
sound the alarm wherever some woman
vents her spite BY making you her seats
paw" will, in conclusion, make you the
following offer: Let us volunteer and both
go in the same company. | will place
myself under bonds to go with you; let
us fight the rebels; want TO do it. IF
we live to return, you are invited to then
publish our relative loyalty. If we are
killed, hope you will give an account
above of what you have already published
below. Yours &C.,
DAVID PARSONS.
sFrom the fact that the respectable man. whom
You credit the author OF your report, denies ever
making to you any statement rejecting in any way up
on my loyalty and from other litte Incidents judge
You have been somewhat duped by oman.