The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-10-20
Camp near PETERSBURG, VA.
October 10, 1864.
Dear Jefersonidn: Z:


the musket, no one will deny me the
privilege of speaking through your COL
umns to my fellow comrades, and to those
who profess to be the soldiers friend.
Very naturally at this time, one of the
chief topics of conversation in the army
is the approaching Presidential contest; !;
the parties and their platforms, with
their respective leaders, are all subjects
of discussion for the occupants of the
camp, and the breastwork, as we'll as
those who tread the more quiet walks of
civil life. 81
A man who has served his country
faithfully, through three long years of
eventful war, has an indisputable right to
examine and inquire into the opin-
ions aud act of those who are contending
for the Chief Magistracy of our Union.
1t is their duty, as we'll as that of their
friends to lend their honest support to
that party which gives its sympathy, its
assistance, and its protection to the cause
for which they are battling. a'
Surely no honest and patriotic soldier,
who fairly understands his position,
would favor any condition of affairs, that
would tend to bring dishonor to his name,
and proclaim useless his long toll and
suffering. Let US then, for moment,
calmly and honestly inquire in what di-
rection our efforts should be extended
and to what party We should give our
support
The so-called Democratic party has as
candidates Maj Gen. Geo. B. Mcclellan,
and Hon. Geo. II. Pendleton. The plat
form of this party, the speeches of its
leading men, and the acts of its nominees
should be our guide In determining wheth-
er we can consistently and openly cast our
votes for its candidates.-It seems to me
that no man, who to-day, occupies place
in the Union army, if he has truly and
carefully studied his position, can give
his own or ask his friends to support the
nominees of the Chicago Convention
No man can be governed by Gen. Nc
Clellan's letter of acceptance. 1t is a
simple ruse to secure the army vote, and
that of the loyal Democracy. The plat
form, and what it asserts; his associates
and what they proclaim, should enlist
the attention of those who desire the res
toration Of the Union, in all its honor and
integrity.
The Chicago platform says that the
war is failure. This I am willing to
acknowledge, while under the manage
ment of Gen. Mcclellan, but no loyal
man will admit that the campaigns OF
Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan were fail
ures.
1t complains of arbitrary arrests, yet
its supporters would see our soldiers shot
down in the streets of Baltimore by a
lawless mob; arms smuggled into the reb-
ell lines by thousands, and give the perpe-
traitors a trial by a disloyal jury. They
would acquit man who entices soldier
to desert his command, while military
law would be compelled to shoot the boy
for the crime
1t complains of the disregard shown
our prisoners of war, yet they would will
ingly advance the rebel cause by dis
honorable exchange. 1t extends its sym,
pathy to the soldiers of our army, and at
the same time, they call us "Lincoln's s
hirelings," and treat US as objects of con-
tempt and do not hesitate to scoff and
jeer the cripple as he hobbies along the
street. These are stubborn facts, but
there are many who can thus speak from
experience. The party devotes all its
energies to maligning the Administra-
tion, and by its silence encourages trea-
son. Can truly loyal man, and much
less soldier, support party, which
numbers among its leaders such men as
Vallandigham, Wood, Vorhees, and Har-
ris. The former banishcd for disloyalty.
while the three latter would rather stab
a Soldier than give him his sympathy
Of Geo. Ii. Pendleton-the candidate for
the Vice Presidency, it is unnecessary to
speak.
| have not met one soldier who wants
to vote for him, and not few have in
quired if they could support Mcclellan,
and not Pendeton. This is a point.
which it would be well for every loyal
man to ponder over. Everybody knows
that Geo. I'll. Pendleton is no friend to
the soldier; that he is truly southern in
his principles, and beliefs, and that the