The Shasta courier., 1864-03-12
The influence Of the Army in Politics.

that the people are constantly in advance Of
their political leaders in desiringa strong
comprehensive. effective and final policy to be
pursued in dealing with the rebellion, and
those who caused it. The true leaders Of
public sentiment are now to be found in the
youngmen ofintelligence and education, who
to the number of many thousand, serve in the
ranks of the army These by their CORES
pondence have vast influence upon the judg
ment of the friends they have left at home
and these friends upon others. Thus the
whole loyal population of the country is i'm
pressed with the views which predominant in
the army. TIE soldiers of the Republic, and
of Truth. after proving their sicereity with
their blood, write of the South from direct
experience and immediate personal observa-
ton The mails from the army are enormous.
In some cases the number of letters is known
to have been equal to one from each man
weekly, from whole department.
The sentiments of the army, and the policy
which it leads the people in demanding Of
Congress. has been recently well shown in a
speech of General GARFIELD before the House
of Representatives General Garfield was
chief of staff of the Army of the Tennessee
during the whole of last years campaign, in
which position he gained, to remarkable
degree, the confidence and love the soldiers,
as we'll as great distinction as humane, dis
Greet and heroic officer. This position he re.
signed to take the seat to which he had been
called in Congress. We subjoin an extract
from his speech:
81 hold it as settled truth that the lead.
ers in this rebellion can never live in peace
in this republic. / do not say it in a spirit
of vindictiveness, but as matter of convic.
tion Ask the men who have seen them and
met them in the darkness of battle and all
the rigors of warfare; they will tell you it
can never be. | make. Of course. an excep-
ton in favor of that sad array of men who
have been forced OF cajoled by their lead
ers into the ranks and subordinate offices OF
the rebel army. l believe truce could be
struck to-day between the rank and file of the
hostile armies. l believe they could meet
and shake hands together joyfully over re-
turning peace, respecting their mutual cour-
age and manhood. But for the wicked men
who brought on this rebellion, for the wicked
men who led them into the darkness, such a
day can Lever come. Ask the Representatives
of Kentucky upon this floor, who know what
the rebellion has been in their State, who
know the violence and devastation that has
swept over it, and they will tell you that all
over the State neighbor has been slaughtered
I C.. L.k1
make them have sprung up, and so long as
revenge has an arm to strike they will never
cease to strike ifsuch men come back to dwell
in their midst. This is true of every State
over which the desolating tide of war has
swept. If you would not inaugurate an ex-
terminating warfare, to continue while you
and and our children and ohildren's child
ren's children live, set it down at once that
the leaders of this rebellion must be execut-
ed or banished from this Republic. They
must follow the fate of the Tories of the Rev
olution. / believe, Mr.. Speaker, that Mear-
nay is unit on these great questions; and
must here quote from one Of natures noble
men, man from Virginia with the pride of
the Old Dominion in his blood. but who could
not be seduced from his patrio:ism-one who,
| amid the storm of war that surged against
| him at atChckamauga, stood firm as rock in the
| sea-George II. Thomas. That man wrote a
communication to the Secretary of war near
ly year ago, saying, in substance. for Iquote
| from memory: g l send you the inclosed pa
per from subordinate officer; indorse its
sentiments and will add, that we can new
er make solid progress against the rebellion
until we take more sweeping and severe
! measures; we must make these people feel
the rigors of war--sua sist our army upon
them. and leave their country so that there
will be little in it for them to desire" Thus
spoke a man who is very far from being what
gentlemen on the other side of the House are
pleased to call an Abolitionist or Northern
! fanatic and in saying this he spoke the roict
| of tie army Mr. Speaker, l am surprised
and amazed beyond measure at what have
seen in this House. Having been so long with
men who had but one thought upon these great
themes, it is passing strange to me to hear
men talking of the old issues and discussions
of a few years ago. They forget that we live
in actions and not in years. They forget that
sometimes a nation may live generation in
a single year; and the experience Of the last
three years has been greater than that of Gen.
turies of quiet and peace. There are men
who do not seem to realize that we are at war
They do not seem to realize that this is a
struggle for existence terrific fight of flint
with flint. bayonet with bayonet, blood for
blood. They still retain some hope that they
can smile rebellion into peace. They use
terms strangely.
One would suppose from all we hear that
war is gentle and graceful exercise. to be in
dulged in a quiet and pleasant manner.
have lately seen stanza from the nursery
rhymes ofEngland, which commend to these
gentle hearted patriots who propose to put
down the rebellion with soft words snd paper
resolutions:
There was an old man who said, how
| Shall Zee from the horrible COW!
win sit on the stile,
And continue to smile,
Which may soften the heart Of this COW"
tell you, Gentlemen, the heart of this greai
rebellion cannot be softened by smiles. You
cannot send commissioners down to Richmond
as the gentleman from New York Fernando
Wood proposes, to smile away the horrible
facts of this war. Not by smiles but by thun
dsring volies must this rebellion be ct. and
by that means alone. ] am reminded of wha
! L.. \ - ~ =