Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-10-27

Three wears ago, when l took the flag
wrought by the patriotic ladies OF my village
home for its first company of volunteers /
told them that thereafter, while the war last
ed. nv speeches should be to my cOuntry's
enemies.
have helped to make some speeches since
to rebel audiences, and from my observation
of their effects, am led to hope that YOU, my
fellow citizens, may always be spared from
listening to such terribly emphatic speeches.
Applause.
As a soldier, perhaps | ought still to adj
here to that promise OF three years ago, for
we in the army believe that the day of the
sayerS is past, and that of the doors is at hand
at this time one worthy action has to US
deeper meaning than a volume of the most
elaborate orations, and we feel that you share
our reverence for the silent eloquence of no.
bic deeds.
But early in November the citizens of this
country are to fight peaceful battle at the
ballot-box which, in its result, is fraught with
higher interests and more lasting influences
than any that could be won or lost by soldiers
on the tented field [Cheers.
In time past you have covered us from the
" fire in the rear" and sustained us by your
cheering words, and as your day of trial
tOilltS, from Tie IFcuCneS OF virginia, the
bayous of the Gulf, and the fields Of Georgia,
We echo back your battle-ory, and cheer you
on to victory. In your preliminary skirmish-
ing of yesterday you drove in the strong
outposts of the allies Of our enemies in Penn
sylvania, Ohio and Indiana, and spread terror
and dismay through his main ranks. Great
applause.
The Old party line ship which was adyertis-
ed to come to their aid on the 9Th of NoveIm-
Der had the breach made in her sides in go,
patched up with the plank of the Chicago
Platform, but that timber is proving too shaky
to withstand the heavy broadsides of the
Union batteries. Renewed applause.
The old party line ship is going down and
the only way to save her crew is as the life
boats of the KearSarge saved that of the
Ahtbanla. Let us give them cordial wei
come to me broad safe decks Of our staunch
Union craft. Pm very much afraid there is
no neutral yacht at hand to save their Cap
tain Laughter and applause.
| cannot speak to you tonight as as a par
tzan do not feel like partizan, and hope
am not one, for this appears a fitting time
for every man, however humble, to lay aside
acre party issues and try to elevate himself
the dignity of patriot.
Ii a soldier could desire to belong to any
PARTY, it would be the one that has at heart
equally the true interest Of all the citizens,
the party of the country undivided. lCheers
If there is anything he must condemn, it is
that blind partisan selfshness which would
raise and divide our country to share with it's
enemies the spoils of office and the plumber
pf the citizens.
When the quarrels of Aristides and Them
lstocles threatened to destroy, by dividing
the Athenian Republic, Aristides saved the
L., |,
never be happy and tranquil, o Athenians
until you have cast Themistocles and myself
together into the gulf where you throw your
criminals" How happy would it be for our
people at this time If partisans could cast not
their leaders but their prejudices and their
passions behind them into the guifof oblivion.
You will expect me to say something ofmy
late companions, the Union prisoners in Con-
federate hands. Ihave neither taste nor tai
ont for relating personal experience, and
should blush to speak ut this safe distance
even harsh truths of men who were brave and
fortunate enough to capture me. While in
their hands l said to them more mkind
things than | would say of them here. At
Charleston | remained with three others in
the Jail, rather than give parole for change
OF quarters, because we did not think it right
to sacrifice a possible chance of escape; and
VIC bolu Illc fcDclS GIltt WHICH exchanged we
should have less complaint to make of their
injustice because our own conduct would need
no palliation.
As Americans we should avoid indiyduali-
ties and think by aggregates. In obedience
to your desire | will speak briefly of my OBJ
senation regarding others. l have readmany
published statements of escaped prisoners,
and have not found any that l thought exag-
geratons. History furnishes no parallel for
the cruelty practiced by rebel officials upon
Union prisoners in their hands.
We soldiers have not failed to observe that
with characteristic fairness, a recent party
Convention "reprobates " the delay of our
own Government in the matter of exchang-
ing prisoners, but has no word of censurc for
its Quondam allies whose inhumanity furnish
es its strongest argument for such a measure
We will be charitable enough to suppose their
anxiety has different cause from that re-
Gently expressed by President Davis in his
Macon speech, Only those who know ME
best would fully credit statements l might
make of individual sufferings, and l have no
desire to harrow up your feelings or arouse a
bootless indignation against men who are at
once the instruments and the victims of
criminal system.
My views upon the treatment of our pris-
oners, and the desirableness of an early gem
eral exchange have been recorded in the
strongest language | could command, and |
shall always be ready to sustain that record.
Copies of 1t have been placed in the hands of
some in power with the hope of inducing them
to use their influence in favor of an exchange,
and the most gratifying replies have been re-
turned. am confident that the Administra-
ton Is making every effort for this object that
1t can make consistently with the National
Il -
most interested desire nothing more (Ap-
plause) Some of our officers who had at
tempted unsuccessfully to escape were lying
N hospital at Macon with their legs so torn
ny the dogs that caught them that they could
not stand. (Sensauon.l Others were crowd
ed INTO yard like mule pen, living upon a
pound OF unsltted corn meal and two ounces
oil bacon day, many of them without blank
cts or other covering, clothed in rags and of
necessity almost devoured by vermin. and
heard them say repeatedly that, much as thew
desired to escape, to see home and friends
and to breathe the air of freedom under the
old tag once more, they would rather die in
prison than have the Government make any
sacrifice OF principle, or give any unjust ad-
vantage TO its enemies to relieve their suffer-
ings. Tremendous applausel The patriot
ism of those men goes deeper than the lips ;
it reaches TO the heart. (Renewed applause. \
= They have more confidence in an Administra-
ton that reluctantly allows them to be treat
ed cruelty than in the protestations of a party
that encourages those who intict the cruelty.
(Cheers.) "No concession to armed rebel
lion-No compromise with traitors" are the
universal sentiments of our prisoners of war
(Great and prolonged oheering) Some who
are more happily situated would do well &c
learn from them a lesson of patriotism ano