Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-08-27
Major General RuelI.

Major General Buell.
Below wo publish few extracts from
tho noble and fearless letter of Mai. Gen.
d. Q. Buell. The sentiments are the most
conscientious convictions of a tried and
gallant soldier and, as we believe and
Gen. Buell. hints, revelation, an unfold
ing as it were, OF the real sympathy of tho
best soldiers now in our service with the
cause of constitutional liberty. The letter
was addressed 60 friend, by whose per.
mission it is printed -
BEDFORD SPRINGS, Pa, July 10, 1864.
Dear Sr:-The pubic have seen no Of
fical announcement Of the fact-thoueh i,
is no doubt by this time very generally
kuown-shat have resigned my commits
sion in the army, | have several times
sicno been assured shat my personal friends
aud many who without the claim OF per.
sonal acquaintance have taken an interest
in my official career, feel that some expla-
nation of the circumstances and mo tives of
my action is due to them. Accepting this
claim upon me, l have already answered
some of my friends in substance as do
J you now.
] The impulses of most men would an
prove my course in this matter, if it even
rested on no other ground than detor-
minatlon not to acquiesce in any measure
that would degrade me but l had a high
er motive than that l believe that the
policy and means with which the war
was being prosecuted were discreditablo to
the nation, and stain upon civilization;
and that they would not only fail TO re-
store the Union, if indeed they had not
already rendered its restoration itnposs-
bic, but that their tendency was to subvert
! the institutions under which the country
had realized unexampled prosperity and
happiness and to such a work, | could
not lend my hand
While there may have been moro or
less Of personal ambition mixed up in the
movement Of secession, as there must gen.
orally be IN the management of political
affairs, YET | do not doubt that it was
mainly determined by au houest conviction
in the minds OF those who engaged in it,
that the control of the Government had
passed permanently into the hands Of
on the political rights Of the South. This
apprehension was shared in by very
large portion OF The people who did not fa-
vor secession, and who we're so anxious
for the preservation Of the Union that even
coorcive measures, if tempered by justice
and mercy, would not have estrangcd
them. Under those circumstances the use
of military force to put down erned re-
s!sIanco was not incompatible With rec.
toratlon OF tho Union with its former glories
and affections, provided the means were
employed ia such manner az to convince
tie people that their constitutional rights
would be respected. Such policy, there
fore, in tho use Of force, if force must DO
resorted to, had the manifest advantage of
weakening the power Of the rebellion, and
strengthening the Government, independ-
emily of the moral foroe which dignity and
justice always lend to authority.
A. policy which recognized these prin-
ciples was wisely declared by Congress iu
the beginning of the war; and from a fer
vent desire for the preservation of the
Union, in which pride of country and all
my ;nserests as a citizen centered not less
, ''"NA " H"'"'o anIPuiooS ha'o tust
policy my earnest support. Unfortunately
Y was too often cheated Of its due effect by
the Intrusion Of sectional raaoor, and the
ieJudicious or uuisithful scIs of agents OF
the Government and when, 'at the expi-
ration OF year, system of spoliation
and disiranohissment was inauguratod the
cause was robbed of ito sanctity and sue
ces, rendered more difficult of attainment.
You have, in these few lines, an expla-
nation Of the motives Of my conduct while
was in command, as we'll as of the step
which, after twenty. y.three years Of scr vice,
has closed my career as o soldier, and
broken up the professional habits and as.
, sociations to which was educated, and in
which have passed the larger portion Of
, my liio. am very far from casting un.
favorable reflections upon the thousands in
, the service, who, perhaps with views sim.
{ liar to my own,have not chosen my course.
Few of them have been similarly situated /;
aud rather commend the patience with
+ which they have struggled on in positions
which must otherwise have been filed by
less scrupulous men, and in which they
might mitigate some Of the calamities whict
: they yet could not wholly prevent.
Very truly Yours, d. G. BURIL.
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