The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-02-23
Letter 10 Jeff. Davis.


SIR.-I cannot address your with the ii
tie of "His Excellency' because cannot
sec any excellency in man bein, "the
head and front" of this Rebellion. Nor do
l presume this letter will get through the
lines; or if it does, that it will find you in
your flight from Richmond ; yet il affords
me some pleasure to write what think you
ought to read and heed.
learn from the papefs that you have
proclaimed fast for the 10th of March. I
have not seen your proclamation, but take
il for granted that you call on your people
to humble themselves before Almighty God,
confess their sins, and implore his help
against the blows dealt by our Government.
/ presume you may have been more sin
cere than was Thomas Jefferson, in the Rev.
dictionary war. when in day Of despon-
dency he suggested fast. He had no faith
in the Christians God, but as war measure
he suggested an appeal to the religious su-
perstitions Of the people to arouse them to
vigorous action. Perhaps he secretly
thought, if there was such being as the
Christians God, it would be well enough to
have his help. believe that hypocrisy is
considered justifable in war.
The fasting and confessing are certainly
appropriate; but will you, your Cabinet,
your Congress, and your Generals confess
the sins that have brought calamity upon
you? and viii you forsake them that the
Lord may have mercy on you Some PEG.
pie are ready enough to confess and forsake
all sins but the gerry ones which brought on
their troubles. Are you willing to con
fess the sin Of oppression, and the wicked.
ness Of rebelline against thA nnn atitr,tien
and laws of the United States. in order to
maintain gigantic system of Slavery No.
The minister who would stand up in a
Richmond pulpit and make such a confess.
ion on that day, would be arrested before
night yet they are the gerry sins you must
confess and forsake. before you can get help
from on high. Just as soon as you do, you
xillreceive the best of help. The war will
cease, and peace prevail.
But you will say that you have heard
such abolition nonsense" before. Call it
what sort Of nonsense you please, the word
of God is very pointedy against you. You
have appointed fast days before, but you
have received no help from either God or
Europe. May you not adopt the language
of the rebellious Jews in Isaiah's time /;
"wherefore have we tasted, and thou seest
not wherefore have we afflicted our soul
and thou takest no knowledge" To whom
the Lord replied; "Behold, in the day Of
your fast, We find pleasure, and exact
all your labors" You exact them Of
your poor Slaves. Behold, ys fast for
strife and debate, and to smite with the fist
of wickedness Ye shall not fast as We do
this day, to make your voice to be heard on
high. Is not this the fast that have chos-
en- to loose the bands of wickedness, to un
do the heavy burdens, and let the oppressed
60 free, and that We brake every yoke" The
point of this language cannot be turned
There is no lodging it. Will you cease to
smite loyal men with the fist of wickedness
Will you break every yoke? Will you let
the oppressed go free Will you deal your
bread to the hungry prisoners you hold in
your paws Will you, Or, will you fast
and 60 on conscripting white and black, and
rush them to the field Of slaughter, making
more widows and orphans, whose cries will
surely enter into the ears of the Lord Of
hosts.
Unless you and your leaders change
your course, your proclamation for the 10th
will appear to christians IN other parts o
the world as consumate hypocrisy, or dla
boiical insult to the God Of the Bible.
close by expressing my sincere desire
that tho God Of mercy may open your eye
before you receive the reward of you
cr,mes. NEREUs.