The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-08-09
From the Ohio Statesman
Soldiers letter to Gen. CoN--They
Ask Him to Define his Position.


Some days ago we learned ,incidentally,l /
that number of officers and soldiers. who
have seen service during the late wal, had
addressed letter to General Jacob Dol |
son Cox, the Republican candidate for
Governor, asking him certain questions
as TO his views about Restoration and Ne
gro Suffrage. We have succeeded in
procuring copy of the letter, which we
print below. We understand that it was
hauded to the General the day it was
written; but it has not yet been answered.
as we are informed. 1t is as follows:
SOLDIERS LETTER TO GEN. cox.
COLUMBUS, O., July 3. 1865.
Maj. Gen. Cox, Commanding 23d Army Corps:
EEAR SIR: AS your fellow soldiers and
fellow citizens, we congratulate you upon
your nomination as a candidate for Gov
ernor of Ohio; and as comrades desiring
your success, if there be a concurrence of
our views on certain public questions of
great interest, we send you this note.
We are only soldiers, ,and know nothing
of the tricks and schemes of politicians;
and we therefore regret that the Conven-
ton which placed you in nomination fail
ed to give expression of the views of the
party on the subject of Reconstruction of
the Union and Negro Suffrage.
1t is true that the Convention in gener-
al terms indorsed the policy Of President
Johnson, but it is equally true that few
hours after the adjournment of the Con
vention, Gen. Schenck declared in speech
in front of the Capitol that he was op-
posed to receiving the representatives of
the Southern States into Congress, until
| they had shown their loyalty by giving
the right Of suffrage to the negro.
He further said that ''there were three
classes of persons in the South-the aris-
tocrats, who were secessionists; the ''white
trash,' meaning those loyal whites who
have the misfortune to be poor; and the
negroes, who were loyal to the core. =
And if suffrage was extended to either of
those classes, he wished it to be given to
the negro.
1t is charged, General, that you are in
favor of placing the negro upon politi-
cal equality with white soldiers, and white
citizens.
In order, therefore. to give you an op-
portunity to vindicate yourself from char
ges of so damaging character, we ask
you the following questions:
1st. Are you in favor of restoring the
Southern States to all their rights in the
Union, as proposed by President ohnson,
even if the right of suffrage is not exten-
ded to the negro?
I'd. Are you in favor of giving the ne
gro the right to vote in Ohio, and to con-
fer upon him all the other privileges ola
citizen, either now, or at any future time?
We feel it to be due to you to say that
we are in favor of President Johnson's 5
plan Of reconstruction, that we believe it
to be the duty of all loyal citizens to sus-
tain the Government. and that we are OPP
posed to negro suffrage now or at any fu-
ture time.
We are, respectfully. your comrades
and fellow citizens,
+. S. PARKER, Capt 8Sth 0. V. I.
4. j.. ANDERSON,
L. w. NICHOLS. &C
DC. PATRICK, Adjt. g &c
M. G. w. SMITH, Sergt. 18th U. S. A.
A. III. PoTEN, late lit. Col. Inv. Corps.
j. V. Chiffon, 1st Tt. 8Sth O. V. L.
JAS. d. WILSON, 1st LIT. 9Sth 0. V. I.
Ed. LANE, late Sergt. 1st Cav. u. S. A.
P. IvoNY, 1st Lit. SSth o. V. 1.
j. II. PATTERSON, ,1st Lit. 89th o. Y. I.
l.. r. MARSHALL, 6 Z"
j. NJ. WIMsPIGLAR, &C f"