The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-02-02
SAyAHYAu, Ga, Jan. 10Th, 'G5.


Letter from the I7th Ohio Regiment.
SAyAHSAu, Ga, Jan. 10Th, 'G5.
ED. GAZETTE You want facis-'
facts without shred Of bungling
patch work on them 10 mar the vision.
That your readers sometimes have to
read great deal in army letters to
got q few facts, reminds me olan article
circulating freely in the army, in the
use OF which those having the power 10
get it, have to drink II great deal OF
arsenic and tobacco juice to yet little
oil Of corn, that's = fact.
Fact No. 2-l know young man,
who, few nights since. got in with
some friends, got gli6,tongued and
finally dtW.hj then slipped of to bed,
and though no one knew it, he has
felt ever since az if be had stolen sheep.
No. 81 once knew 3 regiment to
drag around in tho bushes all day on
the space of ten acre lot, to get into
position, and then didn't do it, Cause
Commander had too much coHage.
No. IL once saw II brigade dash
into destruction where il could ac-
complish nothing, and was not Or
dercd. The result was, three hun
dred killed and wounded. Cause
Best French brandy sent to tho di:tin-
guished General by hisfricnds.
No. 81 have seen tcnth-ratc polti-
cal scavengcrs from the city go into
the village grocery and swill them
selves full OF "rot-gut,' then get on
the stand and let the rot-gut evapo-
rate in spread eagle speeches which the
populaco pronounced rofound, be-
cause they were vehement
No. 6-I know pertifoggers who Sc
cure their clients fees, and are not
sober while their cases are inprogress.
No. IL know editors who stagrer
into their sanctums to mould public
sentiment and give tone to society,
and reeio again to the nearest grog-
shop.
No. 8---I have known Senator's and
Representatives to spend nights in
games and debauchery. and go into
the halls next morning with their
brains stupcticd with the worst kind
Of bulI-hcad " to legislate or the
dearest interests of their constituents
and the nation. And when the lead
ers would make speeches torn of
whisky,tO their constituents. they were
pronounced by the majority to be pro-
found, because they were howcry, or
vigorous, or witty, or bitter.
No. 9.--I have known Judges TO fill
themselves to the hrim with brandy
before they would hear and decide
npon the most important questions Of
the people, then significantly take the
arm of q friend when leaving the room,
No. 10 know that. if James Bu-
chanan had not been competent to
oulogize tho products Of the Monongc.
hala distilcrics, he would not have
been pIiabIc in tho hands OF the des-
pcrate enemies Of the country.
No. Ill know that the majority
of the people dctest drunkenness, yet
many of the public officers they
elect are tiplcr1, or confirmed drunk
ards and dcbauchcs.
No. FL know that if the people
do not crush out this gIariug debauch-
cry-this public crottenness,th this shame
iul, pcriIous political dishonesty by
supporting only those of untarnished
honor and purity of character, then
political cliques and wire-pnlling, lazy,
drunken office seekers will continue
to cenhalizo power, and virtually en-
slave the people; until when We shall
have saved the country, it will hardly
be worth the sacrifice it cost,
No. 13-I know that those localities
most conspicuous for having clique>
which have no profession but that ot
getting public offices, arc, and always
have been, most conspicuous as hot
beds of treason.
No. III know that the truth o.
the above may be proven BY the win
cling of those they pinch
No. 15-l know that a man who
has been faithful soldier since thC
first company went from Ohio, has
right to voice in home affairs, a;
well rs to affairs in the army.
Respectfully,
ERIE A. MERRIAM.