The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-10-03
From the CannelsOn (Inaians) Rsportsr.l
A Voice from a Patriotic Soldier,
Lesrer of Major General brooks 10
- General Siocum.
CANNgLroN, IND, September 20.
ienerdl IT ". Slocum, Syracuse, Ne'o

CANNgLToN, IND, September 20.
Genardl II. w. Slocum, Syracuse, Ne,c
York: -,s
DEAR IR:-I am glad to see the part
you take in the Soldiers aud Sailors
Convention to be he'd at Cleveland.
regret my Inability to be there. hope
the Conven tiou will fulfill the hopes and
expectations of its friends. There is an
excitement in the country that causes
much apprehension in the minds of re-
tiectiDg people.
The question is not whether Andrew
Johnson's policy or the Congressional
policy shall prevail, but whether the
Constitution, aud the government based
upon it, shall survive, or give place to
some form ofdespotism. And all this
because of the foRr millions of freedmen
the war bss fasd5 and turned upon the
country.
1 am prepared to do Justice to this
population think the services of the
colored mas in the late war have been
somewhat exaggerated, l am LOt pre-
pared to admit that the rebellion could
not have been put down witho0t his as
sistance. Undoubtedly the bondsmen
was susceptible of high state of discip.
llne-the first requirement of the soldieri
his life had been one of obedience to
superior; he was, therefore, half-maoe
soldier when the musket was first put in
his hands. But his being so easily con-
verted into soldier, is not very
convincing evidence of his fitness to ex-
ercise at once all the right of full citi-
zepship. Rather the reverse. Much
stress is laid on the fact that many OF
our men-prisouers and others-received
many acts of kindness from the "con-
traband" during the war. No doubt OF
it. In visit 10 Alabama last winter, l
heard some ex rebel soldiers, now recon
structed," press gratitude for many
similar acts from tho same persons. l
mean no disparagement, but undoubt.
edly the loyalty" Of the contraband
during tho war was truer to the white
man, union or rebel, than the "stars and
stripes" for such was his education and
interest ] very much doubt if he will
ever be as loyal" again.
We frequently hear very Jealous peo-
pie declare that they would rather see
the colored man allowed to vote than
the Glow" Irish or Dutch. This, pre-.
sumo, is based more on feeling than re.
fection. In every community we see
persons rising from the condition of
"low" Irish and Dutch to positions of
the higheet respectability and trust.
They mingle and sometimes intermarry
with the very best. Can this happen to
tho African descent without exciting alb
horrenCe2 Another similar saying with
many good people is, Give me the ig-
norant loyal man, white or black, III
preferences to the intelligent rebel"
This is all right in the midst OF IN uctivo
reDeIIlon, pTV Wv oil h-r~--~A -hAliauA
that the rebellion is over, and am viii
ling to regard therepeutent and recarG-
iDg rebel, if Intelligent, as more de-
sirable citizen than any ignoramus, let
his hue be what it may.
But, above all things, Why not let eve
ry state settle this question for itself 2
Is it not likely 10 understaUd its true
interest better than its neighbors, and
to feel as deep an interest in children
white or black2
We are told that treason must be made
"odious." Let any man who has not
seen it, take look at the Southern cOun.
try, gridirpned over by the dcsolatipg
tracks of the Union armies. Every
family in mourning; desolation and de-
spair everywhere; where once were opu'
lence aud luxury, now indigence and
starvatiorj blackeDed walls and lone
chimu oys are the Only remains aud evil
dence OF former home, always of COM
fort, frequently of elegance and taste.
And now you talk of making treason
odious. With few more Congressional
resolutions and amendments we are more
likely to arrive at the point Of not only
making ourselves odious, but conte!npti.
BILE.
Ii the parable of the Prodigal Son
does not apply to our brethren lately III
rebellion, of what use is the Bible as a
teacher of morality and ethicsi
Yours, truly, w, 7, II BROOKS.