Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-09-10
Letter from N Gallant Soldier and
RePubiican.-Why he Couldn't
WOnUer g-o rvIsE, \, 5s UDorfv

RePubiican--Wh he Couldn't
| Longer go with his Party.
The Portsmouth Times publishes letter
from Col. JOHN TURLEY, accepting the
position rendered him as President of the
Democratic meeting to be held in that city
on Saturday last. as follows:
CLAY TOWNSHIP, Aug. 2S, 1867.
GENTLEMEN: In reply to your invitation
| to attenti a mass meeting of the Democracy,
| to be held in the city OF Portsmouth, on the
9TH of ofSePtember, you will excuse me If, in
| signifying my desire to be present, take
| the liberty-of giving some of the reasons
which control me. First, in meeting with
the Democracy, am influenced by the
same motives that induced me to take up
the sword in 1861, from loUe of country. Hav-
ing for the last twelve months calmly and
carefully watched the course of the Repub-
lican party, as citizen, am compelled to
say, that no party has ever had an exist
ence in this country, which has shown such
an utter disregard of law, or'of the Consti-
tuition none has ever been so corrupt.
have never been D0mocrat, yet as one
who loves his country, | am willing to unite
with Democrats, Conservatives or men OF
any party, men who love their country
above party, to arrest this anarchy, or des-
| potism, to which we are drifting. My on
ly hope is that the earnest thinking men of
the country willpause, and not follow those
wild, reckless and corrupt leaders, until it
be too late. ~ -,f,. ... a-.
They have already, by their unjust,
tyrannical and despotic rule, desolated the
fairest portion of our country to the
tyrant's sway, making SLAVES or 10orse than
SLdues of millions of oar cO1nnTy1nen, AMERI-
CANS, by denying them any protection for
life, liberty or property; taxing them be-
yond any thing ever known, with no voice
or power to prevent or regulate it, with no
right to hold office, no right to the jury
box, no right to enforce a just claim, no
right to testify, no right to protect their
person, their family or property, all at the
mercy of the Thousand Ghieves and advcn-
turers, whose only toarrdnt by the Republic
can party to investthe country, is their en-
tire concurrence and aoillingnesS to engender
malice and III feeling bettoeen the former slGUe
and master. No monarchial government
has ever treated its citizens thus.
In conclusion, gentlemen, allow me to
say am ready and willing to unite with
any and all men, not only with the ballot,
| but by any, and all the means that God has
given me, to prevent this tyranny and op-
preston, and he who would not do it, is un-
worthy to live under free government. or
bear the name of American. l am, gentle
men, very respectfully, your obedient serv-
ant, JOHN A. TURLEY.
Colonel TURLEY, we learn from the
Times, was Whig in the days of that or
gahization, and afterward Republican
from the formation of the party. At the
beginning of the War he responded prompt
ly to the call OF his country, and Scioto
county sent no drawer soldier or more gal
liant and popular officer into the field. He
was beloved by his men and soon won the
respect and admiration of all the members
of his old regiment-the Ninety first Ohio.
He fell, severely wounded, in the fight
near Lynchburg, Virginia, and will carry
to the grave the wound received, while
gallantly leading his men. No man DARE
question his patriotism or purity of pur-
pose. The same object that called him
into the field, the restoration of the Union
and the supremacy of the Constitution over
all our territory, now compels him to sever
his connection with the Radical dema-
gogues, who, in order to perpetuate their
power, are destroying that for which he
fought and suffered so much. The ungen-
erous, even malignant, treatment which he,
a MANNED soldier, has since received at the
hands of the men who ask for votes and
boast of 'loyalty" on the ground of being
soldiers friends" aroused the Indignation
of all just and fair minded men and reveal
ed the hypocrisy of the stay-at-home pat
riots. We commend the letter to the at
tention of our readers.