The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-04-25
From the Chicago Times.
Republican Regard for Soldiers.
WAUKEGAN, ILL.,, April /


AS the republican party have always
claimed to be the especial friends of soldiers,
it may not be entirely uninteresting to your
to learn how "the boys in blue" have been
treated in this county. 1t may aid the
soldiers ia Chicago, on the eve of your mum
icipal election, in discerning their real
friends. As, in my communication of Mon
day last, spoke of this treatment in rela-
ton to our county and city officers, l shall
now confne my remarks to the single subject
of postmaster in this city, which, / think,
will convince your readers that the republic
cans of this county, and their co-workers in
congress, Yates, Trumbull and Farnsworth,
are extremely fond of soldiers,-just as cats
are of fish, or horses of oats.
Last fall, President johnson, upon petition
very numerously signed by citizens OF Wau-
kegan and It's vicinity, appointed Capt.
Charles Case as postmaster in this city
The President was DESTROYS to reward sol
diers. He removed j. Y. Cory. Esq, WHO
though an able-bodied man, and subject to
enlistment or draft, had rendered no military
or other service to the country, except that
of pocketing the proceeds of this Office for
five or six consecutive years.
Capt. Case, the. arpointee, was soldier OF
the fighting sort. He had enlisted COM
pany, and led it in person, under the gallant
and daring Sherman, in his triumphai cir
cult through the heart of secessia. Capt.
Case was much esteemed by the "boys IN
blue" for his soldierly qualities, and highly
respected by our citizens generally, for his
good moral character, quiet demeanor, and
| family connections, having been raised from
| infancy in our midst. He was young man,
| of eighteen years, when he entered the ssT.
vice, and, of course, had never voted or My
ed in politics, and consequently presented
an excellent opportunity for our radica
leaders to manifest their love for soldiers
Did they do it? No. His father had been {
| Douglas democrat!
'The very head and front of his offending
| Had this extent, no more"
The Waukegan republican wire-workers
backed by those other loving friends of tn
| soldiers, Yates, Trrrmbull and Farnsworth
were all down on him, and his nomination
was rejected by a republican senate.
The next name presented by the Pres
dent was that of Walter Drew, young Law
yer who had lost his arm in the service.
will not repeat his history, as the followin
correspondence between himself and Senate
Yates will lay the facts pretty fully befor
your readers: r.
"WAuKHuA n, ILL.,, March Is, 1867.
! "Hon. RICHARD YATES y. S. Senate :"
"sR-I hardly tiain it will be necessary 70
an Illinois soldier, tn ough personally unknow
| to you, to make any apology for considering yo
rs friend. We were Taught and felt that to
so, when far from our home, and surrounded b
the enemies ofliberty q nd union.
"Many months ago, before any rupture betwee
the President and congress, I forwarded pet
ton, signed by about six hundred of my fellow
citizens, including most of the soldiers of Oh
county, for an appointment as postmaster of tn
place, which petition, presume, is now on Fl
in the proper department =.
"Seeing by yesterdays papers that the nomi
| alton of Charles Case has been rejected by Il
senate, my friends about to make another G
fort for my appointment.
, 81 will not attempt to deny the fact that 1 W
| a war democrat / considered slavery a NOR
and political curse in our land, but knew no VIZ
constitutionally, that the federal governme
could oiiterate it, until the rebels, by their ov
acts, oy,ened the door for the emancipation pro
lamation.
II tsWh hen the rebellion broke out I had cor
: menced the practice of law but, feeling that q
time had come for every able-bodied young m,
: to step forth in defence Of the liberties of
country, quit the profession upon which I W
just entering, and enlisted in the cause of the
| ion.' In my humble way, i addressed publ
= , meetings in this and the adjoining county of
L
? list for their country. I enlisted ms private
d company G, of the 96th regiment, and served
the front for two years and three months. I W
> slightly wounded at Chicamauga, served
h Lookout Mountain, Tunnel Hill, Dalton, Resae
Dallas &C., &C., and was finally dsarmed
having my arm shot off at the shoulder is bell
k fdisarmed) at Kenesaw Mountain, and was n
S only thus rendered unfit for future military dut
but, in a great measure, unit for all manual lab
9 for the remainder of life.
; 81 write this letter with a full cousciousne
that, should be 80 Fortunate as to get . nomin
Q ton by the President, can still hardly expect
q be confirmed by the senate without your approx
ton. And, should even fail to get your su
port in this matter, shall always feel, with hu
j. dreds-yea thousands-of others of my compa
in-arms, that in the field we always knew o
Illinois governor was our warm and untiri
/. friend. But, post Office or no post Office, no M
4 can remove from me the outward evidence of n
:. devotion to our beloved Union, or the inwa
!, consciousness of faithful discharge of my dut
II 81 am, very respectfully,
s'Your obj Serv't,
st5 A7.te "WALrER DREW"
Mr.. Drew wrote similar letters at the sar
e time to Senator Trumbull and our represe