Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-02-22
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON,

| loPeclhi correspondence OF tho AmcFchhsl
WAsnISoToS, D. c., Feb. 10, 1867.
Mr. Elios--Whateyer may be the
beauties or hidden virtues Of the old De-
mocracy, It has some hideous defornities
and some appalling scraps Of history. Its
record during the war is that which should
make all who have sacrificed for the in
tegrity Of the country shrink from its en-
brace. But could all the past be forgot
ten, the workings Of some Of the members
of the old wrecked vessel in Congress, ex :
hibit too plainly the truth that its 'iortunes
were linked indissolGbly with the rebel
lion.
Yesterday, in on animated discussion,
Dir. Harding (Desoeras3 Of Kentucky, is
reported 70 have nd among other Infa-
nous things, "Most Of the criminals in
the Northern States had been in the Fed
eral army, and that was quite natural, be-.
cause, as a rale, good men did not drift
into the army" This is the wall that
comes from the wrecA, in the effort to save
the Democracy and the ruined Confcder-
acy. But with all this insult to the good
men who risked their lives to save our Re-
public, the sentiment of the people is not
for moment changed from its steady pur-
pose Of standing where it stood during
tho years Of the bloody conflict. Such
dying groans as THE will have no other ef-
feet than TO sink their authors deep in the
slough Of public condemnation aud if
Democrats and Democratic presses do not
disayow any sympathy with such, they too
will find the load far too heavy to he
borne.
Were | in charge Of Democratic pa
per, and had any apbition to raise il from
the depths Of disgrace to which it had
sunk, in opposing the war and trying to
heap odium on Union soldiers, would
change leaders--gel out Of tho old ruts
with my eart--abuse. such Democracy as
Kentucky Democracy--read such Demo-
Gratis as Harding out Of the party-claim
That the soldiers Of the Federal army were
honorable, good aud brave-and claim
further, and contend that all such soldiers,
of whatever color, we're worthy Of the pro,
lection OF our Government; and If rebels
would not accord that protection TO them,
| would advocate that every power of this
Government should be exhausted If need
be, to mako them; being careful all the
time to have il distinctly understood that
no niger should marry my daughter. |
would contend further that colored sol
diers should vote, II necessary for their
protection from unjust and unequal laws /;
that this Government should protect n
citizen on It's own- soil as perfectly Us
citizen abroad 4a.S therefore, if rcbe! gov.
ornaments would voc protect, but would
murder Union menof whatever color, tho
General Government should undertake
tho work of thor protection, and that
speedily, even moro speedily than this
radical Congress Is doing. But in adyo.
eating all this, In order to be held an or
thodox Democratic editor, | would stout.
ly contend that no Niger should ever
marry my daughter. II all the above
should not be al once popular, II would
be in time, though il might sound strange
in Democratic paper. ! cannot be mis-
taken In surprising that Democracy itself
will. In time, DO driven TO acknowledge
tho good character and patriotism Of the
soldiers Of tho Federal Army.
J.R. G.