The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-29
FROM GENERAL RosECRANs.
ST. MARTIN, Brown COUNTY, OHIO,
September 81, 1865.


September q, 1865. I
General John Love, indianapolis Ind:
acknowledgement duties prevent me from
attending the gathering of officers and soldiers at
Indianapolis, to which your letter invited me on
But beyond the great qualification I should ex.
perience in meeting so many Of my old compan-
ions in arms, and mingling our memories of the
past with resolutions Of future efforts and sacri'
afr1 festhcehaRaS " vthd fccbrnphsa- Hvue more
than simple statement of my views on the chief
issues which now agitate the country.
believe our free institu tons and highest mate
rial interests are In grave peril. shall therefore
perform solemn and responsible duty to my fell
low.soldiers and countrymen, who love this nation
more than party, by stating what think the most
vital issues before the public in the approaching
presidential election.
Above all other questions expenditures, taxa
ton, bonds, greenbacks," or anything else
stands that of restoring the people Of the South
ern States to hopeful, cheerful self-government.
Restore them this, and as certainly as day fol.
lows the sun our political stability will be assured;
our financial prosperity will speedily follow the
value Of property In the South will increase our
public securities will go to premium; our green
backs viii bee me par coin and currency &C.
counts, with all their evils and complications, will
disappear from the books OF our business men.
Believing, with all my soul, that the preserva-
ton Of our government from despotic changes,
ard all these inestimable blessings depend upon
this restoration OF the Southern people to whole
certain that it can be done, and dare pledge my
honor and life for them that they win give and
observe all proper guarantees TO renounce seces-
sion, slavery, and their dependent issues to pro-
tect, educate and elevate the freedmen TO the ex-
ercise Of all the franchise they enjoy In Ohio,
Indiana or Illinois and faithfully to perform all
the duties incumbent on them as good citizens
under the Constitution and laws Of the United
States. t e 100000 r..r
And what more could be asked of them, or
what greater results could patriotism desire for
the country than depend upon this issue,
Not even the prosecution of The war challenged
q more thorough remuneration Of party prefer
ences and personal dslikes on the altar OF our
country than does the attainment Of this great
good.
The desolate and ruined South, the oppressed
tax payers Of the West and North, generosity,
mercy, love Of country, apprehensions CT evils
TO come, every motive that ought to move the
hearts Of true and noble men. appeal to Us to say
by our votes we will stop that hopeless folly of
attempting TO govern the Southern States by
what We call "loyal blacks.n and give the peo-
pie, under just guarantees, the right, peacefully
and legally, to proceed to reorganize their own
government within the Union.
With such convictions, hold the man who
would not express and act upon them traitor TO
himself end bis country, and despise the partisan
who would find fault with auy reasonable steps
he might take to bring about so great good to
the nation.
Commenting my convictions, and the reasons
for them, TO the Judgment Of my fellow soldiers
and countrymen, / remain.
W. 8. RosEcRASs.