Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-10-24
A REAL SOLDIER ON BURNSIDE.
The Commander of Shcrman's Left Wing
on the Pittsburgh Convention, Greeley,
and acknowledgements Suggestions from
Gen. SIOcum.

The Commander of Sh crman's Left Wing
the Pittsburgh Convention, Greeley,
and Burnside-PuDEen Suggestions from
Gen. SIOcum.
have read with great interest your address to
the soldiers and sailors who served in the
Union army and navy during the late war.
AS was one of the soldiers alluded to trust
YOU will not be dispIeased if say few words
IN response thereto. You tell us that you
and others, as our representatives, met at
Pittsburgh and adopted series of resolu-
tions which we have already seen. You COM
plain that Mr.. Greeley has expressed the
opinion that you assembled for political pur-
poses, and that you hoped to accomplish
and hatreds engendered by the war. You
further say that these remarks of Mr.. Gree
ley and his entire lack of courtesy toward the
soldiers and sailors serve to confirm you in
the opinion that he Is quite uni to be trust
ed in any position where loyalty to his Gov
ernment, Just regard to the feelings of
others, and an abnegation of self is required.
You then proceed to inform us in conclusion,
that it only remains for you to urge us to or
ganize in harmony with the regular Republl-
can organization, and do all in our power to
re-elect Gen. Grant.
The first thought tkat occurred to my mind
on reading this address was, "What was
there in Burnside's military career that justi-
fies him In telling tho hundreds of thousands
of soldiers who served during the late war
what they should do in time of peace7" Did
anything occur at the first Bull Run, at Roam
oke Island, at Fredericksburg, in East Ten
nessee, or at the mine explosion IN front of
Petersburg, which entities him to assume
command of all of us In time of peace, and
order us to the front to fight in behalf of a
| political party?
NV second thought was sis it creditable
| to the soldiers of the late war that one of
| their numbe- should be permitted as their
pretended representative to spread broadcast
| over the land document charging Horace
| Greeley with disloyalty." The truth of the
| f11at 1a IS n0I0
| sword" is coming year by year to be more
| generally acknowledged. In view of the cleo
| ton of Gen. Grant to the Presidency, and of
| tie fact that he is candidate for reelection,
| there are probably some men in the country
| who doubt its truth. If, however, We were
| to add to the saying the proviso that the pen
should be handled by a Greeley and the
| sword by Burnside, all doubters would dis
| appear You and I, General, know full well
that while we were in the field fighting for
| the Union, Mr.. Greeley welding in be-
powerful than those used by either of us. We
| know, too, that long after we had sheathed
| our swords he kept up the fight, and con-
| tinued it until every object was accomplished
| for which even the most ardent Abolitionist
had ever prayed. We did not cease the fight
| until the Union restored, and slavery
| abolished the blacks enfranchised, and all
their civil and political rights solemniy guar
| anteed to them by amendments to the Can
stitution. And yet, General, you have the
haraihood of charging this man with disloyal-
| tv, and are uttering this foolish charge IN
| your assumed capacity the representative
| of all the Union soldiers of the land.
| You say he has been guilty of lack OF
courtesy toward us. In my judgment, any
man who eight years after the close of
bloody civil will ask soldiers to assemble
in convention with view of controlling theil
| action in political matters is demagogue un
worthy of courtesy at the hands of Mr.. Gree
ley any other person. When at the close
of the war we laid down our arms. we became
| citizens, and we have no interest to-day ex
cept those we have in common with all othel
| citizens Why, then, should any one ask us
| in character soldiers, to assemble IL
political bodies? Why should you extend Il
us such an invitation, unless it is with thu
hope that from your former connection will
us in the army you may be able to infiuenc'
our judgments upon matters of public polio.
in time of peace? Do you not think, Gen
purpose of psrfecting elections have be
come slightly nauseating to the public? Die
it ever occur to YOU that, as rrie, the officer
most active in work of this nature were mos
unsuccessful in the field?
Permit me, in conclusion, to say that d.
not believe that in your action at Pittsburgh
or in the sentiments of the address to which
have alluded, you are any sense of tn
word a representative of the real soldiers o
the army. On the contrary, feel that yer,
many of them unite with me in the hope tina
this political campaign, in which you seem tt
| have assumed the position of commander
may prove to you and to the troops of you
command another Fredericksburg.
Very truly yours, H. W. SLoCUM.