The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-10-21
slOCun TO Burnside.

u6neFdt n. n. bNTnSlne:
DEAR GENERAL: 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 I was enc
Of the soldiers alluded to trust you will
not bel displeased III say few words in
response thereto. Youltell US that you
and Others, rs our representatives, met at
Pittsbure and adopted a series Of resolu-
tions which we have already seen. You
complain that Mr.. Greeley has expressed
the opinion that you assembled for politic-
al purposes, and that you hoped to ac-
complish these purposes by reVivlng the
animosities and hatreds engsndcred by
war. You further say that these remarks
Of Mr.. Greeley and bis entire lack of cour-
tesy toward the soldiers and sailors serve
to confirm you in the opinion that he is
quite unfit tn be trusted in any position
where loyalty to his Government, just
regard to the feelings Of others, and an
abnegaton Of self IS required. You then
proceed to inform us in conclusion, that 1t
only remains for you to urge us to organ
ize in harmony with the regular Republic
an organizations, and do all in our power
to elect General Grant. The first thought
that occurred 10 my mind on reading this
address was, ''What was there in General
Burnside's military career that justiiles
him in telling the hundreds ol thousands
Of soldiers who served during the late war
what they should do in time Of pcacol
did any thing occur at the first Bull Run,
at Roanoke lslund, ut Fredericksburg, in
East Tennessee, or at the mmo explosion
In front Of Petersburg, which entities him
to assume command Of us In time Of peace,
and order US to the front to fight in be.
hall Of a political party1
My second thought was: '1s it credi.
table to the soldiers OF tho late var that
Que Of their number should be permitted
us their pretended representative to
spread broadcast over the land II docu.
ment charging Horace Greeley with dis.
loyalty?n The truth OF the saying that
"the pen is mighticr than the sword"
is coming year by year to be more gene.
rally acknowledged. In view of the
election OF General Grant to the Presi.
dcncy, and Of the fact that he is q candi-
date for recollection, there are probably
some men in the country who doubt its
truth. II, however, We were to add to
tue saying the proviso that the pen
should bo handled by q Greeley and the
sword by Burnside all dou6ters will
disappear. You and I, General, know
full well TINT while wa were in the field
fighting for the Union Mr.. Greeley was
welding in behalf Of the same cause n
weapon far more 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 continu-
ed 1t until every object was accomplish
cd for which even the mostardent aboli.
ZIONIST had ever prayed. He did not
cease the fight until the Union was re-
stored, slavery abolished, the blacks
enfranchised and all their civil and
political rights solemnly guaranteed to
them by amendments to the Constltu-
tion. And yet, General, you have the
hardihood OF charging this man with
disloyalty, and are uttering this foolish
charge in your assumed capacity rs the
representative Of all the Union soldiers
OF the land. You say that he has been
guilty Of a lack Of courtesy toward us.
In my judgment any man who eight
years after the close Of q bloody civil war
will ask soldiers to assemble in conven-
tion with view OF controlling their ac-
tion in political matters is q demagognc
unworthy Of courtesy at the hands Of
Mr.. Greeley or any other person. When
at the close Of the war We laid down our
arms, We became citizens, and we have
no interest today except those We have
in common with all other citizens. Why
then, should any one ask us in our char.
ncter rs soldiers, to assemble in political
bodies2 Why should you extend to us
such M invitation, unless it is with the
hope that from your former connection
with us in the army you may be able to
influence our Judgements upon matters
OF public policy in time Of peace? Do
you not think, General, that these u.s.
semblies OF soldiers for the purpose OF
periecting our elections, have become
slightly nauseating to the public? Did
1t ever occur to you that, as q rule, the
officers most active in work Of this na-
ture were most unsuccessful in the field2
Permit me, in conclusion, to say that /
do not believe that in your action at
Plttsbulg, or in the sentiments Of the
address to which have alluded, you are
in any sense Of the word a representative
OF the real soldiers OF the army. On the
contrary feel that very many Of them
unite with me in the hope that this po-
litical campaign in which you seem to
have assumed the position Of eommans
der, may prove to you and to the troop.
Of your command another Fredericks.
burg. Very truly yours,
Brooklyn, Oct. 4, 1872.