Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-10-15
Blabber's Letter.

lie Tails P0lstics-And Refers Incidentally
Of Course, 70 Francis Miller, Esq.,, and t
His Speech at Bdr,aesmUe-- Who Freed tn
.Saaoe- Who Suppressed tie Rebellion VIZ
Caused Resumption
M. Editor;-Mr. Francis Miller made q
speech here last Saturday night to quite Q
respectable number of colored men, and NJ
several white Democrats that were in ear-shot.
The burden of his speech was to convince
his audience that the Republican party freed
the colored man, suppressed the rebellion
and accomplished resumption whatever that
may be. Now it would be reflection on Mr..
Miller's intelligence to think that he himself
believed that the Republican party did any
one of the three things claimed. These
claims have been advanced before, only to
be completely demolished; but as some Of
his auditors may read this letter, who have
not had an opportunity of seeing the refuta-
ton of these false claims, it may be well to
refute them again.
First, take the claim that they gave the
colored man freedom. Well, just for the
moment, suppose it is granted that they did.
What virtue was there in it or what to enti-
tie them to such lasting gratitude from the
colored man? If they had 0,oiaed the slaves
themselves and then given them freedom,-
that ao0utd have been meritorious thing,
and would have commended them to the
gratitude of generations unborn; but they
freed somebody elseS sLa0es, and then, not be-
cause they loved the slaves, but because they
hated their owners. But this did not free
the slaves. How could they do so in face
the resolution in the platform adopted at
the convention that nominated Abraham
Lincoln: "That we are opposed TO any in
reference with slavery in any of the States
where it now exists" How could they OPP
pose any interference with slavery, and at the
sametime give the slave his freedom? The
success of the Republican party in 1860 SO
alarmed the South that it attempted secession,
and secession abolished sIaoeyy. Thus far and
no farther is the Republican party entitled
to any credit for emancipation.
That party on the one hand and the Seces-
sionists on the other may have been instru-
ments in the hands OF God for setting the
bondmen free, but let the glory and gratitude.
be to God, not the instruments that he used.
In the liberation of Israel from Egyptian
bondage frogs and lice were used as instru-
ments, but who ever heard of frogs and lice
claiming ownership to Jewish votes on that
account?
Now, when it became necessary to recog-
nize this freedom by incorporating the fact
in the constitution,) did the Republican
party alone pass the abolition amendment?
Many Democrats voted for it; in fact,
the very man that wrote the Thirteenth
Amendment and presented it to the Senate is
now the Democratic candidate for Governor
of Illinois. Another man who voted for it
is now the Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor of Connecticut, and the man who has
as much as any other made it possible by
success in the field Of battle, that such an
amendment might be effective, is the Demo-
cratic candidate for President of the United
States. Further, it is safe to say Of the men
now living, that in Congress voted for the
Thirteenth Amendment, a majority of them
are supporters of Gen. Hancock to-day.
And now for the claim that the Republi-
can party suppressed the rebellion. That a
majority of the lower officers during the
war were Republicans is true-they were
appointed mostly by Republican Governors,
but every count ever taken anywhere showed
that vast majority of the men were Demo-
Gratis. Why even Massachusetts division
Of six thousand men had but five hundred
Republicans in it, This statement is vouch-
ed for by the General who commanded the
division-Benj. L Butler. While Horatio
Seymour, the Democratic Governor Of New
York, sent more men to the front than any
three Republican Governors in the United
States during the sametime. Every Gen
eral who ever amounted to a row Of pins
was Democrat, and very nearly all who
survived the war and are living are Demo-
crafts now. Grant and Sheridan are about
the only exceptions. But the Home Guards
-VAn the stay-at-horAe brigadesl 2s well as
the noble army of suffers and contractors, il
must be admitted, were Republicans. So
are the doughty champions of the "bloody
shirt" who have not heard yet that the war
is over.
AS to the resumption matter, whenever
it can be proven that the Republican party
caused the short crops in Europe and the
large crops in the United States, as well as
several other circumstances that are gener-
ally supposed to be Providential, why then
their claim to bringing about what they
call resumption may be allowed, but not be-
fore. Yours,
BLABBER