Year: 1863

u" How is the undercurrent of public opinion
in North Alabama, or rather, how was it when
you left / cannot believe that North Alabama
is without its righteous Lot altogether, though in
similar sections in Virginia We meet with the
most fanatical and ignorant opposition. ] sup
pose slavery is maintained throughout by the
force of the poor devils who never had-never
can have slave. but who are superstitiously
welded to Southern Rights and hatred of
everything that is Yankee, as they call every
thing north of the famous line


81 left Secessia before actual hostilites had
begun. and soon touched my native soil
/ volunteered. l was with
Mcclellan in the first battle Of any note in Vir-
ginia, and was with him in his last in Maryland
Ihave seen the elephant Of this war, and am
anxious to its close not, however, until
Uncle Sam has vindicated his honor and freed
every slave / am now teetotai Abolitionist,
since the South will have it SO. and stand pre-
pared to die in defence Of human rights, in
preference to the rights of any party or section.
/ stand on this plank Annihilate slavery, if to
do SO, We are obliged to depopulate the South
Let the war las: FIVE, ten or fifty years, or until
this object has been accomplished. The United
States has been guilty of great national sin,
for which oceans of blood alone will atone, and
let it flow. When our fathers bequeathed us the
blessings of liberty, they also left US legacy in
the curse of slavery, which threatens to more
than counterbalance the blessing. Even some
of our pretended great statesmen, since the break
ing out of the war, have offered the Union it
,l L a.
nations shame, and sell the national soul for
few years peace and few dollars in treasure
The fear Of God seems to have left their hearts
entirely. They seem to have forgotten all the
lessons of history which teach US, if they teach
us anything at all, that great national injustice
is sure to be followed by great national retribu-
ton. 1t were better We get rid Of this horrible
incubus at once. though it impoverish US and
millions of lives be wasted, than ATTEMPT to per
petuate the evil at the price of the germ of real
liberty which has been planted on our shores.
The bcasted tree of liberty is yet mere sapling;
but it promises fair, if we can only persuade our
people il were better to cherish it than cut it
down to make way for a cotton plant and mig
ger. How long will our people and statesmen
hide the truth from their hearts 1t is enough
to make one sick of Republican Government to
see the impunity with which the rebel sympa-
thisers in the North utter their sentiments, and
threaten to use their power as they now use their
influence. In a despotism this war would have
been decided long ago. considering the number
and resources of the belligerents. But here the
Government must temporise and pander to the
'butternut' tastes and waste golden opportuni-
ties, on account of corrupted War Department.
or some croaking newspaper editor who never
fails to cry, L told you SO. when any mistake
or mysterious movement is made, and gets the
public excited for or against some general or
policy. according as the party interest may be
concerned.


"But these things are oil as transparent ~
crystal, and ] sm only wasting time in repeating
them. WI ~"