1 Doylestown
Intelligencer, April 1, 1862 Page 1,
Column 2 1
LETTERS FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS.
From the Ringgold (104th) Regiment.
CARVER’S BARRACKS, March 21, 1862.
Friends Prizer & Darlington—The Armerican peo-
ple have not experienced such times as we are now experi-
encing, since the days of the Revolution. We are living
in startling times,—really, “every day brings forth some-
thing new.” We are on the eve of great events. Now is
the time for the whole people of America, particulary
those of the Free States, to prepare themselves and be
ready to meet these events. They are destined to change
the future history of this great people. They must be sus-
tained, or the effort that is being made for the sustenance
of our nationality and the maintenance of our free insti-
tutions will be of no avail. Experience of the past teaches
that we are a people who will not be ruled by the advo-
cates of human bondage—the enemies of general enlight-
enment and the advancement of civilization. We are a
people imbued with the love of liberty. We maintain
that we are capable of self-government—that the suffering
our fathers endured upon the battle-fields of the Revolu-
tion was not purposeless, but that the great principles for
which they fought will die only with the name of Ameri-
ca. The truth of the old adage—that; “ Every man must
pay for his own education “—the American people are be-
ginning to learn. We are taking an important lesson in
the first principles of civilization and Christianity ; we
are learning that slavery is incompatible with Christianity
and Freedom. For this important lesson we are paying
many millions of dollars, but it is hoped that it may
eventually prove cheap enough. That this great cause
should meet with opposition is not surprising; may
people are slow to learn—years are required to educate
them. In this case, deep-rooted prejudices must be over-
come—a deep-seated idea must be eradicated. For years
the blind have been leading the blind, and in these days
of stirring events we find them both falling into the ?
--that is, the slaveholder and his sympathizers are losing
their ruling influence in the councils of the nation. Their death
proves to be a hard one ; their wailings are heard in all
quarters as they yield to the pressure of the champions of
freedom. As they breathe their last breath, it is amusing
to hear them stigmatize those whose good sense dic-
tates that they should differ on the subject of slavery, and
denounce them as being “Abolitionists.” in their wail-
ings, they forget that we feel proud of the virtuous name
they have favored us with. We glory in being called
Abolitionists. We profess to be engaged in the advance-
ment of freedom and civilization—nothing else. Wash-
ington, Franklin, Madison, and all the great and good
men, whose lives were made sublime by their virtuous
deeds, labored for the advancement of the same exalted
principles. To be charged with following in the foot-
steps of those great and good men, whose names are an
honor to our country, causes the heart to be moved with
feelings of intrinsic delight. What is more honorable
than following the examples of those whom the nation
honors? We are still doing them just credit for their
noble deeds while engaged in the drama of life. Honor
is done me every time I am called an “ Abolitionist.”—
Civilization and Abolitionism are practically synonymous
--their advancement augments the cause of Christianity
The time will come; and it is not far distant, when those
who are now stigmatized for being “ Abolitionists,” will
be honored therefor. SOLDIER.