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.


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