Civil War Newspaper Clipping, Bellevue, Eaton County, Michigan

Copyright © 1999 by Mary Jean Baker. 
This copy contributed for the use in the USGenWeb Archives.  


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This aritcle is from the Eaton County Republican, dated Nov. 6, 1862
 
 
           Letter, From our Volunteers
    Newell Thurstin, a member of the Western Sharp Shooters from 
Bellevue, writes as follows from Cornith;
    I am in favor of general Emancipation and arming of the blacks; 
I think it would work admirably; that they would fight, I am ceratin; 
I have talked with several of them and they they tell me to a man, 
they would fight if we would give them a chance.  
    I am an abolitionist and don't deny it.  I am not alone either; 
this is just the place to make Abolitionists, one month's time is 
sufficient for a change in heart for any honest and intelligent man.  
I honestly believe that God Almighty will not withdraw the rod of 
affliction until we let this people go.  There are men here in
the army that protest against Emancipation, and call us negro 
worshipers and accuse us of favoring negro equality; and these men 
that are loudest in their denunciation and accusation are the very 
men to equalize themselves with them, by dancing with them and other 
intimacy much more disgusting and debasing, and I have noticed for a 
good while that the strongest pro-slavery men would stoop to baser 
intimacy, thus placing themselves nearer on an equality than any
other class of men; white anti-slavery men seldom associate and degrade 
themselves in this manner, their object being to free and elevate this 
enslaved and degraded race, instead of of sinking them still deeper 
in degradation and misery.