Wright Erastus

Letter from Erastus Wright to Benjamin Franklin Butler, February 27, 1864

Letter from Erastus Wright to Benjamin Franklin Butler, February 27, 1864
From Erastus Wright

Springfield, Illinois, 27th Feb. 1864

Maj. Gen. Butler

I am the man who, meditating on the bed, rose in the night, struck a light, and wrote you a long letter at the time you relieved suffering humanity at Old Point C., and honored God, who, according to the Book, says "that them that honor Me, I will honor." Hence not only your valuable life is continued, but the whole Nation has you in reverence and deserved honor. Your kind and noble heart responded at once, and then again 3 months after, many who saw it eulogized the sentiments contained.

In letting it pass under the eye of friends, it got lost or mislaid. It was appreciated by all, both Saints and Sinners. I felt the loss as I desired your autograph. Can I presume on your patience for a short letter?

My old neighbor "Honest Abe" knows all about me, for I am 65 past, 42 of which in this place (Springfield). A frail, erring man, raised a farmer, yet I love and fear God, and love His precious word, from which I always take my platform.

The 7th Chapter of Joshua will explain the long "Spell" on the army of the Potomac. We have the Achan at Washington, with all the men and means desired now 3 years, they cannot get a victory. Why are there not wise men enough to search the cause? A concise point.

"There is an accursed thing in the midst of Israel. Thou canst not stand before thine enemies until ye take away the accursed thing from among you."

Joshua feared God and obeyed Him. If Mr. Lincoln would do likewise, the smiles of Heaven would rest upon us within a month, and success attend all our movements. Did you know, General, that a certain head man at Washington sympathies were so strong towards the Rebels, that when in St. Louis he gave an old rebel a pass to take his "truck and plunder" through his lines down into Arkansas, together with 15 slaves; was this aiding Lincoln or Jeff Davis? This Nation is bleeding, and it is just, and ought to bleed, and will bleed until we put away the accursed thing. With my knowledge of the Will of God and His Holy Word, I would quickly cast overboard
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Halleck, Blair, Bates, and Seward, any or all who has sympathies with slavery.

The whole system is of the D--1. It certainly is antagonistic to the Spirit of Christ. The magnitude of the crime is indicated by the penalty. What is the penalty in America? Let the graves of half a million, the widows and orphans answer.

Dear General, did you know the secret of your late failure towards Richmond? Who inclined a spy to go ahead; who was slow to give any aid; who gave a cold apparently indifferent answer to your solicitations? General, a wise man searches out causes for all events. The whole system is opposed to the will of the Almighty, "Who is no respecter of persons," how can He consistently bless or approve? The case is clearly an issue with the Great God, our maker. Oh what presumption for puny man! Another abomination is the paying for slaves, to the man who has robbed him of 10 or 20 years wage already.

God's will is clearly expressed in the case of Pharaoh, a case in point. Take from the slave dealer or oppressor and give to the oppressed; see Exodus 12; 32, 35, 36, and 37 verses. This is God's will and this is justice. Paying a robber is Judas-like, a wicked precedent, an impeachment of the Divine Law, an abomination not found in the Bible of the most Godless Nation known.

Again, the Doctrine of "State Rights," is another "Humbug." As if a Corporation Law could over ride the State Law, the Constitution of the U. S., which Constitution was ordained to establish justice, and carries out the principal of the Dec. of Ind. It is consistent with itself if fairly interpreted and Legal construction given it. It is all right now.

The foundations of our Government are laid no firmer than the foundations of Justice and Humanity. And the Doctrine of "State Rights," to enslave its own citizens, is preposterous and one to be ignored by every American Citizen. The loyalty of Border State men that make Slavery paramount to the Government is a loyalty this Nation can better spare than keep. No peace until the magic word "Universal Emancipation" is uttered. So may be it. Amen.

Dear General, be so kind as to drop me a line to keep with my old friend Abraham's.

Yours truly, Erastus Wright

N. B. When this war is over, General, please take a trip out "to the Great West," to this richest part of the world, and come to my house and stay a week at least; see old Abe's stamping
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ground, and our noble Gov. Yates, who has the honor and credit of being the first Gov. who petitioned for Universal Emancipation. E. W.