July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
War-date Union soldier’s Autograph Letter Signed by William H. Mozier, 65th Ohio Infantry, 4pp. octavo, January 23, 1863, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, with cover addressed to his cousin in Iowa, it reads in part: “...I am willing to suffer many inconveniences & privations if I can do anything towards settling the fuss. Perhaps we may differ in our views, not as to the cause of the war, but in the effect it will produce upon society & humanity. Slavery is no doubt the real cause of the war, but can we abolish slavery? Father Abraham [Lincoln] has freed them on paper, but the difficult part is yet to perform. Again, if we can free them by force of arms, is their condition better, or what shall we do with them? The South needs their services upon her fields & plantations - cannot dispense with it. You will say hire them. Whites & Blacks cannot live together as equals is a settled question here. The slaves are contented & happy - true, are exceptions, so there is among whites - they have no care, no anxiety, and self interest - if nothing more - demands for them of their masters good attention & care & I honestly believe they are much better off as they are than in any condition they can be placed under existing circumstances. I acknowledge I see them in a different light than I did before I beheld them in their native glory. I don’t wish you to understand I am a friend to slavery. Not I . I would rejoice to see them all free & prosperous, yet I fear that cannot be. They are really incapable unless guided by higher minds than their own...” Fine condition.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.