David C. Gamble to Richard Yates

Savannah Georgia

Jan 23 1865

Hon Richard Yates

Sir

I beg leave to express the thanks of the Illinois Soldiers in the 66th Ills vet. vol. for your Strong and Manly appeal to the General Assembly in their behalf, and to assure you of their continued regards. Your course throughout your term as Executive of the State has ellicited their warmest admiration and produced a feeling of friendship scarcely ever shown towards a Statesman of any party. Struggling against every effort of a disloyal Legislature to [injure?] the Union Cause and consequently the reputation of Illinois Soldiers, you have manfully faced the enemies of the government and defeated their every attempt to produce anarchy and disenssion. For this we thank you and Shall continue to Show our appreciation of your conduct on every occasion.

We are entirely Satisfied with the Governor elect, who was our choice for governor as were

you for the Senate. Every Sentiment uttered in your late message meets a cordial reception from all the Soldiers rank and file. Have not heard a word of fault, but many of praize.

Carry out such Sentiments throughout your present term of office, and you will continue to receive their good will as you will that of every loyal man of the land. We have begun to tremble for the action of the National Congress. Theirs is so much of wavering - of doubt - of fear to proceed in cases when there is no precedent. This should not be! Where there is doubt be Radical on the side of Right and Mercy and you will be Successful. Great Men Seek to make precedents and not to follow others. This should be the way to dispose of the Slavery question! Give us assurance that what has destroyed So many noble lives, Shall forever be powerless to destroy others, and we are then possessed of a new incentive for action; a new heart in the Cause.

Mr. Lincoln has proved firm for the Union. He dared to establish a precedent and then dared to uphold it. It has given us Success!

it will give us greater victiries. I mean the Emancipation Proclamation! Take one jot or letter from it and you discourage the enemy. They will think all is lost, and will have no heart to press forward. Success has been ours Since its publication! Defeat will follow its destruction. Then make it binding through Congressional Legislation and you ensure us success, and with that a final, lasting, glorious and valuable Peace.

Deprived of the right of exercising the Republic boon of Suffrage, by injurious State laws, we Claim the privilege of giving our views to those Selected to represent the Sentiments of the loyal of the State. We hope they may have proportionate weight. The main business before Congress is the question of Slavery. It Should be the great work of the Session. When Slavery is properly disposed of you may expect quiet and not before. Without its final Settlement Peace is impossible. Until it is Settled we may prepare for war. A proper decision of the Slavery question will mould the Section of the rebels. A decision will show them what to expect; They are already

possessed of the belief, that Slavery is destroyed. Shall we disappoint them? A "Bill of Colonization" will afford relief; will Settle the rebellion; will give us Peace! I am Strongly opposed to foreign< colonization. It would be injurious to remove so much labor from the Country and no good Statesman will advocate the project. American Colonization will, alone, afford relief. Give us a bill to colonize them in the West or Southwest on the borders to Mexico. By this means we shall place a truly loyal people on our borders. And by using the Able bodied in our Armies Shall thus furnish means to provide for their families.

Can you offer a better plan?

Colonize them and you remove immediately one great cause and objection that the Slaveholders have to entering again the loyal ranks.

Remove the blacks, and the rebels will return to their Allegiances. Though as a general rule I do not approve of any plan to please them, yet if we shorten the war, and thereby save our brave fellows from war, by such a plan is it not well to try it? The two races will be bennefitted by the Separation! If you do not separate them there will be continual trouble between them.

Freedom is a great boon to the Colored man and there is no injustice in removing him from the vicinity of his present habitation. We can afford to be merciful; It is extremely mortifying for the Slaveholder to live with his Slave, free, and thus colonized, that these races may live and prosper in Peace.

I remain very Respectfully Yours

David C Gamble Capt 66th Illinois Vol

Gamble, David C.

Capt 66th Ill Vols

Savannah Ga. Jany 23d 65

Sends the thanks of the Soldiers of that army for your manly appeal to the General Assembly in their behalf. You are their choice for anything. Compliments you on the contents of your message and congratulates you on your election to the Senate.