The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-07-17
tion held in military camps, where the
bayonets are all on one side of the uues-

tlon voted upon, eau scarcely be said as
demonstrating popular sentiment AT
such an election, all that large class who
are ct once for the Uuion aud against
coercion, would be coerced tovote against
the Urion.s s s3l-=IE A.se "a 81 8 !
n 1t may be affirmed without extrava-
gance that the free Institutions we enjoy
have improved the condition Of our whole
people beyond any example in the world.
Of this we now have a striking and an
impressive illustration. So large en- army
as the Government has now on foot, Was
never before known. without soldier in
it but who had taken his place there of
bis own free choice, but, more than this.
there are many single regiments whose
members. one and another. possess full
practical knowledge of all the arts, pro.
fessions and whatever else, whether useful
or elegant, is known to the world: and
there is scarcely one from which there
could not be selected President. Cab
iIet. Congress, and perhaps Court,
abundantly scompetent' to administer the
Government Itself Nor do say this is
not true also in the army of our late
friends, now adversaries in this contest;
bot if it is, SO much better the reason why
the Government whieh, has conferred such
benefits on both them and US, should not
be broken up. s4.- f.s.T. s.:..
/ whoever IN any section proposes to
abandon such a governwent, would do
/ well to consider in Difference to what
principle it is that he does it. what better
he is likely to get in its stead, whether the
substitute will give, or be intended to
give, so much of good to the people
There are some foreshadowings on this
dsubject. Our adversaries have adopted
some declarations of independence, in
which. unlike the good old one penned by
Jefferson, they omit the words, all men
are created equal Why have they adopt
ed temporary national constitution, il
the preamble of which, unlike our good
old one signed by Washington. they omis
I'VE the people, and substitute 1--WE, the
deputies OF the sovereign and independents
States.'' Why this deliberate pressing
out of view the rights of mep and the au-
thority Of the people? This is essentially
4 q peoples contest on the side OF the
Union; il is a struggle for maintaining
in the world that form and substance of
i government whose leading effect is to ele.
yate the condition of men, to lift artificial
weights from all shoulders, to clear the
4 paths of laudable pursaitfor all; to afford
4 all anaunfettered start and fair chance
! in. tie race of life, yielding to the partial
and temporary departures from necessity.
This is the leading object of the govern,
ment, for whose existence we contend.
am most happy to believe that the plain
people understand and appreciate this.
] Itis worthy of note that while in this
> the governments trial, large numbers OF
those in the army and navy who have
, been favored with the Offices, have re-
signeds and proved false to the hand
9 which had pampered them. not one4com-
mon soldier or common sailor is known to
4 have deserted his flag. Great honor is due
. to those efhcers who remained true, despite
> the example of their treacherous as.
e sociates. but the greatest honor and mos
g important fact of all, the uanimous firm
ness of the common soldiers and common
sailors To the last man, so far as known
: they have successfully resisted the traitor
!, Gus effects of those whose commands bu
an honr before they obeyed as absolut
law. sef5 .ssss..ssssss~s s.;
u This is the patriotic instinct of plai
,fl people. They understand without an argu
e ment that the destroying Of the govern
# ment which was made by Washingto
5. means no good to them, Our popular gov
y ernmcnt has often been called an expert
,e ment. Two points in it our people hav
" already settled the successful establishin
W and the ssuccessful administering of il
le One still remains its successful maintail
"a apce against formidable attempt to oye
5. throw it. 1t is now for them 10 demol
b. strate to the world that those who ca
q faily carry an election can also. snppres
ut a rebellion; that ballots are. the rightf
es and peaceful successors of bullets, an
We that when ballots have fairly and const
ID tutionally decided there can be no success
ms full appeal back to bullets; that there ca
e. be no successful appeal except to ballo
90 themselves at succeeding elections.
e, Il Such will be q great lesson of peac
ed teaching men what they cannot take |
'e- an election neither can they. takesit by
it war; teaching all the folly Of being Z
i'm beginners of war. Lest there be some q
ct. easiness in the minds of candid men as
ays what is to be the course of the Governme
lse towards the. Southern States. after I
10. rebellion shall have been suppressed, I
ro- Executive deems it proper to say it v
ley be his course then as ever to be guided
Ide. the Constitution and the laws, and that
re viii probaly have no different understar
e." ing of the powers and duties of the Fed
ere al Government relative to the right of I
ali States and The people under the Const
ps. tion than expressed in the inaugural ,
on. dress. de desires to preserve the cove
the ment that it may be administered for
!, il las it was administered by the men v
IIol M "a do II Tovo1 c;t; ;ropo nyorru,bara h