The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-10-02
. .
READ, UNION MEN
Another Letter from Hon. 81
j. JEwETT.
Preserve the Union for the Sake o.
the Union.
COL. TOD'S PROPOSITION TO BE
TAKEN UNDER THE DOMINION
OF GREAT BRITAIN REPUDI
ATED.
READ, UNION MEN |
ZANEsvILLE, o., Sept. Is, Is

ZANEsvILLE, O., Sept. Is, 1861.
T. h. HOLDER, Esq., Marion, Ohio:
Dear Sir:-I am in receipt of your valuble
favor of the 18th instant, aud regret my ina
bility to visit you an address the Mass Meet
ing at the time designated. 1t is gratifying
to learn that the people of your section of the
State fully appreciate the perilous times upon
which we have fallen, and regardless of minor
consideration, are inquiring how the dangers
with which our beloved country is threatened.
can be most effectually and speedily averted.
| If we would all thus inquire and act in ac
cordance with our honest convictions. can
but believe tie storm now pOrtending ruin to
| all our best interests would soon be allayed.
In some sections of the State, and have no
doubt in yours, a studied effort is being made
to divert the attention of the people from the
real merits of the present controversy. 1t is
| to be hoped that such efforts will not be sue
cessful; but on the contrary, that the people,
without being led astray by the cry of "party
or no party" or by hypocritical objection to
the resolutions of this Convention that,
will grasp the issue as it is, and after giving
| it that consideration which its great import
ance demands, so vote as that their opinions
and feelings may be properly represented and
their most vital interests subserved.
If the people of the South give credit to
the Republican press of the North, they must
conclude that large body of our people not
only sympathize with them in their opposi-
ton to the Government, but are actually pre-
tpared to give them material aid and comfort
whenever the opportunity shall offer. No
one in his sober senses, living in the free
States, believes for moment, that those who
conduct or control that press are serious in
tmak;ng such charges against their own fellow
citizens, or believe that such state of things
exist amongst us. Every man, who is not led
or driven, knows that such charges are made
for mere political, and party effect, generally
with the hope of influencing the action of
some, but not unfrequently to crafty some
ancient malice. The serious effect of such
Icharges is in the influence they may have upon
them to prolong their opposition to the Gov
lernment, with the hope that this suppressed
sympathy IN the North may soon manifest
itself in some practical form. Phat such viii
be the effect there is very great danger. 9H
| 1t may well be said that the people of the
North are united in the determination to sup
port the Government, and to preserve the
! Union. With some the object to be accom-
fplished is not very laudable, but with the
masses the object is pure and single-"to pre-
serre the Union for the sake Of the Union. =
And the great question which we should all
he done with the least loss of life and treas
ure. and without a sacrifice of honorf
In my letter accepting the nomination for
Governor, / endeavored to state briefly and
distinctly my convictions as to our duty in the
premises and the line of policy which
thought ought to be adopted In it said
what now repeat, that "the great body OF the
people South are loyal to the Government
their sympathy is with it, and for it if the
real nature OF the controversy was fairly be-
fore them, and they were permitted to act In
accordance with their own feelings and judg
ments." tt4se-
Entertaining the belief that the masses Of
the South were honest, but deceived, that their
present hostile attitude toward the Govern
ment was not because they preferred any other
form of Government, or had lost their sympa-
4 thy for that of their fathers, but because they
/ had been led to believe that the people of the
North had adopted and cherished sentiments
and feelings hostile to them and their inter
ests, and that their only security was IN a
Government to be administered by themselves
4 l expressed the further opinion "that 1T was
i our duty in justice to them as we'll as to our
selves, for the sake of humanity, to undeceive
them. to invite them into National Conven
ton, where we might consult and advise to-
gether for our common country, for our com
against any and every line of policy which, il
persisted in, must result in our common rum
In expressing these opinions and indicating
n this line of policy, made the distinction De-
tween the people thus deceived and overpow
cred, and those who had practiced the decsp
ltion and were now leading in the rebellion o.
revolution intended to be produced by it, ant
as against these and all others, insisted. ane
shall ever insist that the Government must b
maintained and the Uuion preserved.
Mr. Ewing (the President of the 9Th o
September Convention,) gentleman of larg'
experience and undeubted patriotism, conour
, in opinion that the mass of the people Soutl
are, in sentiment and feeling, loyal to the Gov
ernment; that their present attitude is eithe
, the result of restraint or misrepresentation.
Col. Tod, the OPT osing candidate 10
Governor, is still more emphatic in bear
ing testimony in favor Ct this opinion
He says: "B licsing that the ma e.
!. the South still love the Union aud would
were they left untrammeled and unforced
declare tomorrow their will: for its n
tiauaace, / .uuetly fepudiate the M n
strous and wicked pea aud petition c
the ringleaders Of this conspiracy, ant
would argue for war eiernally. uptil the
are brought to coDdign ponisbment. aE'
: their misguided followers restored to lea
son, and brought back to a recognition
OF the true purposes and intentions of ih
Federal Government, from which by art
full cunning and gross misrepresentation
: they have been misled and blinded"
We then agree that the masses are loyal
, we agree that they have been deceived
we agree that they have been led sstra
by misrepresentation; we agree tha
. the Government should be sustained; th
army rendered efficient and vigorous t
the end, that the leaders in this wicke
v conspiracy shall be brought 10 duty au
{ to submission to the laws; but We disa
d gree as to how those deceived, misled an
s blinded masses of the South are to be RI
called to the Union "they love-" and frol
n which they have been ahena,ed by "gros
t misre Colonel Tod woul
! have them visited With the swo.d--wit
!. war--"war eternally," a means here,ofol