Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-05-11

fv.,
The men who have apolopized To those wb,
snoulu nave apologized to them-who have al
loweu themselves to be put in the attitude O
onenoers oy traitors, with arms in theil
nends-and whose earnest efforts to solve tho
nauoaai troubles peacefully have all been
laugheu al 6y these traitors---have now a
duty to perform to their country and 10
their government.
1here Is not sympsthizer with seces-
sion in the free states who is not regarded
as an enemy by the conspirators unIess bo
breaks up his home and goes over To them
! TO aid in the destruction of the renublic
A Douglas Democrat is in their eyes worse
than an Abolitonist, and Republican ia
| put beyond the pale alike of penitence or
of forgiveness. His regrets are as insolent.
ly rejected as his appeals for federation in
his own opinions. Where then are the
men of the north to go 7 What is the
duty of all our people Clearly TO stand
By The Gorerameat ..'
President Lincoln and his Cabinet hav
ing waited to see If there is any chance OF
prospect of a peaceable adjustment of the
strife that has lost as seven states of the
union, are now for ced to rescue the govern.
ment itself from dissolution. It is not
whether we shall recall the cotton states, or
maintain the capital at Washington but
lohether ace shall hare restige of a country?
Whether our civilization is fraud +? Our
prosperity sham Our public credit a
counterfeit? Oar liberty lie? If Abra.
ham Lincoln were not pledged to do right
III common interests, the gravity and im.
portanee OF the obligations now resting up.
on him, and demanding action, instant, re-
solute, and perseyering action, would con.
vert him into hero, or, if fulfilled, cover
him with an ignominy more lasting even
than that which has settled like an incura.
bic plague upon the character of his imme.
diate predecessor, which has blasted him
living, and will mike him Immortality infa.
nous, even when death hides his form from
the gaze OF men, and removes him from
nation he has ruined. .e ........r
ain man of peace. As have said,
have begged for it in these columns and
in this city, as you have begged for it at
your homes, almost on my knees But,
are there not calamities worse than war
Is not the destruction of our Union by
those who have no gratitude for the past.
and no respect for the future, worse than
any WarI Shall We not save it before it is
too late? But how ? BY committing the
case to brave public servants, who having
offered all fair measures Of umty and peace,
must now be asked to enforce the laws and
to protect the public property. If from
act war is TO follow, better that it should
come 10 that way than that war should be
forced upon us by successful traitors. What
American would not rather sacrifice his
life in defending bis flag than to be struck
down ny remorSelesS tyranny, who grew
strong and great because that flag was not
defended We are told that war is inevi-
table, whatever may be done by the govern.
ment, whether it remains passive or boldly
does its duty. This has been the cry of
the southern conspirators for months, and
their immense military preparations are
proofs that they are sincere iu making the
prophecy. They will make it, if it is made
at all and when they strike the blow, let
it be so answered and avenged as to prove
that the day for paltering with rebellion
has passed, and the hour for proving that
we have government has come.
These are warm words, but they come
from heart that does not respond to a
single instinct opposed to humanity. l have
come to the conclusion they convey after
many painful reflections 1t is now fearful
ly apparent that the enemies of the coun-
try have misunderstood all peaceful coun-
sci, and that they have come to regard the
friends Of the country as unequal to its pro-
lection, or unwilling to save it from the
fate that impends above it. In this emer-
gency, | call upon oil good men and true
to take sides with the Government in the
perils before it and our whole people. If
blood shall flow our hearts will not accuse
us, and God will forgive MS, because we are
for Union and Government
better, and freer, and happier, than any
that has ever aourished since He created
the world