Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-08-02
TcoMMuN1oATEp.l

In the last speech he uttered, Senator
Douglas used the following unmistakable
language when speaking of the Southern
rebollons:
"But.this is no time for detail of causes.
The rebellion is now known. Armies have
been raised ; war is levied to accomplish it.
There are only tloo sides to the question.
Every man must be for the United States
or against it. There can be no neutrals in
this war, only patriots and traitors"
The illustrious Senator then proceeded
to tell his audience that there was only one
way to keep the fight on Southern soil !;
in truth only one way to oppose the South,
viz: by presenting to them united North I;
and with much eloquence he appealed to
loyal citizens all over tho nation, to forget
past political differences, drop party spirit,
and come as one man to the rescue, the de-
fense of an imperilled country. Said Mr..
Douglas: "7he greater our unanimity, the
speedier the dag Of peace"
The patriotic and venerable Crittenden,
the great apostle of concession and com
promise in the last Congress, now stands
forth within the sacred walls of our nations
Capitol, and, with every representative save
two, declares that: "The present deplorable
civil war was forced upon the country by
the disunionists of the States now in revolt
against the Constitutional Government and
in arms around the Capital"
One other fact not less important at this
juncture. On no question, during the pres
ent called session of Congress has there
been division in sentiment or purpose, if
we except the disgraceful conduct of such
traitors as Vallandigham and Burnett in the
House, and Breckinridge and Polk in the
Senate, who are notoriously in league with
treason, With these individual exceptions,
there is entire unity in the action of Con-
gress; no democratic representative has
even intimated that the present executive
wants either competency or integrity to
manage the government in its "present
critical condition" On the contrary they
have approved all his acts, and readily grant
him all he asks.
This course on the part of two great rep
resentative minds, and the national Con
gross, shows plainly enough that American
politics have assumed new phase that
new and momentous issues now claim the
attention of the loyal people of this ma
tion issues involving no less than the ex-
istence Of our country.
There can be but two sides to the ques-
tion, for or against the government. Is it
not possible that our countrymen have not
lost all virtue, and that they may now rec
ognize the alarming condition of the ma
tion2 Can not the fact be recog-
nized that this has ceased to be a mere
partizan question, and that it is a question
of war, submitted to the arbitrament of
opposing armiesl There is but one ration
al, patriotic course for the people to pursue,
and that is to render all possible assistance
to the government in this hour of peril
Can this be done by an incessant partizan
warfare, where there should be unity of
purpose? Can government be sustained,
and treason and rebellion effectuOlly crushed
by proclaiming through the press and from
the stump, that those at the head of gov
ernmeut, are wholly incompetent and cor
rupt, and that the very people who are striy-
ing to crush out the rebellion, have by their
aggressicns, brought it about? Must it be
that Republicanism and Democracy each
have its party, but that our country topples
for want of one? Shall our gallant volun-
teers, men from all parties, who have gone
forth to defend our glorious flag, take up
the newspapers from home, only to drink
therefrom cup of bitterness at finding
them filled with party ordinations? What
satisfaction, what encouragement would it
be to them to know that those whom they
left behind them were of one voice, of one
purpose, in the great work before them.-
Does it become us as an intelligent, patri-
otto people, thus to prostitute ourselves to
the conduct of a partizan warfare, while our
very existence is endangered, and our lib
critics about to be wrested from us by a
great rebellionl
And what contemplate jealousy must
animate the editor or individual who would
try to enforce the belief that the attempt
to organize grand Union party is the work
Of guilty politicians, seeking ablution of sins
Many Of our people have long been used
to harbor bitter, malignant spirit Of in
tolerance toward their political adversaries
and it seems almost impossible for them tc
unite with those they have heretofore op
posed, in a common effort to do good. I'm
scrupulous politicians appeal to their pref
udices and cloud their reason, for selfish
and unworthy purposes.
The people should form Union party
not the Republicans, not the Democrats
but the people, forgetting that they were
ever the one or the other. Men of compe
tency, and Of integrity should be chosen fo
all positions, with reference to nothing else
than devotion to the cause of the country
If incompetent men are in Office remove
them.
Let not History tell that through parti
zanism and prejudice our country fell; thai
men here thought more of party than o
duty. MENTOR.