Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-12-12

winter closes upon the Union people OF We8e
tern Virginia. leaving them masters of their
own country. An insurgent force Of about
l50U for moaths dominating the narrow penin-
snlar region constituting the counties Of Aecos
mac and Northampton, and known as the East
ern Shore of Virginia. together with some con-
tiguous parts Of Maryland. have laid down their
arms, and the people there have renewed their
allegiance to and accepted the protection of the
old flag. This leaves no armed insurrectiop
North of the Potomac. or east ofthe Chesapeake.
COTTON srATEs.
Also We have obtained footing at each Of
the isolated points on the Southern coast Of
Hatteras, Port Royal. Tybee Island, near Sa.
vannah, and Ship Island, and We likewise have
some general accounts of popular movements
in behalf Of the Union and North Carolina and
Tennessee. These things demonstrate that tho
cause of the Union is advancing steadily South
ward. r
Since your last adjournment, Lieut.. Gen.
Scott has retired from the head of the army
During his long life the nation has pos
been unmindful Of his merit, yet on calling to
mind how faithfully, ably and brilliantly he
has served the country from time far back In
our history when few of the now living had
been born and thenceforward continually,
cannot but think that we are still his debtor. I
submit, therefore, for your consideration what
further mark of recognition is due to him and
ourselves as grateful people. -o
GEN. N'cLELLEN. - i1- 20
With the retirement of Gen. Scott came the
executive duty of appointing in his stead Gen
eral-in- Chief of the Army.
| 1t is fortunate circumstance that neither II
council nor country was there. 80 TAR az Know.
apy difference of opinion as to the proper per-
son TO be selected. The retiring chief repeat
edly expressed his judgment in favor of Gener-
nj Mcclellan for the position, and in this the
nation seemed to give an unanimous concur
renee. The designation of Gen. Mcclellan, is,
therefore, in considerable degree the selection
of the country rs well as of the Executive, and
hence there is better reason to hope there win
be given him the confidence and eondiaf support
thus, by fair implication, promised. and with
out which he cannot with so full efficiency serve
the country.
| 1t has been said that one bad General is bet
| ter than two good ones. and the saying is true
if taken TO mean Eo more than that an army is
better directed by single mind. though infe-
rior, than by two superior ones at variance and
cross purposes, and the same is true in all joint
operations wherein those engaged can have none
but a common end in view, and can differ only
as to the choice of means.
In storm al sea none on board can wish the
ship to sink. aud yet not unfrequentlysan 60
down together, because too many will direct,
and no single mind can be allowed 10 control.
WAR AGAINST THE PEOPLE, LABOR AND CAPITAL.
1t continues to develope that the insurrection
is largely, if not exclusively. a war upon the
first principles of popular governmental the rights
| of the people. Conclusive evidence of this 10
found in the most grave and maturely consid-
| cred public documents, as we'll as in the gen.
eral lone of the insurgents. In these docu-
ments we find the abridgement of the existing
| right of suffrage and the denial to the people
of all right to participate in the selection OF
public officers except the Legislative body nd
vocated with labored arguments 10 prove that
large control of the government in the people
is the source of all political evil. Monarchy
itself is sometimes limited at as possible rs-
| fuge from the power of the people.
| In my present position, could scarcely be
| justified were to omit raising warning voice
against this approach of returning despotisnr:
| 1t is not needed. nor fitting here, that general
argument should be made in favor of popular
institutions, but there is point, with it, cou-
nectlons. not so hackneyed as most others. to
which ask brief attention. 1t Is the effort
to place capital on an equal footing with, ii not
above labor in the structure of Government. Il
is assumed that labor is available only III
connection with capital, that nobody labors un-
less somebody elso owning capital, somehow
by the use Of it, induces him TO labor. This
assumed, it is next considered whether it is best
that capital shall hire laborers and thus in
duce them to work by their own consent, or
buy them and drive them to it without their
consent. Having proceeded so far, it is natur-
ally concluded that all laborers are either hired
laborers or what We called slaves; and further
it is assumed that whoever is once hired h
borer is fixed in that condition for life. Now
there is no such relation between capital aud Ia
Dor as assumed. Nor is there any such thing
as a freeman being fixed for life in the condi-
ton of hired faborer. Both of these as-
sump:ions are false, and all inferences from
them are groundless. Labor is prior to and in
dependent OF capital. Capital is only the fruit
of labor, and could never have existed If labor
had not first existed. Labor is the superior OF
capital, and deserves much the higher eonsid-
alton. Capital has its rights which are as wor-
thy of protection as any other rights. Nor is It
denied that there is, and probably always viii
be, relation between labor and capital pro-
ducing mrtual benefits. The error is in as.
sumine that the whole labor of community ex.
. lists within that relation. A few men own cap
ital. and that few avoid labor and with their
capital hire or buy a few TO labor for them.
A large majority belong to neither class, nei-
ther work for others nor have others working
for them. In most of the Southern States q
majority Of the whole people, of all colors, are
neither slaves nor masters, while in the North
ern large majority are neither hirers nor hired.
but men with their families, wives: sons, and
daughters work for themselves on their farms,
in their houses, and in their shops, taking the
whole product to themselves. and asking no IA
vors of capital on the one hand nor Of hired la
borers or slaves on the other. 1t IS not forgot
ten that considerable number of persons min
gle their own labor with capital that is they Ia
Dor withtheir own hands, andalso buy or hire
others to labor for them; buifhis is only mix.
ed and not a distinct class. No principle s,s.ed
is disturbed by the existence of this mixed eiass
Again: as has already been said, there is not
of necessity any suchthng as the freehlred labor
or being fixed for that condition for life. Ma
nv indepepdent men everywhere in these States.
! few years back in heir lives, were hired Ia
borers. =.
The prudent, pennilcss begger in the world
labors for wages awhile. and saves surplus
with which to buy tools or land for himssll
and then labofs on his own account. and ut
length hires another beginner to help him.
This is the Just, and generous, and prosperous
system, which opens the way to all, gives hope
to all, and consequent epergy. progress aHd m
provemeat of the condition Of all. No msa
living are more worthy to be trusted than those
who toll up or on from poverty, none less M
cliped TO take or touch ought which they have
not bonestly earned. Let them beware Of SUR
rendering political power which they already
no.sess and which If surrendered, will surely
be used to close the door Of advancement against
spch AS they, and to fix new disabilities and
burdens upon them until all Of liberty shall bs
lost. 2
| Our PIKsESI, ouR FUTURE
From the first taking Of our nationa! eeanr