The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-08-15

The Border State propositions also were pro-
jected by a gentlemen from Maryland, not now
member of this House, and presented by a gentle
man from Tennessee, Mr.. Etheridge,) now the
Clerk of this House. And vet all these PROPOSE
tions, coming thus from the South, where severaly
and repeatedly rejected by the almost united vote
of the Republican party in the Sena and the
House. The Crittcnden propositions, for which
Mr.. Davis, President of the Confederate
States, and Mr.. Toombs, his Secretary of State
both declared in the Senate that they would be
satisfied. and for which every southern Senator and
Representative voted, never, on any occasion, re-
ceive one so!atary vote from the Republican party
in either House.
The Adams Corwin amendment, called :.
reported from the committee of thirtv-three, and
the only substantive amendment proposed from
the Republican side, was but bare promise that
Congress should never be authorized TO do what
man ever believed Congress would under
take TO do-abolish slavery in the States where it
exists and vet, this pro position moderate as
it was, ana for which every southern member
present voted, except one, carried through
this House by but one majority, after long and
tedious delay, and with the nmos difficulty
sixty-fve Republican members, with the resolute
and determined gentleman from Pennsylvania
Mr.. Hickman,) at their head. having voted
against it and fought against it to the very last.
Al not this only, but, part of the history Of
the last session, let me remind YOU that bills were
introduced into this House proposing to abolish
and close up cer;lin southern ports of entry; to
authorize the President to blockade the southern
coast and to call ont the militia aud accept the
services of volunteers, not for three months mere
ly, but without any limit either numbers or
time, for the very purpose OF enforcing the laws.
collecting the revenue, and protecting the public
property; and were pressed vehemently and
earnestly in this House prior to The arriral of the
President in this city, ami were then, though seven
States had seeded ana set up Il government of
their own, voted down, postponed, thrust aside, or
in some other way disposed of, sometimes bv large
majorities this House, till at last Congress ad-
journed without any action at all Peace then
seemed to be the policy of both parties.
Thus, sir, the case stood at twelve O'Clock on
the 4th of March last when from the eastern porti
CO of the Capitol, and in the presence of twenty
thousand of his countrymen, but envcloped in Il
cloud of soldiery which other Amer lean PrcSi
dent ever saw, Abraham Lincoln took the ath of
Office to support the Constitution, and delivered
his inaugural-a message, l regret to say, not
written in the direct and straightforward language
which becomes an American President and an
American statesmen, and which was expected
from the plain, blunt honest, man OF the North
west, but with the scrked tongue and crooked
council of the New York politicians, leaving
thirty million people in doubt whether it meant
peace or war. But whatever may have been the
secret purpose and meaning of this inaugural, prac-
ticaly for six weeks the policy of peace prevailed !;
and they were weeks of happiness to the patriot,
and prosperity to the country. Business revived !:
trade returned commerce iOurished. Never
was there a fairer prospect before any people.
Secession tn the past angu;Shed. and was spritless
and harmless secession il the future was arrested.
and perishcd. By overwhelming majorities, Vir-
ginia, Kentucky, North Carol ma, Tenne ssce and
Missouri all declared for the old Union, and every
heart beat with high hope that in due course of
time, and through faith and patience and peace,
and by ultimate and adequate compromise, every
State would be restored to it.-It is true indeed
sir, that the Republican party, with great unanm-
ty and great earnestress and determination, had re
we'd against ali compromise and Cancellation. But,
on the other hand, the whole Democratic party. and
the whole Constitutional Union party were equal
ly resolved that there should be no civil war unon
any pretext and both sides prepared for az appeal
to that great and final arbter of all disputes in a
free country-the people.
DIR, DO not propose to inquire now whether the
Pretident and his Cabinet were sincere and in
earnest, and meant really to preserve to the end
in the policy OF peace ; whether from the first
they meant civil war, and only waited to cain time
II they were fairly seated in power, and had dis
posed, too of that prodioious horde of spoiled men
and office seekers, which came dour at first like
an avalanche upon them 2 But do know that
the people believed them sincere, and cordially
ratified and approved of the policy of peace not
as they subsequently, responded to the policy of
war, in whirlwird of passion and madncss. but
calmly and sObcrly, and as the result of their de-
beratc and most solemn Judgment and believing
that civil absolute and eternal disunion.
while secession was but lartial and temporary.
they cordially indorsed alone The proposed evacua
tion of Sumter and the other forts and public pro
pert7 within the seeded States Nor, sir will |
stop now to explore the several causes which eli.
ther led to change in the apparent nolicy or am
carly development of the original and real puipo-
ses of the Administration But there ar, two
which cannot pass by. And the first of these
was party necessity or the clamors of po;ticane.
and especially of certain wicked reckless, and
unprincipled conductors of partisan press. The
peace policy was crushing out the Republican
party. Under that policy, sir. it was melting away
like snow before the sun The q neral elections
in Rhode Island and Connecticut, and municipal
elections in New York and western States. gave
abundant evidence that the people were resolved
upon the most ample and satisfactory cost tutional
guarantees to the South the price of a restora-
ton of Union. And then it was, sir, that the Ion.
and agonizins howl of defeated and disappointed
politicians came up before the Administration
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