The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-01-16
10 the De,nocruts OF Ohio.

| Be not surprised at my thus addressing you
at this time The extraordinary. occasion must
plead my excuse. There is great work be.
sore us. and we must not shrink from its per.
formance For thirty years We have commun-
ed together on matters of great State and Ma.
tional importance. 1t was an unselfsh labor
with an eye single to the great ends and aims
of our fathers, who gave us the best government
ever devised by man. Our purpose was to per-
petuate IL that its glories might descend not
only to our own children, but also to the ch l..
dreu Of those who opposed US. For this noble
end we worked, and ate the bread OF partisan
strife. We asked no reward but that OF good
conscience, and we sought no higher honors
thau those which conferred upon our race peace,
prosperity and constitutional liberty. We low
ed our country because 1t was great and good
country, and because it was ours. In peace and
in war, in prosperity and ia adversely, we still
loved our eouutrT, with a devotion thatyknew
no abatement; no modification of sectionalism,
Of distance, nor Of States--we loved the Union
as it was-one undivided whole. Its growth
in power, in extent, in prosperity and in its re-
nown, we cherished as the evidence of our good
and noble work. Every new star that blazed
upon our flag, we greeted as father greets his
new born babe--born in health and maturity.
We knew no north, no south, no east, no west,
but grasped the great continent as ours. We
loved all, and spoke Of all with the same affac-
tion, receiving, in return. that affection and re-
gard which our patriotism and good behavior
merited. Sectionalism had no place in our
hearts, in our principles, OF our platfo -
Such has been the friendly feeling existing a.
mong Democrats from the foundation Of tho
government up to this time. From the Aroos-
tic to the Rio Grande, and from the frozen lakes
Of the north to the perpetual orange groves Of
the sunny south we were as band OF BROTH
ers. We survived churches and parties of eve
ry an'agonism to our own. We were the last
and only hope Of Constitution and country, 1t
was our holy belief, that with the destruction
Of our pirty would go the country and Consti-
tuition. Bul defeat, even through division, is
not always ruin. There is hope left for our
country yet--aint as that hope may be. , 've
The errors Of the past will hardly be acknowi.
edged by their authors, but this is govern )
mentof the prople, and it is they who have got
to take the country into their own hands and
save it from the impending ruin, if saved at all
And it can only be done by that old Democrat
ic and Constitutional party forming the nucleus
around which the the patriotic can rally. You
are old soldiers in the field, and true to your
country's flag aud honor. No one doubts
that--no one can lay the charge to you Of faith
lessness to your country. You may have been
deceived by the men in whom you have put
your trust, but that was no fault Of yours
You may sometimes have mistaken smartness
for the craftsmanship, but that is the mislor-
tune o The age. In pulpits, as we'll as in Leg.
islative forums, this error has reigned trium-
plant for the last few years, and the evil hour
Of our destiny is upon us. Church and State
have been torn and racked with fippant ora,
tors, spicy disputants,aud incendiary inventions,
Good, sober, sound men, of strong minds and
patriotic hearts, abandoned contest that had
nothing in IL congenial with their feelings and
Judgment, and gave the country and church up,
to be led by fash orators and insubordinate
spirits. 1aa gag
The result Of all this ia now before us--and
sad sight IL is for us, for the world. for man
kind, individually and collectively. We are al.
ready the objects Of solcitude or derision Of ali
civilized nations and people, with the prophecy
that the next step will be to commence cutting
each others throats, as the natural consequence
our folly. a "a. ,.-a,.a 'l''
Democrats, you Of the old and true faith, can
form the only neuclus around which the good
and the patriotic can rally, with any hope Of
success. lsay this is no party sense. speak
it as truth that every one does now, or soon
will. appreciate. Unless you can form a break.
water IN the great centre and heart o! the ma
ton, all IS lost Ohio and Kentucky, II the one
10 pushed forward BY Massachustts and the 9th.
er by South Carolina, viii be compelled to line
their borders with military encsmpments, and
the peace ful banks Of the Ohio converted RON
the peaceful pursuits Of civilization 10 all the