Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-07-20
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The New York 7imes closes an article relst-
ing to the expulsion of Hon. John b. Clark, Of
Missouri, from the House of Representatives In
Congress, as follows: ,..a ia,'fe .brst gl
s"We have nothing to add to this "Reminiscences
save that John Sherman, then beaten for Speak.
eF, now holds seat in the United States Sen
ate, fairly won by his dignity and heroism in
the war waged on him y:John B. Clark and
the Herald through the Helper book; and that
John b. Clark, who was reelected to Congress,
was, on Saturday last, expelled BY vote of tn o
House that pronounced him traitor to his
country. Mr.. Clark will henceforth roost as
low as any bird that ever hawked as saucily as
he, We commend him in his retirement to the
old copies of the organ of Plum Gut and the
Helper book"
IL this proves anything, it 10, that Abolition
ism, such as is taught in the Helper book, is on
the Increase In the Northern States, and that
the party subscribing to It's doctrines has finally
obtained such full possession of the Govern
ment, as to be able not only to elevate the most
prominent advocates of the doctrine taught by
that party to important positions, but also to
expel from Congress those who dissent from the
principles and policy OF the party In cover.
Granting this view Of the case to be correct, it
presents serious thoughts for the consideration
OF the people of the United States. If the Anti
Slavery doctrines Of the Helper book are to pre-
vail, and their advocates rule with the iron
hand of intolerance, it requires no prophetic
vision to foretell the destiny of the country
On that supposition, either the North and the
South must separate and become two nations,
or the latter must be held in subjugation, sla.
very be abolished by arbitrary power, and the
slave States be denied the equal rights guaran-
teed to them by the Constitution.
We do not know what has been the conduct
Of Hon. John B. Clark, Of Missouri, on the
questions connected with the war. II he is
legally and morally guilty of treason against
the Government, it is right that he should be
expelled from Congress; but it would accord
more nearly with our ideas of Justice, and with
the ipractice in all deliberative bodies, to in
qulre into the facts through some regular COM
mittee, than to expel q member upon common
rumor, however well authenticated II may prove
in this particular instance.
IL may be too late to urge constitutional
reasons for confning the war to ito legitimate
purposes and objects,--the re-establis6ment of
the authority of the Government-or to adyo-
cate an early return to peace, If the object can
De better achieved through peaceful means.
The Anti-slavery fanstcism OF the day forbids
the exercise OF reason and of moderation, and
will be satisfied with nothing short OF conisca-
tion and the destruction of the property of the
people OF the Southern States This fact has
been painfully impressed upon us, in reading an
article in the Commercial Advertiser; q paper
heretofore reasonable, moderate and humane in
It's views of public policy, but now, If the ex-
tract below is the standard by which IL is to be
judged, grown intolerant and extreme, on cues.
tlons connected with the war. That paper on
Tuesday evening gave utterance to the follow.
ing sentiments:
"There is, however, one description of public
lands that very properly should fall to the SOL
dier--those now possessed by prominent actors
In the rebellion, to be confscated by act of Con-
gress. We notice that bill having this object
in view, has been introduced, with every proba.
bility of its passage. In Eastern Virginia
there are hundreds of thousands Of broad and
fertile acres, which should thus change hands.
They are literally and righteously part of those
'spoils' which belong to the 'victors' in this
war. The loyal soldiers earn them and ought
to enjoy them. In the present campaign thew
have every opportunity of becoming intimately
with the country, lts wants and ca
pabilities. No doubt they have taken the
length, the breadth and the depth of mapy a
plantation before this, whose owners have Justly
forfeited those broad acres. Let the soldiers
inherit them. Colonies of them settling to-
gether-peFhaps fellow companions in arms to.
day-would constitute 60 many loyal garrisons
at the South, and at the same time infuse new
life into some OF those dilapidated States.
Whether as respects the reward or the punish |
ment, present advantages or future benefits, |
he moral or material character of these. there
seems to be peculiar fitness in making such |
disposition OF those estates. And our troops
will fight not bit less courageously with such |
. prospect before them. II would be a 'collat- |
,raP to loyalty and bravery which do not need
his species of security, but deserve to be en- |
by it, nevertheless"
The troops might not eight q bit the less
were they permitted to sack the
houses and appropriate the property of the cit-
.ens OF the country through which thew march
,ut that fact would not justify this return to
he practices of the barbarous ages. In our
var with Mexico we respected private property,
md we did not take possession of their lands
without compensation, for distribution among
'ur soldiers. Neither does any civilized nation
'ursue the policy recommended by the Cemmtr-
1dl, and which, If adopted by the Government,
would bring upon this country the reproaches Of
he civilized world. Let US, if we must disre.
sard the forms OF the Constitution and DESTROY
he basis upon which our Government rests, at
east observe the laws of civilization and hu-
nanisy, and thus maintain our vantage ground,
's an enlightened and Christian people Jour
,al Of Commerce. -.