Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-10-24
Tbc war ana the Union Men OF
fhr sOIIIh.

The people of the North are almost
unanimous in demanding a vigorous
prosecution Of the war. But to what en-"
Not for the subjugation of the south
not to bring the Southern people under
,be absolute control of their Northern
na;gbhors-not TO make the Southern
StoIcs 9. .peuered provinces 10y war OF
evtermination, to be afterwards re-colo-
nized and governed as so many terrific
r;cs until re-aimittol into the Union as
so many new States. No wise, humane
or patriotic man contemplates such II
TRAGEDY and such ReHoUcDem as this.
It is said that the Southern people may
by their obstinocy, union and porsever-
ance in the rebellion, bring this result up
ON themselves. But we at the North
must considerthat in carrying on war
of suhiugation and cXterminati on against
the South, the end will be far off in the
dark future, and that we shall, though :
possibly successful, most certainly bring
ruin upon ourselves and our immediate
posterity. Il
Is it not possible then, to avoid such
a horrible alternative with honor to our
selves and safety to our country? This
is the momcntous question not to be-
lightly put aside by any clamor Of the ia
matte or mere politician.
We are all for vigorous prosecution
of the war against rebellion. But are the
whole people of the South or of the sece-
ded States to be included in the category
of rebels? 1t would seem so from the
expressions used by certain prominent
men and leading journals, that speak Of
the war as a war against the South, and
sympathy for The South as sympathy
for traitors and rebels.
IF this is so, n continued and vigorous
prosecution Of the war implies, in case
the South refuses TO return to its aIlegi-
ance, n war Of subjugation and eXtermin-
alton. But there are strong reasons for
the belief that largo portion, probably
n majority of the Southern people arc at
heart loyal to the Union, although there
are not wanting fanatics and ,dcmagogues
among us, who seek to iasten upon the
Northern mind contrary impression.
How strong the real Union sentiment
may be in the Southern States, it is inn
possible to form correct estimate, since
secession has instituted "rcign of ter
ro." there. Yet it can hardly be queB-
toned that if all the legal voterss in those
States were as free as were the voter in
Ohio Mt our State election just passed, to
express their honest conviction at the
polls, not only in the border States, but
even in the seeded ones, a majority
would be in favor of the establishment
of the old order of things in the Union un-
lcrthc Constitution and the Federal laws
Now, ii is obviously one Of the plain
est dictates Of common sense, that while
we vigorously prosecute the war against
the rebels in arms, we should labor just
as earnestly and Just rs vigorously tc
conciliate and cooperate with those in
the South who are Union men at heart,
and use every Legitimate otlort to induce
them to- remain loyal, and increase their
number. Ifthis were done the rebel lead %
ers could no longer count upon united
South, and the days Of their usurpaton
would soon be numbered.
But how can we cherish, sustain and
Increase the Union sentiment in the South
This is difficult problem to be solve
and it is growing more pcrpleXing every
hour. 1t is manifest that unless some
thing speedily be done, its solution vii
become impracticable BY our arms, W,
may protect Southern Union men in tn,
assertion Of their rights, wherever Feder
troops can ho concentrated in sutfcien
force. But it is evidently impracticabl
TO garrison the whole country. We mus
have something that shall operate quietl
yet actively, and universally Throughout
the entire South, iuvigoratng tho feeling
pI TO nd "a nlnr az,
ton in favor tho Union and against tn
Confederate leaders.
One thing we can do. We can to som
extent at least disabuse the Southern pee
pie OF tho impression, in which lies tn
great strength Of the rebellion, that W
Northerners are determined to make th
a war of subjugation, or for assimilatn
the social condition Of the South to tho
of tho North by means Of conquest an
eXterminati. II. We have it in our pow
err, if we will. by the policy with whic
we carry on tho war, without 'abatlng an
OF its vigor; by the tone of our lcadin
journals ana public speakers both on tn
rostrum and in tho pulpit; by the voic
of popular assemblies and in thousan
other ways to demonstrate that tho Sc,
'lOHal hdtltN anu culhly NHltl lllo lcD
leaders and demagogues have bech in II
habit OF imputmg to US, has, as rcgaI,
the great body of our people, no eyistent
save in the heated Imagination OF iana
ics or in the malice of those who woul
hesitate at no atrocity ia compass the d,
stIuctiOn of he Union.
Nho Northern people can manifest t
the loyal men in the South their real sen
timents toward them and their ardent dc
sire to sustain, protect and co-operat
with them, through the balot-box, an
through their representatives in the legis
lOtive halls.
We can yet save tho Union by foster
ing the spirit Of loyalty in tho South
without this, it must so to destruction
or verge so near destruction as to be hard
iy worth saving,
~ IlN