Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-10-27
True Union Men.

sssr5 a True Union Men. 7s
There Ia no time like the present for examin-
ing the sincerity OF mems desire for arestora.
tlon Of the Union. To wish for the conquest of
the Southern States and the determination OF
its slaveholding population, to the end that we
may have new population there, and q new
Constitution which shall ignore slavery, is not
to wish for the restoration, Of the government,
or the supremacy Of the Constitution, but is ao
taally to desire revolution which shall found q
new governments on the ruins Of the old =
The radical Abolitionist, whose creed is "no
union with slaveholders," cannot be q true
friend of the Union. A review Of the history
of Abolldonism win serve to show the necessi-
ty Of stunning the influence and advice Of such
men, If we expect to be again united people.
The vast majority of thinking men In Amerl-
ca have desired to see feasible plan for the
removal of slavery as an institution. Thirty
years ago the Southern mind was decidedly In
favor OF such plan. But the idea Of immedi-
ate abolition, based on the doctrine that slave.
holding i, 9 sin per Sc, was not accepted, Ia not
now accepted by one In hundred Of the citi-
zens of this country.
The difference between abolitionists and the
major part of those whom they called pro-
slavery men was that the former demanded an
instant, violent and total abolition of the rela
ton of owner and slave. Blind to all questions
of effect on master, servant or country, they
adopted and advocated the idea that the rela-
tion was sinful and therefore ought to have q
sudden ending.
| Calm, intelligent, sensible men were con
stantly devising plans 10 rid the country Of this
element, the negro population. Seeing them
increasing to millions, regarding amalgamation
n the Ia af m tn.o and aoltff .
or social equality of the black and white races
as impossible, they looked anxiously for some
| plan of colonization or removal which should
| effect the desired freedom of both races. For
| it was manifest that the white was already en-.
shaved to the black by his presence on our con.
tinent. The abolitionists opposed all sucn
plans. They held that to pay master for the
freedom of a slave was becoming pdrticept
eriminis. They heaped abuse on colonization
societies. They declared that the black slsv,
being born here was citizen, entitled to liv
and die here, and no power existed to expatri
ate or exile him to Africa or elsewhere.
Thirty years ago the country was prosperous
and the work Of emancipation, aided by moder
ate men through voluntary or benevolent infu
ences, was progressing fayorably. State ate
State had become ffeesoll, and there was ever.
reason to suppose that under the influence o
1 uOuoEhtC COuubGios NIEHiuthg u4hIyiuuuS ncu
lucky and other States would soon provide
plan substituting free for slave labor. But tn,
1 prospect did not satisfy the men who made th,
instantaneous abolition of slavery their hobby
| They began to meddle with politics, and pro
nounced the Constitution OF the United State
| infamous because il recognized "persons held Il
service" They ridiculed the flag Of the coun
try, and declared that its stripes were represent
ative Of its protection to slave.drivers. The,
maintained that the only exodus Of the slave wa
over the ruins Of the American church an
/ Union. They avowed their principle to be en-
union with shareholders" !" their object the dis
solution OF the United States. .f5-..r -r
For years they labored With little effect, an
they might have labored for centuries with q
little, but for the differences which arose anon
politicians, who In their mad desire for place an
power, saw in them q ready tool to be handle
BY sklllful workman, The Southern extremil
recognized In them the enemies toward whor
he could direct Southern animosity. Th
Northern politician saw In their ranks q fe
thousand voters who held balances of power !
certain sections, and In their principles Ger
rallying cry, without taking them wholly nom
to his heart. The Republican party Nigh
possibly have grown to power and place
time, without danger to the country. IL 1t ha
nobly and fairly disowned and out of all abol
Zionist allies. But the political leaders of q
Republicans were wise In their own concei
They were playing bold game, but all u
time were playing, perhaps unwittingly, In
the hands Of Southern disunionists, who We
= "biding their time.n While they affirmed th
they were not abolitioniats, they accepted VIII
benefits might arise from the war.cry Of ami
slavery, content that 1t should do them VII
good, and give them what votes 1t might, al
closed their eyes to the fact that II gave to q
!, Southern enemies Of the Union precisely d
s opportunity they were waiting for. Histor
q the impartial judge, will ct some future dl
II determine who were more responsible, the M,
. who lay in.wait for an opportunity to destr,
J. the Union, or the men who knew of their ambu
and deliberately gave them the opportunity
leading the North into It, ggsa ~ sFss
Il Whatever be tho decision, the Abolltionil
must be regarded as the millssone around d
. neck Of the Republican party which dragged
i. into perdition, and has we'll nigh destroyed 9
i American Union with Ii. flel, = ssrsl :
I'll The work of restoration Ia now before ua.
this work, Il 10 necessary, II We anticipate 90
y = cess, TO be united. We are agreed shat d
work is to be accomplished BY oonquering d
: disunionists of the South and BY winning ba
the affections of the people who have been m
Z led, by their political guides, into the bell
/. that the North is Abolitionized. This latter Q
cessity is recognized by every one. The stror
eat allies Of aboitionism, heretofore. the pap,
= which might be styled the ropes that held d
curse to the neck of. the old Republican par
>. are loud In their denunoiations of all "
charged that party with being abolitionists, a
eyince sincere anxiety to dsprove the char
and be rid Of the association. Apparently