The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-12-05


poses If a new law upon the same subject hslI
be proposed its propriety will be duly considered.
TIE Union must be prtserred, and hence all defen-
sitLe means must be employed
We should not be in haste to determine what
radical and extreme measures, which may reach
the loyal as well as the disoyal are indispensable.
Inc inaugural address at the beginning of the
ADMINISTRATION and the Message to Congress at
the late Speclai Session, were both mainly devoted
to the domestic controversy out of which the in
surrection and consequent war have sprung.
Nothing now occurs to ado to or substract from
the principles or general purposes stated and ex-
pressed in those documents. T q. ~
The last raw Of hope for preserving the Union
peaceably, expired at the assault upon Fort Sum
ter, and general review of what has occurred
since may not be improbable. What was pain
fully uncertain then is much better defined and
more distinct now, and the progress OF events is
plainly in the right direction The insurgents
confidently claimed strong support from north of
Mason and Dixon's line, and the friends of the
Union were not free from apprehension on this
point. This, however, was soon settled definitely
and on the right side. South of the line, noble
little Delaware led off right from the first. Mary
land was made to seem against the Union; our
soldiers were assaulted bridges were burned and
railroads torn up within her limits and we were
many days at one time without the ability to bring
single regiment over her soil to the Capital
Now her bridges and railroads are repaired and
opened to the Governments she already gives
seven regiments to the cause of the Union, and
none to the enemy; and her people, at regular
election, have sustained the Union BY large ma
jority and larger aggregate vote than they ever
before gave to any candidate or any question.
Kentucky too for some time in doubt is now
decidedly and unchangedy ranged on the side of
the Union. Missouri is comparatively quiet, and
believe cannot again be overrun by the insur-
gents. These threeStates of Maryland. Kentucky
and Missouri. neither of which would promise .
single soldier at first, have now an aggregate of
not less than 10000 in the field for the Union,
while of their citizens not more than third In
number are among the insurgents, and they of
doubtful whereabouts and existence.
After somewhat bloody struggle of months,
winter closes on the Union people of Western
Virginia, leaving them masters of their own
country. An insurgent force of about 1900, for
months dominating the narrow peninsular region
constituting the counties of Accomac end North
ampton, and known as the Eastern Shore" of
Virginia, together with some contiguous parts of
Maryland, have laid down their arms, and the
people there have renewed their allegiance to and
accepted the protection of the flag This leaves
no armed insurrection north of the Potomac or
east of the Chesapeake.
Also, we have obtained footing at each of the
isolated points on the Southern coast of Hatteras.
Port Royal, Tybee Island, near Savannah and
Ship Island, and we likewise have some general
accounts of popular movements in behalf of the
Union in North Carolina and Tennessee. These
things demonstrate that the cause of the Union is
advancing steadily Southwark
Since your last adjournment Lieutenant General
Scott has retired from the head of the army.
During his long life the nation has not been un-
mindful of his merit, vet on calling to mind how
faithfully, ably and brilliantly he has served the
country from q time far back in our history, when
few of the now living had been born, and thence
forward continually, l cannot but think that we
are still his debtor. ] submit therefore for Your
consideration, what further mark of recognition is
due to him, and ourselves a greateful people.
With the retirement of Gep. Scott came the
executive duty of appointingi in bis stead General
IN Chief of the army. 1t is q fortunate crcum-
in no wa
there, so far as know, any difference of opinion
as to the proper person to be selected. The re-
firing chief repeatedly expressed his Judgment IN
favor of General Mcclellan for the position, and
in this the nation seemed to give unanimous
concurrence. The designation of Gen. Mcclellan
is, therefore. in considerable degree the selec-
ton of the country as well as of the Executive.
and hence there is reason to hope there will be
given him the confidence aud cordial support thus
by fair implication promised, and without which.
he cannot with full efficiency serve the country
1t has been said that one bad General is better
than two good ones, and the saying is true if
taken TO mean more than that army is better
directed by single mind, though inferior, than
by two superior ones at variance and cross pur-
posesi and the same is true in all joint operations
wherein those engaged can have none but a COM
mon end in view, and can differ only as 20 the
choice Of means. In a storm at sea no
board wish the ship to sink, and yet not un-
frequently all go down together because too many
will direct, and no single mind can be allowed to
control.
1t continues TO develope that the instruction is
largely, if not exclusively, war upon the first
principle of popular government-the rights of
the people. Conclusive evidence of this is found
in the most grave anasmaturely considered public
documents, well in the general tone of the
insurgents In these documents we find the
abrdgment of the existing right of suffrage and
the denial to the people of all to participate in the
selection of public officers except the legislative
body, advocated with labored arguments to prove
that large control of the Government in the people
is the source of all political evil Monarchy ITSELF.
is sometimes limited at as possible refuge from
the power of the people. In my present position,
could scarcely be justified were to omit raising
a warning voice against this approach Of returning
despotism. 1t is not needed nor fitting here that
q general argument should be made in favor of
popular institutions, but there is point, with
its connections, not SO hackneyed as most others,
to which ask brief attention. 1t is the effort
place capital on an equal footing with, if not above,
labor in the structure of Government. 1t is
assumed that labor is available only in connection
with capital; that nobody Iabors unless somebody
else, owning capital, somehow by the use of it
induces him to labor. This assumed, it is next
considered whether it is best that capital shall hire
laborers and thus induce them to work by their
own consent. or buy them and drive them to it
without their consent. Having procee ded so far
it is naturally concluded that all laborers are either
hired laborers or what we call slaves. And further
1t is assumed, that whoever is hired laborer
is fixed in that condition for life. Now, there is
no such relation between capital and labor as
assumed, nor is there any such thing as freeman
being fixed for life in the condition of hired
laborer. Both of these assumptions are false, and
all differences from them groundless. Labor
is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is
only the fruit of labor, and could have exist
ed II labor had not first existed. Labor is the
superior of capital and deserves much the higher
consideration. Capital has its rights which are
worthy OF protection as any other rights. Nor is
1t denied that there is, and probably always will be-
a relation between labor and capital producing
mutual benefit. The error is in assuming that the
whole labor of a community exists within that
relation. A few men have capital, and that few
avoid laber, and with their capital hire or buy
few to labor for them. A large majority belong to
neither class-neither work for others nor have
others working for them. In most of the Southern
States, majority of the people of all colors are
neither slaves nor masters; while in the Northern
large majority neither hirers nor hired
Men with their families, wives. and daughters
work for themselves their FARMS in their houses
and in their shops, taking the whole product to
themselves and asking no favors of capital ON the
one hand, nor of hired aborers or slaves on the
other. 1t is not forgotten that a considerable
number OF persons mingled their own labor with
capital; that is they labor with their own hands,
ana also buy or hire others TO labor for them but
inns is only mixed and not distinct class. No
principle stated is disturbed by the existence Of
tnis mixed class. Again, as has already been said.
mere is not OF necessity any such thing as the free
nired laborer being fixed for that condition for
me- Many independent men, everywhere 10 these
States, few years back in their lives were hired
iaborers. The most prudent, pennies beggar in